Effects of dietary lysophospholipids (lysolecithin) and vitamin C as feed additive in finishing period on performance, carcass characteristics and immune response of broiler chickens reared under thermonatural and high ambient temperature

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of lysophospholipid and vitamin C on performance, carcass characteristics and immune response of broiler chicks reared under thermonatural and high ambient . A total of 1680 mixed sexes broiler chicks (Cobb 500) in finishing rearing period (days 21-38 of age) allotted to two groups. In the first group, 480 chicks were subjected to four treatments with four replicates (n=30) and maintained in usual ambient temperature (24±1°C, thermonatural group: TN). In second group, the 1200 chicks were subjected to four treatments with 10 replicates (n=30), and exposed to high ambient temperature (34±1°C for 8 h daily, heat-stressed group: HS). Based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements in both groups, four experimental diets including LPLs (0 or 1000 mg/kg) and VC (0 or 500 mg/kg) were formulated and fed the chickens. In both groups, LPLs decreased body weight gain and increased FCR (P<0.05). In HS group, increased livability, antibody against bronchitis, relative weight of bursa and thymus were observed in chickens fed LPLs-supplemented diet (P<0.05) and increased relative weight of thymus and spleen were detected in chicks fed the VC-supplemented diet (P<0.05). In TN group, increased relative length of jejunum in birds fed LPLs-supplemented diet (P<0.05) and a significant interaction between LPLs and VC on response to phytohemagglutinin were detected. In conclusion, dietary supplemental LPLs and VC improved immune response of broiler chickens.