Effects of Combinations of Dietary Vitamin C and Acetylsalicylic Acid on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and, Serum and Immune Response Parameters in Broilers.

Simple Summary: Chicken meat has become increasingly popular as a protein source due to its favorable protein content and balanced amino acid profile. Advances in genetics and feeding practices have led to rapid growth in commercial broiler production to meet consumer demands. As consumer preferences shift toward healthier food options, there is a need to enhance meat production and quality in the poultry industry. Compounds with antioxidant properties, such as vitamin C (VC) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), have been tested due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown positive effects of both in growth performance and immune functions. While individual studies have explored the effects of vitamin C and ASA supplementation in broilers, few have investigated their combined effects under non-stressful conditions. This study aimed to fill this gap and revealed significant effects of ASA and VC combined supplementation, with improvements noted in growth performance, carcass composition and immune response and cecal coli count. However, creatine kinase levels increased with ASA and VC intake. These findings highlight the complex interactions between ASA and VC supplementation in broilers. Further investigation is warranted to explore optimal dosages and potential effects in non-stressful conditions. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ascorbic acid (VC) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on broiler health and performance. A total of 200 Ross 308 male broilers were divided into five groups, each receiving different dietary combinations of ASA and VC (ASA: 50 or 100 mg/kg; VC: 200 or 400 mg/kg). The 42-day trial assessed parameters such as feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, serum parameters, immune response and cecal microbial flora. The results indicate significant treatment effects on feed intake and growth performance, with a higher feed intake of ADG and FCR in treatment groups (p < 0.05). Serum lipid parameters were unaffected, but creatine kinase increased with ASA and VC intake (p < 0.05). Changes in sheep red blood cell titers and influenza antibodies were noted (p < 0.05). The combination of ASA and VC positively influenced carcass traits, reducing abdominal fat and altering the ratio of immune response organs to body weight (p < 0.05). Additionally, the cecal E. coli count decreased with treatment (p < 0.05). This study underscores the intricate interactions between ASA and VC supplementation, growth performance and carcass composition and immune response in broilers. Further research is warranted to explore dosage nuances and variations under specific stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]