Effect of different levels of vitamin premix during finisher period on broiler on performance and immunocompetence in battery cage and floor systems

Main Article Content

Majid Alahyari-Shahrasb
Hossein Moravej
Mahmood Shivazad

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the withdrawal or reduction of vitamin premix from diets of finisher period (29 to 42 days of age) on broiler performance and immunocompetence. Trial 1 was conducted as a completely randomized design with 4 treatments of 6 replicates
and 5 chicks in each battery cage system. Trial 2 was conducted with 4 treatments of 6 replicates and 18 chicks in pen floor system. The diets were formulated based on wheat and barley, and dietary treatments were: T1 = based diet without vitamin premix, T2= based diet with 33.33% vitamin premix, T3 = based diet 66.66% vitamin premix, T4 = based diet 100% vitamin premix (Control Group). On day 34,
two birds from each replicate were selected and antibody responses to inoculated sheep red blood cells were determined. The cell-mediated immunity was determined via phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Results of trial 1 showed that there were
no significant differences in the bird?s performance with reduction or withdrawal of vitamin premix from diets in 29-35 days among the experimental groups, but in 36-42 days of age, the performance of the group of the birds fed with diet without vitamin premix (T1) was significantly lower than other groups (P < 0.05). Results of trial 2 showed that vitamin premix reduction and withdrawal from 29 d of age did not impair body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio during the final period of broilers (29-42d). The results of two trials demonstrated that immunocompetence response was not affected by treatments in finisher period. The results of the present study indicated that in the battery cage system it's possible to reduce dietary vitamin premix during finisher period but withdrawal can negatively affect performance of broilers. While in the floor system it is possible to withdraw vitamin supplements from finisher diets.
Key words: broiler, immunocompetence, rearing system, vitamin premix

Article Details

How to Cite
Alahyari-Shahrasb, M., Moravej, H., & Shivazad, M. (2012). Effect of different levels of vitamin premix during finisher period on broiler on performance and immunocompetence in battery cage and floor systems. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 46(3). Retrieved from https://cjascience.com/index.php/CJAS/article/view/44
Section
Animal Science
Author Biographies

Majid Alahyari-Shahrasb

Young Researchers Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abarkooh/Yazd, Iran.

Hossein Moravej

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran/ Karaj.

Mahmood Shivazad

Young Researchers Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abarkooh/Yazd, Iran.