Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation on the Performance of Desi, Fayoumi and Commercial White Leghorn Chicken Exposed to Heat S

Sixty layers (50 weeks of age) each of native Desi, Fayoumi and commercial White Leghorn (Nick Chick) were kept in wire cages following completely randomized design for 8 weeks during summer season (June and July). The birds of each type were divided into two groups i.e. with and without supplementation of vitamin C with three replicates assigned to each layer group (10 birds in each replicate). The vitamin C (C-vit fort) was added at the rate of 5 ml/5 liter in drinking water throughout the experimental period in respective layer group. The results indicated that the mean egg production, egg weight and egg shell thickness improved (P<0.05) with supplementation of vitamin C in all layers. The average feed consumption of three types of layers was also improved (P<0.05) with supplementation of vitamin C. The blood picture showed that the concentration of ascorbic acid was higher (P<0.05) in groups supplemented with vitamin C. However, the concentrations of blood enzymes (ALP, SGPT and SGOT) were lowered (P<0.01) with vitamin C supplementation in all types of layers. Based on the findings of the present study, it was concluded that vitamin C supplementation was effective in improving performance of layers under heat stress conditions.