Heat stress is one of the most challenging environmental conditions affecting commercial poultry. Compared to other species of domestic animals, broiler chickens are more sensitive to high ambient temperatures. They have no sweat glands, a rapid metabolism and high body temperature. Supplementation of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been found to improve feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, immune response and antioxidant status in poultry. The present work was conducted to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid on biochemical parameters during heat stress in commercial broilers. |
