FUNAAB alpha biomet
Description
The FUNAAB-Alpha chicken, a dual-purpose genotype developed by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), represents an improved local breed with enhanced adaptability and productivity under tropical conditions. Despite its relative heat tolerance compared to exotic breeds, the FUNAAB-Alpha chicken remains susceptible to acute thermal challenges that may disrupt its physiological balance and limit its productive efficiency. The chickens of three strains (normal feather, frizzle feather and naked neck) were offered citrus peel powder in water at the rate of 0, 3, 6 and 9g per litre drinking water before being subjected to acute heat challenge. The null hypothesis (H0) is that citrus peel powder at varied dosage does not change the body temperature and haematological responses in FUNAAB alpha chickens during acute heat challenge while H1 means citrus peel powder at varied dosage does change the responses.
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The thermo-physiological response of FUNAAB-Alpha chickens administered sweet citrus peel powder (SCPP) during acute heat exposure was investigated. One-day old FUNAAB-Alpha chicks (n = 360) 120 birds per genotype consisting of the Normal Feather (NF), Frizzle Feather (FF), and Naked Neck (NN) were used for this experiment in a 3 by 4 factorial layout (Genotypes: NF, NN and FF; Dosage of SCPP: 0g, 3g, 6g, 9g). After 8 weeks of SCPP administration, twenty-four birds (per treatment) of each genotype were exposed to an acute heat challenge (AHC) at 40 ± 2°C for 1 hour. Thermo-physiological data were monitored before and after the AHC. At 8 weeks of age, fifteen birds per treatment of each genotype were thermally challenged in a heat chamber at a temperature of 40 ± 2°C for a duration of 1 hour. Physiological responses and blood samples of the birds were taken before and after the thermal challenge. Rectal temperature (oC) was measured with a digital thermometer inserted into the rectum of the birds until it beeps. Skin temperature of the breast (STOB) and skin temperature under the wing (STUW) were measured with an infrared thermometer. Respiratory rate (breath per minute) was taken by counting the flank movement of the bird for 1 minute. Blood samples were collected from 6 birds per replicate via the jugular vein using sterile syringes and needles into bottles with and without anti-coagulant (Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)) for the determination of selected haematological and serum biochemical indices. Packed cell volume (PCV), Heterophil (H), and Lymphocytes (L) were determined according to the standard procedures for avian, while heterophil-lymphocyte ratio was calculated. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glucose were determined using diagnostic kits.
Institutions
- Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta