Cloacal temperature responses of broiler chickens administered with betaine and ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

摘要

The experiment was performed to evaluate cloacal temperature (CT) responses in broiler chickens, administered with betaine and ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season. Broilers were divided into four groups: Group I (control) was given sterile water; Group II, betaine at 250mg/kg; Group III, AA at 50mg/kg and Group IV, betaine (250mg/kg) + AA (50mg/kg). The different solutions were given orally for 42days. Dry-bulb temperature (DBT), relative humidity (RH) and temperature-humidity index (THI) in the pen, and CT of each broiler chicken were measured bihourly (06:00-18:00h) on days 28, 35 and 42. DBT, RH and THI values were outside the thermo-neutral zone for broiler chickens. Results showed that AA lowered (p<0.001) CT, while betaine+AA increased (p<0.001) CT, compared with controls. In conclusion, betaine+AA or AA alone modulated CT responses of broiler chickens subjected to the thermal stress in the hot-dry season.