Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on the performance of growing pullets

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the nutritional effects of supplementary ascorbic acid (AA) at levels of 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg in the diets of growing pullets reared at different seasons (dry season and rainy season).240 eight weeks-old Harco pullet chicks were used in each trial, they were randomly assigned to each of the four dietary treatments in three replications of twenty chicks per replicate. Each trial lasted 12 weeks (84 days) during which data were collected and a 2 X 4 factorial arrangement was employed in the analysis of data collected. Both ascorbic acid and season significantly affected (P<0.05) growth rate with better growth rate reported in the dry season. Body weights at first lay exhibited a linear reduction with increasing concentration of ascorbic acid (P<0.05). Seasonal variation significantly affected (P<0.05) age and egg weight at first lay with higher values obtained in the rainy season. The cost-benefit analysis of supplementary ascorbic acid in the diet of experimental birds revealed that inclusion of the graded levels of ascorbic acid increased the cost of feed in a linear fashion across the dietary treatments. At the growing stage, cost of feed per kg weight gain was found to be lowest in birds fed 0 mg/kg AA. It was evident that at the growing stage, optimum response occurred with supplementation of 300 mg/kg AA.