EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE DIET OF HEAT STRESSED LAYING HENS

An experiment was conducted  to determine the effects of synthetic ascorbic acid (AA) in laying hens during hot dry season of the year. One hundred and eighty Shika Brown commercial layers (age 30 weeks) obtained from National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) were used in this study. There were four dietary treatment groups in completely randomized design replicated three times with each replicate consisting of  15 birds. Ascorbic Acid at the rate of 100, 2000 and 300mg were added to the treatment groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively while treatment group 1 serves as control and had no ascorbic acid. The study lasted for 12 weeks period. It was observed that dietary AA had significant effects on the performance, egg quality characteristics, hematological status and rectal temperature of laying hens. It was concluded that supplemental AA at the rate of 200mg/kg diet was adequate for the performance, egg quality characteristics and hematological status of laying hens during hot-dry season.