Abstract:
Heat stress poses a substantial challenge to poultry production worldwide, highlighting
the urgent need for effective management strategies. This study investigated the
efficacy of probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and ascorbic acid as antistress
agents using cloacal and body surface temperatures (CT and BST) as heat stress
biomarkers in broiler chickens. A total of 56 broiler chicks were used for the
experiment and were divided into four distinct groups: control, probiotics (1 g/
kg of feed), ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg of feed) and the combination of probiotics
and ascorbic acid (1 g/kg and 200 mg/kg of feed, respectively). The study lasted
35 days; measurements were taken for ambient temperature (AT), CT, and BST.
The ambient temperature in the pens consistently exceeded the thermoneutral
zone (TNZ) established for broiler chickens. The CT values for broiler chickens in
the probiotic group were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to the control
group. Additionally, the BST values in the probiotic and probiotic + ascorbic acid
groups were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those in the control group. The
findings suggest that incorporating probiotics, with or without ascorbic acid,
can effectively reduce CT and BST values in broiler chickens thereby, enhancing
thermoregulation when compared to the control group. This implies that using
probiotics in poultry diets may enhance health and growth performance, potentially
leading to better feed efficiency and reduced reliance on antibiotics. Implementing
these dietary strategies could improve the productivity and welfare of broiler
chickens in commercial settings.
