Some physiological traits of hisex brown layers fed with supplemental sodium bicarbonate during heat stress

Abstract EN

This experiment was carried out at the Poultry Farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, utilizing 160 Hisex Brown layers.

Four diets containing 0,0.5,1 and 1.5 % sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03) represent TI, T2, T3 and T4, respectively, were fed ad libitum for 4 weeks at 50 wk old (40 birds for each diet) reared under high environmental temperatures • The effect of NaHC03 supplementation on RBC, PCV, Hb, HIL ratio, plasma glucose, total protein and uric acid was evaluated.

A marked reduction (p<0.05) in RBC count was observed by NaHC03 inclusion in the diets.

NaHC03 failed to influence (p<0.05) PCV, Hb and plasma total protein when provided at 1 and 1.5% levels (T3 and T4), whereas, they are significantly (p<0.05) increased at 0.5% level (T2) as compared with control (T1).

Significant (p<0.05) differences were noted in the HIL ratio among the four treatments.

The lowest HIL ratio occurred in T2 birds while control birds (Tl) experienced the highest HIL ratio.

Apart from its level, NaHC03 inclusion caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in plasma glucose accompanied by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the concentrations of plasma uric acid.

Data suggest that Hisex Brown layers reared under high environmental temperatures respond positively to NaHC03 addition with regard to physiological adjustments.