TOCOPHEROL SUPPLEMENTATION ON STOCKING DENSITY OF BROILER: EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND SERUM ENZYMES

A total of two hundred and seventy day-old Arbor Acre strain of broiler chicks were used for this research. Five treatment: T1 - positive control (10 birds/m2), T2 - negative control, T3, T4 and T5 had 20 birds/m2. T1 and T2 had no supplementation with vitamin E (d1-α-tocopheryl acetate). T3, T4 and T5 had 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150 mg/kg vitamin E supplementations respectively. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain and serum enzymes (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) were determined. There were no significant changes in the weight gain and final weight of the birds fed the different dietary treatments. The feed intake increased significantly in birds fed T2 (1.91kg) and compared to their counterpart on vitamin E supplementation (from 1.58 to 1.60 kg). However, FCR of birds on diets T1 (2.50), T4 (2.77) and T5 (2.50) was similar (P>0.05). The total protein and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) values were neither affected by increased stocking density nor with or without vitamin E supplementation. However, increased stocking density without vitamin E supplementation (T2) (0.97 U.I/l) resulted in a significant reduction in the albumin values. Although ALT values increased significantly with increase in vitamin E supplementation, the birds on dietary T1 (8.00 U.I/l) had similar level of ALT with their counterpart on T4 (7.50U.I/l) and T5 (8.50 U.I/l). In conclusion broiler chicks could be stocked up to 20 birds/m2 only if the diet is supplemented with 100mg/kg vitamin E.