EFFECT OF YUCCA SCHIDIGERA EXTRACT ON IMMUNE PARAMETERS OF AMMONIA STRESSED BROILER CHICKENS.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Animal Health Research Institute (Zagazig Laboratory).

Abstract

This study was carried out in a private broiler chicken farm at Sharkia Governorate .The chickens were reared under bad ventilation system, overcrowding (28 birds/m2) and high levels of humidity and ammonia (70-100 ppm). Birds were 35 days old with weight range of 800-900 gm. The chickens were divided into two equal groups in the same house with plastic and wire screen, group (B) left untreated and group (C) treated with Yucca schidigera extract (100mg/kg of feed) for one week. The control group (A) was obtained from another farm of the same age, breed, ration and protocol and reared under good condition with nearly normal level of ammonia (15-20 ppm). The results revealed that chickens under high levels of ammonia showed poor feed con- version and significant decreases in the body Weight gain, feed intake, plasma interleukin-2 (IL-2), serum total, a and y globulins in addition to leucocytopenia associated with lymphocytopenia and eosinopenia. However it showed significant increase in the levels of plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Our results pointed out that administration of Yucca schidigera extract to chickens under high level of ammonia minimized the adverse effect of ammonia on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, immuno-endocrine parameters (ACTH & IL-2). Globulins and leucogram.

Main Subjects