Effect of vitamin C addition in water on the performance of broiler chicks during summer season

Abstract EN

One hundred and thirty two, unsexed 3-weeks old broiler chicks (Ross) were used to evaluate the effect of vitamin C addition in the drinking water on the performance of broiler chicks.

Birds were distributed randomly into two treatments with 3 replicates (22 chicks/ replicate).Drinking water was either treated with vitamin C at level of 500 mg/litre or left untreated (control) .

Chicks were fed on a commercial broiler diet.

The experiment started by the end of third week of age and lasted up to sixth week.

Parameters measured were: water consumption, feed intake, body weight, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage and mortality rate.

The results revealed that addition of vitamin C in the drinking water of broiler chicks at level of 500 mg/litre had no significant effect (P≤0.05) on water consumption, growth performance (feed intake, body weight, , feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage).

Faculty of Agric, University of Alzaim Alazhari, Khartoum North ,Sudan