Table 1.
Effects of dietary steam-exploded pine particles supplementation on the growth performances of thermoneutral and heat-stressed broiler chickens.
| Treatments | Initial BW | Final BW | % Difference in BW | Feed Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% NT | 2689.5 ± 86.5 | 2721.5 ± 84.2 | 1.23 b ± 0.37 | 55.60 a ± 2.2 |
| 0% HS | 2631 ± 111.2 | 2608.5 ± 109.8 | −0.87 a ± 0.45 | 43.20 a,b ± 5.2 |
| 1% HS | 2645.5 ± 39.7 | 2631.5 ± 39.5 | −0.52 a ± 0.73 | 40.00 a ± 5.9 |
| 2% HS | 2670 ± 50.7 | 2648.5 ± 49.7 | −0.80 a ± 0.24 | 38.60 a ± 2.1 |
| p-value | 0.952 | 0.746 | 0.022 | 0.044 |
Chickens were fed with diets containing 0% (control), 1%, and 2% shredded, steam-exploded pine particles (SPP) from 8th day to 41st day of age. On 41st day, birds were either kept at thermoneutral temperature (21.0 °C) and provided control diet (0% NT) or heat-stressed at 31.0 °C for six hours and supplemented with 0% (0% HS), 1% (1% HS) and 2% (2% HS) SPP in diets. Data show mean ± SEM (n = 10). a,b: different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05). Abbreviations: BW, body weight; NT, normal temperature; HS, heat stress.