Abstract :

A

n experiment was conducted for a period of 12 wks to investigate the effect of some antioxidants in the diet on productive performance and some physiological and hematological parameters as well as fertility and hatchability of chickens. For this purpose, 231 Silver Montazah strain birds (210 hens and 21 cocks) 24-wks-old were used in this experiment up to 36 wks of age. All birds were individually weighed and randomly divided into 7 equal experimental groups (30 hens and 3 cocks of each) with three replicates (10 hens and 1 cock each) with almost similar initial average body weight. Replicates were randomly housed in floor pens (280 cm long x 220 cm wide). The 1^st group was fed the basal diet that supplemented linoleic acid (n-6) and linolenic acid (n-3) at the ratio of 4:1, respectively and served as control. The 2^nd and 3^rd groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 125 and 250 g Butylated Hydroxy Toluene/ton diet, respectively. The 4^th and 5^th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 100 and 200 g vit. E /ton diet, respectively. The 6^th and 7^th groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 5 and 10 kg citric acid/ton diet, respectively. Results indicated that antioxidants supplementation significantly increased egg number, egg production percentage and egg mass and improved feed conversion ratio and egg shell thickness compared to the control group. Moreover, significant increase was obtained for blood hemoglobin, red blood cells and white blood cells, as well as plasma total protein, globulin and high density lipoproteins for groups fed antioxidants compared with the control group. Ejaculate volume, sperm motility, live sperm percentage, sperm concentration, total sperm per ejaculate and total live sperm per ejaculate, as well as fertility and hatchability percentages were increased. Conversely, significant lower heterophils/lymphocytes ratio and plasma concentration of total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins were associated with supplemental antioxidants, while abnormal sperm percentage was decreased with antioxidants supplementation. In conclusion, dietary supplemental of some antioxidants to feed containing fatty acids is a practical application recommended especially by 100 and 200 g vit. E or 10 kg citric acid/ton diet to Silver Montazah chickens strain during the laying period and had beneficial effects on productive, reproductive, physiological and hematological parameters and immune status.

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