Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science
June 2012 Vol. 1(6), pp. 127-135
Copyright © 2012 Global Advanced Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The use of liquorice, probiotic, potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate to counteract the detrimental effects of heat stress on performance of broilers
Al-Daraji HJ
University of Baghdad, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, Baghdad, Iraq
E-mail: prof.hazimaldaraji@yahoo.com
Accepted 20 July, 2012
Abstract
This study was undertaken to compare the effect of liquorice extract, probiotic, potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate on productive performance of broilers exposed to heat stress. A total of 900 Fawbro broiler chicks were allocated at random into 6 treatments groups of 3 replicates each. Experimental treatments were as follows: Treatment 1: control group was subjected to heat stress; Treatment 2: control group was not subjected to heat stress; Treatment 3: Probiotic group were early exposed to 106 Colony Forming Unit (CFU) of Lactobacilli at their first day of age, and then subjected to heat stress; Treatment 4: heat distressed birds and supplemented with 0.5 % potassium chloride in their drinking water; Treatment 5: heat distressed birds and supplemented with 0.5% sodium bicarbonate in their drinking water; and Treatment 6: heat distressed birds and supplemented with 450 mg / liter liquorice extract in their drinking water. At the third week of age, birds in treatments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were exposed to heat stress (38 – 43 ºC) for 6 hours(1200 – 1800 h) each day until the end of experiment (8th week of age). Results revealed that treated the birds with probiotic or liquorice extract resulted in a significant improvement in mean body weight, feed conversion ratio, water consumption, cumulative body weight, cumulative weight gain, cumulative feed conversion ratio, livability, productive index, economic figure and dressing percentage with or without viscera as compared with control group which was subjected to heat stress, potassium chloride treatment and sodium bicarbonate treatment. Furthermore, liquorice extract treatment surpasses probiotic treatment in respect to mean body weight, water consumption, final body weight, cumulative feed consumption, livability, and dressing percentage with or without giblet. In conclusion, liquorice extract and probiotic can be used as an efficient tools in alleviate the deleterious effects of heat stress on productive performance of broiler chickens.
Keywords: Liquorice, probiotic, minerals, heat stress, broilers.
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