A BSTRACT

This research was conducted with one hundred and ninety-two day old broiler chicks to evaluate the effect of diets supplementation of ascorbic acid on coccidia challenged broiler chickens. The design was a 4x2 factorial in a completely randomised design. The main-factor was the period or length of time of administering ascorbic acid while the sub-factor was the dosage of ascorbic acid used For the fi.cd composition. The birds were challenged with oocysts of Elmer/a leizella at the end of the third week. The growth parameters, oocyst count, caecum length and width and the weight of the adrenal glands were recorded before the chicks were treated against coccidiosis. There was significant (P<O.05) difference in the feed to gain ratio for the main-factors, but not for the sub-factors and interaction between the two factors. The weight gain was not significant for the two factors and also the interactions; while the feed intake was significant only for the main-factor. The oocyst count and percentage mortality were significantly (P<O.05) different for the main-factors and interactions, but not for the sub-factors.The caecum length, caecurn width, and the weigth of' the adrenal glands were significantly different for the main-factors, but not for the sub-factors and interactions. At the end of 8 weeks experimental period, the feed to gain ratio was not significantly (P>O.05) different for the main-factors, sub-factors and interactions. The live, defeathered and dressed weight were significantly (P<O.05) different for the two factors and the interactions. The caecum length and weight of the adrenal glands were significantly (P<O.05) different for the main-factors and the interactions, but not For the sub-factors. For the haematological parameters and plasma constituents; PCV, Hb, WBC, RBC, MCV, MCHC, Plasma protein and Plasma lipid were significantly (P<O.05) different for the main-factors, sub-factors and interactions, except for MCHC which was not significantly (P>O.05) different for the sub-factors and interactions, and plasma protein which did not differ significantly (P>O.05) for the interactions only. For the economic analysis, there was significant (P<O.05) difference in the price/kg weight gain, revenue and gross margin, for the main-factors and interactions, but not for the sub- factors. The results indicate that supplementing broiler diets with 150mg of ascorbic acid per kg of feed reduces the incidence of coccidiosis, increases performance of' broiler chickens and enhances profitability of the venture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT x

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

.1 Aims and objectives 2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Isolation and natural occurrencef vitamin c 3

2.2 Properties olascorbic acid 5

2.3 Metabolism of ascorbic acic 6

2.4 Biochemical interrelationships of vitamin c 7

2.5 Ascorbic acid deficiency 12

2.6 Practical applications of vitamin c 13

2.7 Aetiology of coccidiosis . .. 16

2.8 Epidemiology of elmer/a tend/a 17

2.9 Life cycle of einzeria lene/la 18

2.10 Immunity and coccidiosis . 19

2.11 Clinical findings of coccidiosis 20

2.12 Pathogenesis and pathology of caecal coccidiosis 20

2.13 Diagnosis of coccidiosis 21

2. 14 Treatment and control of caecal coccidiosis 22

CHAPTER 3: Materials and method 24

3.1 The experimental site 25

3.2 Experimental procedure and design 25

3.3 Management of experimental birds 26

3.4 Data collection 27

3.5 Determination of growth parameters 28

3.6 Statistical analysis 28

3.7 Economic analysis 29

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSiON 31

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 57

REFERENCES 58

APPENDICES 70