Egg production, egg quality, and lipid peroxidation status in laying hens maintained at a low ambient temperature (6°C) and fed a vitamin C and vitamin E-supplemented diet

O. Kucuk, N. Sahin, K. Sahin, M. F. Gursu, F. Gulcu, M. Ozcelik and M. Issi
Additional contact information
O. Kucuk: Department of Animal Nutrition, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
N. Sahin: Veterinary Control and Research Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, Elazig, Turkey
K. Sahin: Department of Animal Nutrition, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
M. F. Gursu: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
F. Gulcu: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey
M. Ozcelik: Veterinary Control and Research Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, Elazig, Turkey
M. Issi: Department of Internal Disease, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey

Veterinární medicína, 2003, vol. 48, issue 1-2, 200

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (?-tocopherol acetate) on egg production, egg quality, lipid peroxidation status (measured as MDA), and some serum metabolites in laying hens (Hy-Line) maintained at a low ambient temperature (6°C). One hundred and twenty laying hens (18-wk-old) were divided into four groups, 30 hens per group. The laying hens were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid/kg of diet, 250 mg of ?-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet or 250 mg of L-ascorbic acid plus 250 mg of ?-tocopherol acetate/kg of diet. Although feed consumption of the hens was similar (P > 0.05) among treatments, supplemental vitamin C and E significantly increased final body weight, egg production, and improved feed efficiency (P < 0.05). Egg weights were also greater (P < 0.05) in hens supplemented with the combination of vitamin C and E than that of hens supplemented either vitamin or no vitamin (control). Haugh unit did not change upon each vitamin supplementation, but the combination of the vitamin supplement yielded a higher Haugh unit (P < 0.05). Each dietary supplement of vitamin C and vitamin E improved the egg quality (P < 0.05) resulting in a greater specific gravity, thicker egg shell, and heavier egg shell weight. Separately or as a combination, supplemental vitamin C and E decreased MDA, glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.05). Results of the present study showed that supplementing vitamin C and vitamin E, particularly as a combination, improved the performance of cold-stressed laying hens, offering a potential protective management practice in preventing cold stress-related losses in performance of laying hens. Results of the present study also indicated that the effects of vitamin C and vitamin E are additive.

Keywords: cold stress; vitamin C; vitamin E; laying hen; egg production; lipid peroxidation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5747-VETMED.html (text/html)
http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5747-VETMED.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:48:y:2003:i:1-2:id:5747-vetmed

DOI: 10.17221/5747-VETMED

Access Statistics for this article

Veterinární medicína is currently edited by Ing. Helena Smolová Ph.D.

More articles in Veterinární medicína from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().