Physiological and stress responses of broiler chicks to water supplementation with different sugar additives during the brooding stage

Abstract The brooding stage represents a vital period for broiler production because proper management techniques during this stage determine the future growth and health and productivity of chicks. The research investigated how sugar additives in drinking water affect broiler chick hematology and stress biomarkers and immune system function during their brooding period. The research used 72 Cobb 100 broiler chicks who received four different sugar additives in their drinking water at 30 g/L concentration while being divided into four treatment groups with three replicates of six birds each. The researchers obtained blood samples from all birds on day 15 to conduct hematology tests and measure corticosterone (CORT) levels and heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and glucose and pH levels. The blood test results showed that honey supplementation produced the best results because it enhanced hematocrit and hemoglobin and RBC values while decreasing WBC numbers which indicated reduced stress and inMlammation. The honey-supplemented birds demonstrated the lowest CORT values at 4.45 ± 0.59 ng/mL and H/L ratio at 0.46 ± 0.05 which indicated minimal physiological stress. The nutritional beneMits of molasses supplementation fell between the other two sugar additives. The dextrose group showed the highest stress indicators because their white blood cells and corticosterone levels reached 23.09 ± 1.24 ng/mL and their H/L ratio reached 1.11 ± 0.09. The system data shows physical harm to the system which makes it unable to protect itself. The research Mindings demonstrate that honey provides superior nutritional value which leads to improved health outcomes and enhanced immunity and better stress tolerance in broiler chicks during their brooding period.