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Effect of stocking density and dietary antimicrobial inclusion on biochemical and enzymical variables of male broilers grown to 35 days of age
Author(s) -
Olanrewaju Hammed A,
Purswell Joseph L,
Collier Stephanie D,
Branton Scott L
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.872.4
Subject(s) - stocking , broiler , zoology , biology , antimicrobial , microbiology and biotechnology
Significant expansion in conventional and antibiotic‐free (ABF) broiler production is expected to continue as demand for poultry products continues to increase and feed prices remain stable. Much concern nowadays is expressed about stocking density as it relates to the well‐being and welfare of broilers. Changes in the levels of various plasma biochemistry and enzyme activity biomarkers are indicators of internal organs' (heart. liver, kidney) health and overall systemic homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of recommended stocking densities and dietary antimicrobial inclusion of male broilers grown to 35 days of age on selected hematobiochemical and enzymical variables. A total of 1952 1‐d‐ old Ross x Ross 708 male chicks were randomly distributed into 32 pens based on 4 assigned stocking density treatments. Conventional (AGP+) and antibiotic free (ABF) diets were equally assigned to each pen with feed and water provided ad libitum. The treatments consisted of 4 densities (27, 29, 33, 39 kg/m 2 ) and 2 diets (AGP+, ABF) arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial. Blood samples were collected from the brachial wing vein of 3 birds per pen on d 15, 28, and 35. The collected blood samples were centrifuged to separate the plasma and used to determine the concentration of biochemical parameters and enzyme activities using an ACE‐AXCEL automatic analyzer. Results show that only UA was affected by stocking density. However, in comparison to broilers fed the ABF diet, broilers with AGP+ had significant effects on ALB, ALP, AMYL, CK, GGT, LDL, TBILI, and TP. Also, age was showed to have significant contributor effects on most selected variables. The results are in broad agreement with those reported in the literature and contribute to our knowledge of blood metabolites and homeostatic variation in developing male broilers. In conclusion, stocking density up to 39 kg/m 2 with appropriate environmental management in the presence or absence of antibiotic in the diets may be suitable for both poultry integrators and contract growers to enhance broilers production efficiency without compromising the welfare of broilers grown to 35 days of age. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .