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Ascorbic acid: a limiting nutrient affecting performance and physiological response of broiler chicks under heat stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

H.R. Kutlu
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Leeds LS2 9JT
J.M. Forbes
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Leeds LS2 9JT
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Extract

Birds are normally able to synthesize adequate amounts of ascorbic acid (AA). However, there are many indications that under stress they cannot produce enough AA for their metabolic needs. In particular, heat stress has been implicated in increasing birds’ demand for AA (Scott, 1975; Sykes, 1978; Coates, 1984). These reports suggest that conditions may exist in which endogenous AA synthesis of birds is not adequate to meet the physiological needs for optimum performance and that during such conditions exogenous supplementation with AA could be beneficial. This study was conducted to determine if dietary supplemental AA would alleviate heat-induced deterioration in performance and metabolism of broiler chicks and also to characterize the changes in body temperature, thyroid weight and blood components as affected by supplemental AA and/or heating.

Type
Poultry
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1992

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References

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