Thermoregulatory, growth and blood indices of broiler chicks fed betaine hydrochloride supplemented diets under high ambient temperature

Résumé

The study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary inclusion of Betaine Hydrochloride on the thermoregulatory, growth, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chicks under high ambient temperature because Betaine is a organic osmolyte that can protect the birds from oxidative stress. Betaine Hydrochloride was included at 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 g/kg feed, respectively. One hundred and eighty, one day old Hubbard broiler chicks were allotted into four treatments with three replicates each in a completely randomized design (CRD). There were no differences (p>0.05) in the rectal temperature and heart rate across the treatments. Chicks fed 1.5 and 4.5 g/kg diet Betaine Hydrochloride had better (p>0.05) feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio than birds fed control and 3 g/kg diet Betaine hydrochloride. Haematological and serum biochemical indices were similar (p>0.05) across the treatments. Betaine hydrochloride can be included in the diets of broiler chicks up to 4 g/kg diet to improve growth performance without any detrimental effect on growth, haematological and serum biochemicals.