Article 2024 · 8 citations

Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation and stocking density effects on broiler performance: behavior, biochemistry, immunity, and small intestinal histomorphology

Alaa, Mohammad, Razek, Abeer Hamada Abdel, Tony, Mohamed Ahmed, Yassin, Aya Mohye, Warda, Mohamad, Awad, Mohamed Ahmed, Bawish, Basma Mohamed

Abstract

BackgroundRearing poultry under stressful high stocking density (HSD) conditions is a common commercial practice to increase profitability, despite its negative effects on broiler physiology and welfare. Many feed additives are used to alleviate the negative impact of such practices. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on growth performance, ingestive behavior, immune response, antioxidant status, stress indicators, and intestinal histomorphometry of broilers subjected to HSD. A total of 364 male broilers were randomly allocated into four treatments with 7 replicates each in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement: two stocking densities (SD) (10 and 16 birds/m2) and two GAA levels (0 and 0.6 g/kg feed). ResultsBody weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, production efficiency factor, dressing yield, and ingestive behavior were negatively affected by HSD, whereas the mortality rate was unaffected (P > 0.05). GAA improved the overall growth performance and dressing percentage (P < 0.05). In the HSD group, the immune response decreased at d 21 (P < 0.05). Creatine kinase, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase, catalase, triglycerides, and villus length and width (ileum) were reduced, whereas corticosterone (CORT) was increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, GAA increased the hemagglutination-inhibition titer at 21 days and the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, GPX, and catalase and decreased the levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, nitrite, triglycerides, and CORT (P < 0.05). SD and GAA did not affect malondialdehyde or other biochemical parameters (P > 0.05). ConclusionsDietary GAA supplementation can improve productivity and antioxidant status and reduce stress in broilers reared in a HSD environment.

Keywords

Broiler chickens GAA Hemagglutination-inhibition test Ingestive behavior Oxidative stress Performance Stress indicators ANTIOXIDANT ENZYME-ACTIVITIES GROWTH-PERFORMANCE CARCASS YIELD LIPID-PEROXIDATION HEAT-STRESS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION MEAT QUALITY ACETIC-ACID CREATINE INDICATORS

WoS Categories

Veterinary Sciences

Citation

Journal: ACTA VETERINARIA SCANDINAVICA
Year: 2024
Volume: 66
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0044-605X
eISSN: 1751-0147
DOI: 10.1186/s13028-024-00782-6
WoS UID: WOS:001380833700001

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