1Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar - 751003, Odisha
2Department of Botany, Banki Autonomous College, Banki
3ICAR-Directorate of Poultry, Research Regional Station, Bhubaneswar
4Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar - 751003, Odisha
*Corresponding Author Email: rcpatra@gmail.com
Online Published on 4 April, 2023.
The present experiment was carried out to assess the licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) powder supplementation in the diet at the dose rates of 250, 500 or 1000mg/ kg feed on growth performance and stress alleviation in White Pekin ducks. A total of 24 experimental ducklings divided into four groups during the month of May and June. The group I ducklings was fed with basal diet and the ducklings in Group II, III and IV were fed licorice powder at the dose rates of 250, 500 or 1000mg/ Kg feed. There was marked increase in FCR in all ducks exposed to thermal stress. Body weight in group IV increased significantly as compared to control group at 7 weeks of age. No statistically significant (P>0.05) variation in the hemoglobin concentration has been found between control and licorice treated group on day 21. On day 42, SOD level in group IV increased significantly than the control group. The GSH levels of group III and IV were significantly higher as compared to the control group on day 42. It is concluded that, high ambient temperatures have an antagonistic effect on performance, and feed supplementation with licorice powder at the dose rate of 1000 mg/kg reduced the stress and growth retardation due to high ambient temperature and humidity in ducks.
Heat stress, Leucorice, Hematology, Oxidative stress, Duck
