Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Graduated from Ph.D, Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Tehran, and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Tabriz-Tabriz
2
Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University of Tehran-Karaj
3
Assistant Professor, Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University
4
Assistant professor, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute-Karaj
5
Associate Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University ofTehran
6
Associate Professor, School of Public Health,Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of different levels of L-arginine in the diet on the growth performance, carcass traits, and blood parameters of female Ross broiler chickens within their starter period. A number of, 192 day old female Ross broiler chickens were fed with 4 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, each dietary treatment had 4 replication. Dietary treatments included 100, 153, 168 and 183% of digestible arginine, as based on the Ross catalogue recommendation. The birds, were fed from day 1 to 10. On the 10th day of experiment, three chickens per replication were randomly selected, blood samples were collected from each, and then the birds were slaughtered to measure carcass traits and determine blood parameters. The results revealed that dietary arginine treatments significantly (P<0.05) affected the increase in 10-day body weight, daily weight gain, feed efficiency, carcass weight, carcass efficiency, weight and thickness of breast muscle, thigh weight, heart weight, weight plus length of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; while decreasing (P<0.05) carcass abdominal fat weight. Arginine supplementation also increased (P<0.05) plasma concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4while decreasing (P<0.05) plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea. According to the results of the study, a consumption level of 168% digestible arginine, as based upon Ross catalogue recommendations, rendered the most desirable results on growth improvement and carcass traits, while the diet containing 183% digestible arginine, also based upon Ross catalogue recommendations, led to the greatest fat carcass reduction.
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