Effects of an antistress drug on the heat tolerance of broiler breeder hens.

Abstract

12 broiler breeder hens aged 56 weeks were given 0.2 ml Geriforte/kg body weight via the drinking water. The experiment was carried out between May 25 and July 23. The plasma corticosteroid content of the treated animals was significantly reduced as compared with the 12 control hens (3.86 vs. 5.21 mg/dl during the dry season and 4.0 vs. 5.0 mg/dl during the rainy season). There was no significant influence on the number of eggs, feed consumption, respiration rate, body temperature, protein, glucose, sodium, and potassium content of the blood plasma.