Supplementation of Vitamin E and C Reduces Oxidative Stress in Broiler Breeder Hens during Summer

The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of vitamin E and C supplementation on the antioxidant status of broiler breeder hens during summer. Two hundred seventy broiler breeder birds (coloured) were divided into nine groups with three replicates having 10 birds in each, and were supplemented two levels of antioxidant vitamins E (250 mg or 500 mg/kg) or C (200 mg or 400 mg/kg) alone or in combinations for a period of 8 weeks. All the vitamin supplemented groups showed significantly lowered malondialdehyde (MDA) level, higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) enzymes and higher Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) activities in erythrocytes than control. However, supplementation with combination of vitamins proved to be better than individual supplementation. It could be concluded that the combination of vitamins C and E at lower level (@ 200 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively) had higher erythrocytic antioxidant status in coloured broiler breeder hens as compared to individual vitamin supplementation during hot and humid stress.