ORIGINAL PAPER
The effects of vitamin C-polyethylene glycol
complex on growth performance and immunity in
broiler chickens
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1
College of Animal Resources, Kangwon National University,
Chunchon 200-701, Korea
2
College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University,
Seoul 151-742, Korea
Publication date: 2005-01-31
Corresponding author
B. J. Chae
College of Animal Resources, Kangwon National University,
Chunchon 200-701, Korea
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2005;14(1):139-150
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin C-polyethylene glycol complex (VCPEG) in broiler chickens during heat stress. For a 6-week feeding trial, a total of 330 broiler chickens
were allotted to five dietary treatments. The dietary vitamin C (VC) levels (treatments) were, mg/kg:
1. 0 VC (negative control), 2. 200 VC as ascorbate (positive control), 3. 10 VC-PEG, 4. 20 VC-PEG, and
5. 50 VC-PEG. At the end of the experiments nine chickens per treatment were sacrificed for the analyses
of VC contents in blood and liver, and meat quality. During the starter period, chickens on negative control
group (no VC added) grew slower (P<0.05) than others. During the overall period, chickens fed diets
containing 20, 50 mg/kg VC-PEG, and 200 mg/kg ascorbate showed improved weight gain (P<0.05) than
those fed 0 or 10 mg/kg VC-PEG. VC concentrations in plasma and liver were higher in chickens fed diets
with vitamin C. Bone strength was also higher (linear, P=0.001) as dietary VC level was increased. There
was no effect on lymphocyte sub-population. Antibody response to Newcastle disease and infectious
bronchitis vaccination was higher in 20 mg/kg VC-PEG fed group as compared with other VC-PEG
groups. In conclusion, VC supplementation was beneficial to broilers during heat stress.
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