Effect of hepabial carnitine (R) supplemented to drinking water on the performance of broilers under different stress conditions

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of L-carnitine, choline, artichoke leaf extract and sorbitol combination (Hepabial Carnitine(R)) supplemented to drinking. water on the performance of broilers which were under stress conditions induced by feed change and vaccination. In the experiment, a total of 300, 1-day old male broiler chicks were used. Day old chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups (group 1, group 2. control group). each with 5 replicate groups containing 20 chicks and fed with standard broiler diets. Hepabial Carnitine(R) was supplemented to drinking water of treatment groups at 1 ml/l, except the control group. Group 1 (feed change group) received Hepabial Carnitine(R) at the beginning of the trial for three days. and then for two days in every feed change period. Group 2 (vaccination group) received Hepabial Carnitine(R) for two days 6 hours after each vaccination. Growth performance (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) was recorded weekly and carcass performance (hot carcass weight and hot carcass yield) was measured after slaughtering on the 42(nd) day. At the end of the experiment, body weight. body weight gain and hot carcass weight were found significantly higher (P<0.05) in the groups 1 and 2 than in the control group. In the same way, feed conversion ratio was significantly improved (P<0.05) in the groups 1 and 2 by Hepabial Carnitine(R) supplementation. There was no significant difference between the control and treatment groups in feed intake and hot carcass yield of broilers. These results suggested that L-carnitine, choline. artichoke leaf extract and sorbitol combination (Hepabial Carnitine(R)) given with drinking water in periods of feed change aid vaccination may have a potential to improve broiler performance. The results also suggested that broilers receiving this combination can better cope with various stress factors.