Effect of Arginine Supplementation on Broiler Performance

In this fast and rapidly growing poultry industry, it plays significant role in meat production, food security, employment opportunities, and economic growth. Dietary Arginine in chicks is used for the synthesis of protein and as a precursor of metabolically important molecules, e.g., nitric oxide (NO), glutamate, polyamines, and proline (Wu et al., 2009). Arginine shows various functions like vasodilation, energy for muscle contraction, immune response, cell growth and proliferation, free radical scavengers, reduced apoptosis and wound healing (Miri et al., 2022). Chicken lacks the enzyme mitochondrial carbamoyl phosphate synthase I (CPSI), crucial for the urea cycle and has lower activity of ornithine transcarboxylase (OTC) making it dietary essential (Tamir & Ratner, 1963). Arginine shows physiological functions like wound healing, immune function, hormone secretion, vascular tone, insulin sensitivity, and endothelial function (Tong & Barbul., 2004). Arginine increases protein synthesis through GH and insulin secretion stimulates IGF-1 Secretion. Nitric oxide inhibits the lipogenesis Pathway & stimulates lipolysis, decreases fatty acid synthesis and decreases body fat deposition (Shi et al., 2006). In the gut, arginine mediates the trophic effects on mitosis in the intestinal region to subsequently enhance villus size and number. Arginine changes in the intestinal microbiota & reduce alpha diversity. It Increases the weight of lymphoid organs (spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius) and affects immunomodulation by promoting a response from lymphocytes to mitogens (Gao et al., 2017). Arginine protects against necrotic enteritis, IBD, and coccidiosis by promoting gut integrity & immune response. Arginine improves growth performance, immune system, carcass weight and gut health at various levels of arginine supplements above the NRC recommendation. Keyword: urea cycle, gut health, immune response, disease preventi