Vol. 8, Issue 9 (2019)

Author(s):
Dinesh KT and Karthiayini K

Abstract:
The present study was carried out to investigate the application potential of acerola berry (Malpighia glabra) as an anti-stressor to alleviate transportation stress in Vencobb strain of broiler chicken. A total of 45 chicks of five weeks age, randomly selected from a flock of 1000 birds were equally divided into three groups (G I, G II and GIII) and reared with ad libitum feed and water as well as identical photoperiod. The GIII group of birds were supplemented with 25 ml of aqueous extract of acerola berry fruit in drinking water for one week before transportation. At sixth week of age, GI group of birds were sacrificed without transportation. Birds of G II and G III groups were subjected to 180 km of transportation. Cage density during transportation was 0.25 sq. ft/bird (Ministry of Environment and Forest 2001). The average vehicle speed during transportation was 60 km/h. Mean temperature during transportation was 25±0.27 °C and relative humidity was 74.87±3.32%. The GII and GIII birds were sacrificed immediately after transportation. The study revealed that the heterophil count, Heterophil: Lymphocyte (H/L)ratio, levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol, uric acid and malondialdehyde (MDA) were higher and lymphocyte count was lower in GII birds when compared to GI birds. The GIII birds had a Heterophil: Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations and MDA levels comparable with that of GI birds. The serum protein concentration was not affected by the transportation. The present finding indicates that acerola berry (Malpighia glabra) can be used as supplement to reduce the transportation stress of birds.