Mountain Top University Library

Farmers all over the world suffer profit loss, as a result of unmanaged heat stress problems. This
research project therefore, aims to investigate the effect of antioxidant feed supplementation on
nephrological and hepatic biochemical indices in broiler birds exposed to heat stress and.
60 broiler chickens were completely randomized into four (4) groups of fifteen (15) birds each.
They were exposed to varied temperatures of which group 1 to 4 were exposed to 25c, 30°c, 35°c
and 40°c respectively. Each group was thereafter randomly re-classified into three (3) sub groups
of five (5) birds each and assigned to A, B, and C based on treatment with un-supplemented feed
(UF) supplemented feed with vitamin C/ascorbate (AF) and supplemented feed with cabbage juice
(CF). The temperature exposure was for 12 hours daily from 7am to 7pm while the feed
supplementation treatments was continuous for the twenty-eight (28) days exposure. Biochemical
parameters such as: Nitric Oxide (NO), Total Cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL),
Triglyceride, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Lipid Peroxidation, Total Protein, Superoxide
Dismutase (SOD), and Catalase, were assayed for using standard procedure, and statistical analysis
using SPSS.
Results for the analysis showed significant increases (p < 0.5) in the concentration of
Malondialdehyde (MDA), and Triglyceride. As well as significant reductions (p < 0.5) in the
concentration of NO, HDL, Total Protein, and in the activity of SOD and Catalase for birds
exposed to high temperatures (35℃ - 40℃), compared to the control birds (25℃). While there
wasn’t any significant difference (p > 0.5) in Total Cholesterol, and LDL in the heat stressed birds
compared to the control birds. Birds that were administered Vitamin C and cabbage juice, in
addition to heat stress exposure however, had significantly reduced (p < 0.5) concentrations of
MDA, Total Cholesterol, and Triglyceride, and significantly increased concentration of NO, HDL,
Total Protein, and in the activity of SOD and Catalase in comparison to heat stressed birds (35℃
- 40℃) and control birds (25℃).
In conclusion, cabbage juice shows a better ameliorative effect on heat stress in broilers compared
to Vitamin C, therefore its therapeutic potentials can be explored in heat stress management.