Effect of Levels and Different Periods of Vitamin Premix Consumption during Finisher Period on Performance and Immunocompetence of Broiler Chicks fed Wheat and Barley Based Diet

Document Type : Scientific - Research Articles

Authors

hosen moraveg ¹

yusof bagchie ²

Mahmood Shivazad ³

¹ Ferdwosi University of Mashhad

² Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

³ Department of Animal Sciences, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22067/ijasr.v4i1.13906

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to estimate the effect of levels and different periods of vitamin premix
consumption during finisher period (29-42 d) on performance and immunocompetence of broiler chicks fed
wheat and barley based diet in floor system. A total of 504 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 7
treatment groups, with 4 replicates per treatment group and 18 birds per replicate pen, and all data were analyzed
in a randomized complete design. The dietary treatments were: T1) the basal diet with no vitamin premix during
29-42 days; T2) the basal diet 33.33% vitamin premix during 29-42 days; T4) the basal diet 66.66% vitamin
premix during 29-42 days and T6) 100% vitamin premix during 29-42 days and treatments 3, 5 and 7, similar
treatments 2, 4 and 6 grespectively and fed during 24-35 day and the vitamin premix was with drawn from all
these lates diets (35 and 7) during 36-42 day of age. Feed intake and weight gain were measured at 35 and 42
days of ages and feed conversion ratio was calculated. At 35 and 42 days of ages, after slaughtered and
determine carcass weight and the organs bursa of fabricius and spleen were weighed and immunocompetence
was evaluated at 42 day of age, based on SRBC, IgG and IgM titers by hemagglutination method. Results
showed that different levels of vitamin premix did not impair performance and immunocompetence response
during the final period of broilers (29-42d). In conclusion, it is possible to withdraw vitamin premix from
finisher diets.

Keywords

Broiler

Vitamin premix

Wheat and barley

Performance

Immunocompetence

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