Effect of Thyroxine Dosage and Stable Density on Physiological Status of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of thyroxine dosage to solve stress-problem due to floor density in broiler chickens. In the experiment, 135 two weeks age broilers wererered in three weeks experimental period, and allocated into a Completely Randomized Design with a 3 x 3 split-plot and three replications. Main-plot, stable floor densities A1, A2 and A3 were respectively 3, 5 and 7 chicken/box which had measurement of 50x50x50 cm. Sub-plot B1, B2 and B3 respectively consisted of thyroxine dosages 0, 8-10 and 12-15 μg/kg body weight. The results showed that thyroxine dosage and its interaction with floor density high significantly affected (p < 0.01) but floor density did not significantly influence (p > 0.05) oxigen consumption. Thyroxine dosage and its interaction with floor density was not significant (p > 0.05) but floor density highly significant (p < 0.01) affected heart beat frequency. Floor density, thyroxine dosage and their interaction did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) body temperature, water consumption, blood cholesterole and leukocyte count. It could be concluded that thyroxine dosage of 8-10 μg/kg body weight could solve stress problem of rearing broiler in stable with floor density 5 chicken/box, or it was identical with 20 chickens/m2 floor space. Key words: Broiler, Floor Density, Thyroxine, Physiological Status