Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the effect of antioxidant supplementation to diet in order to improve the productive
performance, fertility, hatchability, and some physiological traits of broiler breeders hens reared under hot climate. One
hundred hens (Cobb 500), thirty five weeks old, and twenty cocks were used in this study. They were divided into four groups
(25 hens and 5 males /group with five replicates) (5 hens and one cock each). The groups were treated for 12 weeks as follows:
T1 Control reared on standard ration, T2 reared on standard ration supplemented with sodium selenite 0.5 mg / kg ration, T3
reared on standard ration supplemented with vitamin E 450 mg / kg ration and T4 reared on standard ration supplemented with
sodium selenite 0.5 mg / kg and vitamin E 450 mg / kg ration. Birds reared under standard condition in semi opened house the
temperature was maximum 36C in the morning and 25C at night. Statistical analysis of data showed that the Vitamin E and
selenium treatments caused a significant improvement (P≤0.05) in means of egg production H.D.%, accumulative egg
production, feed conversion ratio, fertility percentage, hatchability percentage, number of chicks produced / hen, mortality
percentage and shell thickness as compared with the control group. Also a significant improvement in the physiological and
biochemical parameters as represented by the increase in total RBC count, Ηb concentration, PCV and the decrease serum
glucose, triglycerides, ALT, AST level in serum as well as the increase in liver and heart glycogen concentration. In
conclusion, sodium selenite and vitamin E supplementation to the broiler breeder ration improved some productive and
physiological parameters.