The effects of propolis and vitamin C supplemented feed on performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to lead

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C and propolis supplemented diets on nutrient utilization, carcass characteristics and performance in broilers exposed to oxidative stress by lead administration. 360 three-days-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four treatment groups each containing 90 animals, including six replicate groups for each treatment. The experimental groups were designed for a 3-42 days period as follows: no supplement to basal ration (Control; group I); supplement of 500 ppm vitamin C and 200 ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Vitamin C+Pb; group II); supplement of 1 g/kg propolis and 200 ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Propolis+Pb; group III); and supplement of 200 ppm lead (as lead acetate) to basal ration (Pb; group IV). Feed intake was reduced with lead inclusion in the diet (P<0.05). The presence of lead in the diet reduced the body weight gain (BWG) but vitamin C or propolis supplementation improved the BWG in comparison to lead administered group at 3-42 days (P<0.01). Feed conversion ratio of control, vitamin C+lead, and propolis+lead groups improved (P<0.05) in comparison to lead administrated group from 29 to 35 days. Utilization of crude protein improved with both vitamin C and propolis supplementation in comparison to the lead administrated group (P<0.05). Hot and cold carcass, leg and breast yields were higher (P<0.05) for the control than for the lead added groups (P<0.05). Except to breast yield, other carcass characteristics in the control group were similar with those of the vitamin C or propolis supplemented groups. The results suggested that lead inclusion in diet of birds had negative effects on the performance while propolis supplements improved the growth, nutrient utilization and carcass yield.