Ameliorative effect of synthetic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on performance traits, antioxidant status and immune response in broiler exposed to cyclic heat stress

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7604-2
• Publication Date: 2016-09-15T01:36:13Z
• Authors: Naila Chand; Sher Muhammad; Rifat Ullah Khan; Ibrahim Abdullah ...; Zia ur Rehman
• Keywords: Male; 2. Zero hunger; Hot Temperature; Body Weight; 0402 animal and dairy science; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Animal Feed; Antioxidants; 3. Good health; Stress, Physiological; Malondialdehyde; Dietary Supplements; Animals; Chickens; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

The aim of this study was to find the effect of synthetic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the performance, antioxidant status, and immune response in broiler exposed to summer stress. A total of 400-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) was randomly distributed into five treatments (5 replicates). One group served as a control (basal diet only) while the others were supplemented with GABA at the rate of 25 (GABA-25), 50 (GABA 50), 75 (GABA-75), and 100 (GABA-100) mg/kg feed. The experiment was continued for 35 days. Feed intake during the third week was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in GABA-75 and GABA-100, however, it increased significantly (P < 0.05) in GABA-100 during the fourth and fifth week. Overall mean feed intake was significantly (P < 0.05) high in GABA-75 and GABA-100. From the results, we found that body weight improved significantly (P < 0.05) in GABA-50 in week-3. During the fourth, fifth, and overall, body weight increased significantly (P < 0.05) in GABA-100. Significantly, high (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found in GABA-100 during the third, fourth, fifth, and on an overall basis. Mean Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in GABA-100 while Paraoxonase (PON1) and Newcastle disease (ND) titer increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the same group. We concluded that performance traits, antioxidant status, and immune response improved in broiler supplemented 100 mg/kg GABA, exposed to cyclic heat stress.