Effects of Feeding Anti-Stressor and Immunizer to Broiler Chickens on Growth Performance, Meat Yield and Immunity

Abstract

To examine the influence of anti-stressor and immunizer on the growth of broiler chickens, their meat yield features, and immune response, a total of 360 Cobb-500 day-old commercial broiler chicks were used in a 35-day feeding trial. Experimental birds were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments having six replications each of 20 birds. During the starter and grower periods, corn-soya-based plant protein mash diets were provided. Starter and grower diets were provided in two phases: day-old to 21 days and 22-35 days, respectively. The first group of chicks was treated as control (diet 1), the second group was offered a control diet supplemented with an anti-stressor (diet 2) and the third group received a control diet to which an immunizer was incorporated (diet 3). Growth performance data were recorded weekly. Meat yield traits were determined and blood samples were collected on termination of the experiment. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomized design (CRD). Results showed that significantly higher body weight and lowest FCR values were found in the anti-stressor incorporated group (P<0.005). Giblet content was significantly (P<0.001) increased due to addition of anti-stressor and immunizer in the diet. The immunizer supplemented group significantly improved antibody titer against Infectious Bursal Disease (P<0.005). It was therefore concluded that both anti-stressor and immunizer as used in this study could be considered to improve growth performance, giblet weight and immunological response.