Effect of vitamin E supplementation on performance, immununity and oxidative parameters in broiler starter chicks fed different sources of vegetable oil

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing different concentrations (10, 50 an 100 mg/kg diet) of vitamin E (Vit E) on performance, immunity (antibody titres to Newcastle disease vaccine; lymphocyte proliferation ratio - LPR) and oxidative parameters (lipid peroxidase - LPx; glutathione peroxidase - GSH Px; heterophyill: lymphocyte ratio - H:L) in broiler starter chicks (d 1 to 21 d of age) fed three sources of supplemental oil (sunflower- SFO, palm - PMO, safflower - SAO). Three concentrations of Vit E and three oil sources were supplemented in maize - soybean meal based diet in 3 × 3 factorial experiment. Each diet was fed ad libitum to eight replicates containing six birds in each housed in stainless steel battery brooders. Interaction between source of oil and concentration of Vit E did not influence body weight gain, feed efficiency, antibody titres against NDV and H:L ratio. Increasing the concentration of Vit E progressively increased the concentrations of protein, albumin and triglycerides in serum, decreased the activity of LPx and increased GSH Px activity and LPR in all three oil sources tested. It was concluded that sunflower oil, palm oil or safflower oil could be used as source of supplemental oil in broiler starter chick diet without affecting performance, immunity and activities of oxidative enzymes. The lowest concentration of vitamin E (10 mg/kg) appeared to be adequate for broiler starter chicks for performance. Higher concentrations (50 or 100mg/kg) of Vit E reduced oxidative stress and increased lymphocyte proliferation ratio in broiler starter chicks.