Arginine and phytogenics additive on broilers and laying hens health

Abstract

The aim of this study will be to evaluate the effects of different levels of digestible arginine and phytogenics additive on immunity and health of broilers and laying hens. Three trials will be conducted; the first two experiments will be carried out with broilers and the last one with laying hens. Broilers will undergo in two experiments one in a thermoneutral environment and another in cyclic heat stress from 1 to 42 days old. The third trial will be conducted with laying hens at 30 weeks old. The experimental design of three trials will be in a completely randomized design with 4x3 factorial arrangement of treatments (levels of digestible arginine, 100, 110, 120, 130% of animal requirements X 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2% of phytogenics additive: cinnamon extract, Baccharis dracunculifolia extracts, grape seed extract and Astragalus membranaceus extract) with twelve treatmentes and four repetitions with broilers and six repetitions with laying hens. Evaluated parameters will be organ morphometry, histomorphometry of Bursa of Fabricius, serum glucose, creatine kinase, serum uric acid, heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, anitbody titers against NewCastle disease, the evaluation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances on small intestine and blood, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide production of peritoneal macrophages and cutaneous basophilic hipersensitivity response. In the study with hens will be also evaluated performance and egg quality.