Effects of curcumin and nanocurcumin on growth performance, blood gas indices and ascites mortalities of broiler chickens reared under normal and cold stress conditions

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin/nanocurcumin on performance, blood gases and ascites mortality in broiler chickens reared under normal and cold stress conditions. This experimental design was a split plot with 500 Ross 308 male chicks. Plots were two identical houses; each consisted of five diets (as sub-plots) with 5 replicates of 10 birds each. The diets were: (1) control; (2) control+ 200 mg/kg curcumin; (3) control+ 400 mg/kg curcumin; (4) control+ 200 mg/kg nanocurcumin; (5) control+ 400 mg/kg nanocurcumin. Birds in both houses reared under recommended temperatures until 14 d, when the temperature was dropped in one house from 28.5 to 13–15 °C and maintained at this level to induce ascites until 42 d. Whereas, in the second house the temperature was maintained according to the hybrid production guidelines. Weight gain was reduced and FCR was increased in birds reared under cold temperature compared to those in normal temperature condition. Cold stress increased blood pCO2, HTC and decreased pO2 and O2 saturation (p < .05) in birds at 42 d of age. Birds fed diets containing 200 mg/kg curcumin/nanocurcumin had higher weight gain compared to those fed control diet (p < .05). Moreover, supplementation of diets with curcumin/nanocurcumin alleviated the adverse effect of cold stress as reflected by a reduction in HTC and an increased O2 saturation at 42 d of age. It is concluded that the addition of curcumin/nanocurcumin to diet might be an effective feed additive to alleviate the adverse effect of cold stress on performance and ascites syndrome.