Influence of large doses of ascorbic acid on performance, plasma calcium, bone characteristics, and eggshell quality in broilers and Leghorn hens

• Published in: Poultry science 1993-04, Vol.72 (4), p.691-700
• Main Authors: Orban, J.I. (Auburn University, AL), Roland, D.A. Sr, Cummins, K, Lovell, R.T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACIDE ASCORBIQUE; ACIDO ASCORBICO; Animals; Ascorbic Acid - administration & dosage; Body Weight; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Bone Density - physiology; CALCIO; CALCIUM; Calcium - blood; CALIDAD; CASCARA DE HUEVO; Chickens - metabolism; COQUILLE D'OEUF; DESEMPENO; Diet; Eating; EFFICACITE ALIMENTAIRE; EFICIENCIA DE CONVERSION DEL PIENSO; Egg Shell - metabolism; Female; FEMELLE; FORMACION OSEA; FORMATION DES OS; GAIN DE POIDS; GANANCIA DE PESO; HEMBRA; HUESOS; HUESOS DE LOS MIEMBROS; Male; OS DES MEMBRES; PERFORMANCE DE PONTE; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; POLLO; POLLO DE ENGORDE; POULET; POULET DE CHAIR; QUALITE; RENDIMIENTO EN LA POSTURA; RESISTANCE MECANIQUE; RESISTENCIA MECANICA; Space life sciences; Specific Gravity
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.0720691

Four experiments were conducted using broilers (Experiments 1 and 2) or White Leghorn hens (Experiments 3 and 4) to determine the effects of large doses of dietary ascorbic acid on performance, plasma concentration of total and ionic calcium, bone characteristics, and eggshell quality. A total of 564 male broilers were fed diets containing ascorbic acid (ranging from 0 to 3,000 ppm) from 3 to 7 wk of age. Weight gain and feed conversion were measured, and blood plasma was analyzed for total and ionic calcium. Leg bones (femur, tibia, and metatarsus) were analyzed for bone mineral content, density, and breaking strength. In Experiments 3 and 4, a total of 484 Leghorn hens were fed diets containing ascorbic acid (ranging from 0 to 3,000 ppm) for 4 wk. Egg weight and specific gravity were determined, and plasma and tibiae were analyzed as in Experiments 1 and 2. Results of the broiler experiment (Experiment 2) indicated that plasma ionic calcium was significantly increased (P .05) in ascorbic-acid-treated birds. Among leg bones examined, femur strength was improved by 16% in birds fed 2,000 ppm of ascorbic acid (Experiment 2). Other bone characteristics were not affected. In the layer experiments (Experiments 3 and 4), egg weight increased up to 5% and egg specific gravity was improved in hens fed 2,000 or 3,000 ppm of ascorbic acid, which also had increased calcium in the blood. Results suggest that large doses of ascorbic acid in the diet influence calcium metabolism, affecting bone and eggshell mineralization in chickens