Abstract

The ambient temperature has been found to affect the performance and immune response of broiler, hence the need for determination of immunoglobulin level routinely to evaluate their state of immunity call for concern. This study determines the effects of housing temperature and coconut water (CW) on serum immuglobulins of broiler chickens. A total of 600 Marshall broiler chickens were used, with 200 birds in different housing temperature: Cold (CHT, 18.3-22.1°C), Natural (NHT, 26.3-26.6°C), and Hot (HHT, 34.9-36.1). Each housing temperature was partitioned into five treatment groups: Ordinary water (T1), 0.5 g of Vitamin C/L of water (T2), 0.5% CW/L of water (T3), 1% CW/L of water (T4) and 1.5% CW/L of water (T5), with four replicates and 10 birds per replicate. Immunoglobulin IgG, IgM and IgA were determined. Data collected were subjected to factorial arrangements with one-way Analysis of Variance. Housing temperature significantly (p<0.05) influenced immunoglobulin value for IgG and IgM. Birds under natural housing temperature had the highest IgG (1.62±0.07 mg/dl) compared to others under cold housing temperature (1.39±0.15 mg/dl) and hot housing temperature (0.38±0.07 mg/dl). The IgM level showed a negatively changing trend with birds under hot housing temperature having the highest value (1.95±0.07 mg/dl), followed by cold housing temperature (1.49±0.01 mg/dl), and natural housing temperature (1.06±0.11 mg/dl). Upon administration of coconut water and vitamin C to birds, there is a significant (p<0.05) influence on immunoglobulin values (IgG, IgM and IgA) across the three housing temperatures. It was therefore, concluded that change in ambient temperature can cause variation in immune response of birds and immune responses could be ensured by regulated administration of coconut water and vitamin C in broiler production.

Key words: Immunoglobins, coconut water, vitamin C, housing temperature, broiler.