Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2005, 50(5):208-212 | DOI: 10.17221/4150-CJAS

Effect of dietary vitamin C supplement on reproductive performance of aviary pheasants

S. Nowaczewski, H. Kontecka
Department of Poultry Science, August Cieszkowski Agricultural University of Poznań, Poznań, Poland

The effects of three doses of vitamin C (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) added to the feed of reproductive pheasants on egg production, egg fertility and parameters of hatchability were investigated. In experiments I (1999) and II (2000) birds were kept in outdoor aviaries. In 2000, air temperatures recorded on the farm during the experiment were high (25-30oC), differing considerably from those recorded in the preceding years. In experiment I no statistically significant differences were shown between the control pheasants and those supplemented with 100 and 200 mg/kg vitamin C in terms of egg production, egg fertility and parameters of hatchability. The poorest results were found in the group of birds receiving a feed supplemented with 300 mg/kg vitamin C. In experiment II, statistically higher egg production and egg fertility were noted, compared to the control group, in the groups supplemented with 100 and 200 mg/kg vitamin C. Compared to the control group, pheasants from these groups were also characterized by higher hatchability from set eggs (by approx. 15 percentage units) and fertilized eggs (by approx. 9 percentage units) and smaller number of unhatched chicks and dead embryos after day 10 of incubation. In experiment II, the beneficial effect of 100 and 200 mg supplements of vitamin C on the studied parameters could result from the soothing action of the vitamin on the effects of heat stress. The present results justify the prophylactic use of vitamin C supplement at 100 mg/kg feed in the nutrition of reproductive pheasants reared in aviaries. Under heat stress (high air temperatures) increasing the dose of this vitamin to 200 mg/kg feed seems beneficial.

Keywords: vitamin C; pheasant; reproduction; laying; hatchability; stress

Published: May 31, 2005  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Nowaczewski S, Kontecka H. Effect of dietary vitamin C supplement on reproductive performance of aviary pheasants. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2005;50(5):208-212. doi: 10.17221/4150-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Bell D.E., Marion J.E. (1990): Vitamin C in laying hen diets. Poultry Sci., 69, 1900-1904. Go to original source...
    2. Elansary E., Elsharawy G., Asar M., Waleed F. (1999): Effect of ascorbic acid on semen characteristics of Alexandria cockerels under hot ambient temperatures. Poultry Sci., 78, (Suppl. 1), 35.
    3. Keshavarz K. (1996): The effect of different levels of vitamin C and cholecalciferol with adequate or marginal levels of dietary calcium on performance and eggshell quality of laying hens. Poultry Sci., 75, 1227-1235. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Klecker D., Havliček L., Zeman L. (2002): Heat stress in laying hens. Rocz. Nauk. Zoot., 16 (Supl. z.) 127-130.
    5. Kolb E., Seehawer J. (2001): Bedeutung und Anwendung der Ascorbinsäure beim Geflügel. Arch. Geflügelkd. 65, 106-113.
    6. Kontecka H., Książkiewicz J., Nowaczewski S., Kisiel T. (2000): Wpływ dodatku witaminy C do paszy na wyniki wylęgowości i wybrane wskaźniki hematologiczne jednodniowych kacząt. Przegl. Hod. Zesz. Nauk. PTZ, 49, 499-500.
    7. Kontecka H., Książkiewicz J., Nowaczewski S., Kisiel T., Krystianiak S. (2001): Effect of feed supplementation with vitamin C on reproduction results in Pekin ducks. In: Proc. 9th Int. Symp. Current Problems of Breeding, Health and Production of Poultry, 6-7 luty. České Budějovice, Czech Republic, 42.
    8. Kontecka H., Witkiewicz K., Nowaczewski S. (1999): Effect of the addition of different quantities of vitamin C to diets of laying hens on production parameters and quality of egg shell. Anim. Sci., 1, 31-36.
    9. Kontecka K., Witkiewicz K., Sobczak J. (1997): Wpływ dodatku witaminy C do paszy na wskaźniki produkcyjne i hematologiczne kur nieśnych. Przegl. Hod. Zesz. Nauk. PTZ, 32, 139-145.
    10. Krystianiak S., Nowaczewski S., Kontecka H., Torgowski J. (1999): Cechy reprodukcyjne bażantów łownych utrzymywanych w wolierach. Przegl. Kom. Nauk. Roln. Kom. Nauk Leśn. PTPN, 87, 171-177.
    11. Larbier M., Leclercq B. (1995): Żywienie drobiu. In: Pastuszewskiej B., Smulikowskiej S. (eds.): Tłumaczenie zbiorowe pod red. Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa.
    12. Lechowski I., Nagórna-Stasiak B. (1995): Witamina C u drobiu domowego. Med. Wet., 4, 216-218.
    13. Mróz E. (2003): Bażanty. Oficyna Wydawnicza HOŻA, Warszawa.
    14. Njoku P.C., Nwazota A.O.U. (1989): Effect of dietary inclusion of ascorbic acid and palm oil on the performance of laying hens in hot tropical environment. Brit. Poultry Sci., 30, 831-840. Go to original source...
    15. Poultry Feeding Standard (1996): Praca zbiorowa pod red. Smulikowskiej S. Wyd. PAN.
    16. Pardue S.L., Thaxton J.P. (1986): Ascorbic acid in poultry: a review. World's Poultry Sci. J., 42, 107-123. Go to original source...
    17. Peebles E. D., Brake J. (1985): Relationship of dietary ascorbic acid to broiler breeder performance. Poultry Sci., 64, 2041-2048. Go to original source...
    18. Torgowski J., Kontecka H. (1998): Wpływ dodatku witaminy C i żelaza do paszy na wskaźniki produkcyjne i hematologiczne bażantów łownych (Phasianus colchicus). Rocz. AR Pozn. 302, Zoot., 50, 235-242.
    19. Whitehead C.C., Keller T. (2003): An update on ascorbic acid in poultry. World's Poultry Sci. J., 59, 161-184. Go to original source...
    20. Zulkifli I., Che Norma M.T., Chong C.H., Loh T.C. (2000a): Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and tonic immobility reactions to preslaughter handling in broiler chickens treated with ascorbic acid. Poultry Sci., 79, 402-406. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Zulkifli I., Che Norma M.T., Chong C.H., Loh T.C. (2000b): The effects of crating and road transportation on stress and fear responses of broiler chickens treated with ascorbic acid. Arch. Geflügelkd. 65, 33-37.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content