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Abstract
Oruwari, B.M., Mbere, O.O. and Sese, B.T. 1995. Ascorbic acid as a dietary supplement for Babcock hens in a tropical condition. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 8:121–128.
A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary ascorbic acid (AA) on the performance of laying hens under tropical condition. Blood AA, feed intake, body weight gain and mortality were other measurements taken in determining the effects of supplementing the diets for hens with 0,1,1.5 or 2g AA/kg diet. The results showed that laying hens have a requirement for supplement AA in a tropical environment. Under the prevailing climatic condition, addition of 1.5 g AA/kg diet was most beneficial to egg production, the most important parameter measured. Supplemental AA significantly (P < 0.05) improved interior egg and shell qualities (Haugh Units and shell thickness, respectively), blood AA, feed intake, body weight gain and mortality but did not improve (P > 0.05) egg weight compared to the control. In regard to the integrity maintenance and normal performance of hens, supplemental AA tended to normalise the physiological status of hens under tropical condition.