Clinico-pathological studies of the relationship between methionine and thyroid disorders in broiler

Abstract EN

This work was carried out on 140 one day old chicks for 6 weeks to study the effect of different dietary supplementation of methionine on the growth performance and the thyroid function in broilers.

Chickens were divided into 4 equal groups.

Group I served as control group fed on balanced commercial ration.

Group (II, III and IV) fed on rations containing 1, 0.3 and 0.2 % methionine.

In clean sterile tubes for serum separation five ran-dom samples were collected from all experimental groups at 4th and 6th weeks for investigation of some biochemical parameters. The results revealed significant increase in the body weight and body weight gain, significant decrease in total feed intake in the treated group fed 1 % methionine, meanwhile, significant decrease in groups fed 0.3 and 0.2 % methionine. Biochemical investigations revealed that the levels of ALT, AST and albu-min were non-significantly changed in all groups when compared to the control group.

Total proteins, globulin and glucose were significantly de-creased while cholesterol was significantly increased in the treated groups fed 0.3 and 0.2 % methionine.

The results of renal function tests revealed significant increase in the level of uric acid in the treated groups fed 0.3 and 0.2 % met at 4 weeks, while creatinine level showed non significant changes in all groups allover the experimental period There were significant de- crease in the catalase, SOD, GSH, NO, T3 and T4 in the groups fed 0.3 and 0.2 % methionine.

From the present study, we could be conclude that, dietary methionine at level 1 % has a growth promoter effect in broilers while requirement deficiency of dietary methionine, depressed the growth performance and thyroid hormone levels.