Serum biochemistry and hormonal profile of finisher broilers fed dietary supplementation of acetylsalicylic acid during dry season

Abstract

Acute heat stress contributes greatly to sudden death in animals and induces serious intracorporal damage even if the animal survives. This trial was therefore conducted to unravel the effect of dietary supplementation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the serum biochemical composition and hormonal status of finisher broiler chickens during the transition from dry to rainy season (January – March). One hundred and ninety-two (192) day-old broiler chicks (ANAK) were randomly allotted to four treatment diets supplemented with 0, 0.025, 0.050, and 0.075% of ASA at 48 birds/treatment in four replicates of 12 birds each. The result revealed that broilers fed 0.075% ASA had the highest (p<0.05) aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase with the values of 69.12 ± 6.52 IU/L, 58.02 ± 11.75 IU/L respectively, while broilers fed 0.050% ASA had the lowest (p<0.05) cholesterol value of 57.27 ± 2.61 mg/dL. The highest (p<0.05) total protein value of 4.20 ± 0.11 g/dL was observed in broilers fed the control diet. There were significant treatment effects (p<0.05) in all the hormonal parameters investigated. Estradiol was observed to increase as the level of ASA supplementation increased. Similarly, broilers fed 0.075% ASA had the highest (p<0.05) progesterone value. It could be concluded that ASA supplementation improves serum biochemical profile, as well as reduces the cholesterol level of experimental birds.