Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Glutamine on the Growth, Immunocompetence Traits, Blood Biochemical Attributes and Histopathology of Turkey Poults

Dietary glutamine (Gln) supplementation leads to beneficial morphological and physiological effects on the gastrointestinal tract of broilers, particularly during early development. The present study was designed to study the effect of different levels of Gln supplementation on growth, immunocompetence traits, blood biochemical attributes and histopathology of turkey poults.

84 day old turkey poults were distributed into four dietary treatment groups, having three replicates of 7 birds each. Birds of control group (T1) were fed a basal diet, while T2 group was supplemented with 0.5% Gln along with basal diet, T3 group was supplemented with 1 % Gln with basal diet and T4 group was supplemented with 1.5% Gln along with basal diet.

T3 poults had significantly (P<0.05) better FCR than other treatment groups. HA titre and IgM response was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 as compared to other groups. Similarly, IgG response was comparatively better in T3 group as compared to other groups after 8 weeks of age. Serum IgG, IgM and cortisol level was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 as compared to T1 and comparatively higher than other treatment groups. Total plasma protein and ALP values was significantly (P<0.05) higher in T2 as compared to T1 and comparatively higher than T3 and T4. Serum SOD value was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 than other treatment groups. LPO value was significantly (P<0.05) higher in control group as compared to glutamine supplemented groups. Supplementation of Gln at different levels showed normal histoarchitecture of both liver and spleen in all treatment groups.