Effects of swedish bitter added to drinking water onperformance and some blood parameters of broilerchickens raised under high environmentaltemperature

In the current study, the effects of Swedish bitter (SB) supplementation in drinking water on growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters of broiler chickens raised under high environmental temperature were investigated. A total of 115-day-old male broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatments groups: Control group (0, no SB in drinking water), 0.2 group (0.2 mL/L SB in drinking water), 0.4 group (0.4 mL/L SB in drinking water), 0.6 group (0.6 mL/L SB in drinking water) and 0.8 group (0.8 mL/L SB in drinking water). Chicks were fed basal diet and their own drinking water until slaughter age (42 days). Chicks were exposed to cyclic high temperature of 28.9 °C for 8 h per day between 14 and 42 days of age. No significant differences were observed among the experimental groups in terms of live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, water consumption, internal organ weights and carcass characteristics (P>0.05). Serum AST concentration of blood parameters was highest in the group supplemented with 0.6 mL/L SB and lowest in the group supplemented with 0.8 mL/L SB (P<0.05). Serum cholesterol concentration was significantly highest in the group supplemented with 0.4 mL/L SB and lowest in the group supplemented with 0.8 mL/L SB (P<0.05). In addition, serum sodium concentration was highest in the control group and lowest in the group supplemented with 0.6 mL/L SB (P<0.05). Serum ALT, LDL, TTL, NTL, Disulfide, TAC, TOS, OSI, calcium, phosphorus and potassium concentrations were not affected by the treatment groups (P>0.05). As a result of the study, it was observed that adding 0.8 mL/L SB to the drinking water of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress can reduce liver damage and lower cholesterol levels. On the other hand, it was concluded that adding 0.6 mL/L SB can disrupt electrolyte balance. It was concluded that adding 0.8 mL/L SB to drinking water under high ambient temperature can reduce liver damage, lower cholesterol and maintain electrolyte balance.