PANTING BEHAVIOR PATTERNS’ EFFECT ON EGG PRODUCTION AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF HEAT-STRESSED LAYER CHICKENS SERVED VITAMIN-C AND FOLATES’ SUPPLEMENTED DIET

Abstract

The ameliorative use of vitamin-C and folates in managing heat-stress-induced panting behavior of layer chickens and its effect on egg production and water consumption were examined. A total of 96 laying hens aged 20 weeks were randomly divided into four treatment groups of 24 birds/group, indicated as T1, T2, T3 and T4. All the treatment groups were subjected to 3-hours supplementary heat for 4-consecutive days of each week for 12 weeks. Formulated diets for birds on T2, T3 and T4 were supplemented with 250mg of vitamin-C, 250mg of Vitamin-C+1mg of folates and 300mg vitamin-C+1mg of folates respectively per Kg of feed. T1 served as the control group without supplementation. The panting rate was significantly highest (P<0.05) in T1 while T4 had the least panting rate, suggesting that combining vitamin-C (300mg) and folates (1mg) per kg of feed is an effective ameliorative remedy to control panting in laying hens. T1 consumed the highest volume of water per day. This high penchant for water by T1 explains the defensive or survival mechanism employed by the heat-stressed birds which usually elect to pant, expending large amount of water, which must be replaced if the animal is to maintain effective heat regulation. Daily egg production was significant (P<0.05) highest in T3 (8.15) followed by T4 and lowest in T1. These results suggest that the dietary inclusion of vitamin-C (300mg/kg feed) and folates (1mg/kg feed) is a nutritional management strategy to reduce the negative impact of behavioral panting condition on egg production and water consumption.