The Effects of Dietary L - Carnitine Supplementation on Overall Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Components and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

Subject Areas : clinical veterinary science

G. Akbari-Azad ¹ , P. Haghighi-Khoshkhoo ² , N. Ila ³ , F. Moayer ⁴ , H. Dehghan- Nayeri ⁵

1 - Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran.
2 - Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran.
3 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran.
4 - Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran.
5 - Graduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran

Received: 2016-11-02 Accepted : 2016-11-02 Published : 2009-12-22

Keywords: carcass traits, broiler performance, L-Carnitin, Immune status, Blood & Serum components,

Abstract :

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of three dietary L-carnitine inclusion levels on performance, carcass traits, blood cells, serum components and immune responses on broiler chickens. 240 one- day old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) selected and randomly distributed into 12 floor pens in a randomized block design (4 treatments, 3 pens/ treatment, 20 birds/ pen) and reared until 49 days of age. L-Carnitine levels used in this experiment were zero, 125, 250 and 375 ppm in feed. Feed consumption, mortality rate, mean weight, feed conversion rate (FCR), European Efficacy Factor (EEF), antibody titers against Newcastle Disease (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI) vaccines, cholesterol, triglyceride, white blood cell and red blood cell counts, abdominal fat weight, heart weight ratio, hepatocyte changes were measured at the end of rearing. Finally all data were subjected to the analysis of variances and compared by Duncan’s method between 4 groups statistically. The results showed that: 1) L-Carnitine can improve significantly body weigh gain only in 35-49 day old, but not in earlier age. Also improve FCR, EEF, antibody titers against ND and AI vaccines. It can be considered economics to use as it was found in cost-benefit assessment. 2) L-Carnitine did not have any significant effects on serum components, blood cells counts and carcass traits, although it had a little positive improving effect on these items. It seems that L-Carnitine can improve overall performance, carcass traits, blood & serum components and immune response in broiler chickens relatively, and this improvement is more obvious in 375 mg/kg feed than 125 and 250 mg/kg feed.