Effect of Aqua Blok and Poultry Tonic supplementation on production potentials during transportation in broiler chicks arriving on farm.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, we have determined the effects of Aqua Blok and Poultry Tonic supplementation in an intensive broiler production business by assessing average live weight gain (ALWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality rate, feed and water intake, stocking density, European production efficiency factor (EPEF). To achieve these goals a total of 3000 day old broiler chicks Cobb-500® were allocated into four different treatment groups with equal number of chicks (n=750) where T1 (Standard farm managements), T2 (Aqua Blok + Poultry tonic + Feed), T3 (Aqua Blok + Feed), T4 (Chick tonic + Feed) and reared for a period of 30 days in farm by following standard intensive broiler production system. Performance differences among different treatment groups were recorded and descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation, percentage and one way ANOVA were performed. The highest average live weight gain (1492.4g) in T4, the lowest FCR (1.61) in T2, the highest mortality rate (5.20%) in T3 were found. As an indicator of stress heterophil-lymphocyte ratio and some biochemical parameters were calculated. The highest heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (0.40) was found in the treatment group 4 (T4) by the method of differential leucocyte count. The concentration of uric acid (mg/dl) is higher in group T4 (8.55±3.35) and lower in group T3 (6.6±1.4).The albumin level (g/dl) was the lowest (24.15±1.91) in T2 among the groups. The production cost per kg broiler was also calculated where the lowest value found in the T2 group as compared to other groups. Finally, we can suggest Aqua Blok supplementation during transportation to reduce stress of broiler chick and combination of Aqua Blok and Poultry Tonic might be used to lessen feed cost as it decreased the value of FC