Abstract:
This project investigated the effect of dietary salt and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on performance, haematology and reproductive indices of breeder cocks and layers. Sixteen (16) Isa White cocks and forty-eight (48) Lohmann Brown layers were used for the experiment that lasted sixteen weeks. Birds were randomly allotted to four treatment groups designated as T1 with 0.00% ASA and 0.25% NaCl while the remaining three (3) diets labelled as T2, T3 and T4 contained 0.05% ASA+0.50% NaCl, 0.10% ASA+0.75% NaCl, and 0.15% ASA+1.00%NaCl respectively. The ASA was supplemented while dietary salt (NaCl) was included in diet per 100kg of feed. For the cocks, each treatment was replicated four times with each bird serving as a replicate of its treatment group. For the layers; each treatment was replicated four times with twelve (12) birds per treatment allotted randomly in upper, middle and lower tiers of the galvanized iron cage. At the 25th week of age, semen samples were collected thrice weekly for eight (8) weeks for the determination of sperm qualitative parameters. At 32 weeks of age, the hens were artificially inseminated with semen samples collected from the cocks. Post-hatch performance parameters and morphometry of the chicks were determined using the appropriate instruments. The fat content of the egg albumen decreased (P<0.05) from 2.61±0.27% in T1 to 0.88±0.09% in T4, while it decreased from 28.09±4.60% in T1 to 17.52±1.02% in T4 in the egg yolk and from 13.76±0.61% in T1 to 9.07±0.15% in T3 in the whole egg. Chicks whose parents were fed the T3 diets had the best post hatch performance indicators. In conclusion, feeding varied levels of dietary salt with different supplemental levels of ASA as reported in this experiment would improve the body condition scores of breeder cocks and hens; improve their haematological and welfare indicators and enhance their erythrocyte osmotic stability. It is however cautioned not to go beyond 0.75% NaCl and 0.10% ASA (T3) in order not to compromise the reproductive capability of the breeder cocks and the post-hatch performance of their progeny.
