Oral administration of red and yellow watermelon rind act as as a hyphotermic agent in broiler chicks

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Edi Erwan, Deni Fitra, Evi Irawati and Rahmi Febriyanti

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Science, State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Indonesia

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

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Watermelon rind contains source of amino acids, citrulline. Citrulline is physiologically important amino acid in birds. However, the function of this amino acid has not yet been fully understood. In this study, we therefore examined the effect of red and yellow watermelon rind extract in term of regulating body temperature and feed intake in broiler chicks. Accordingly, the objectives of the present study were to determine the effect of oral administration of watermelon rind extract on feed intake and body temperature. In this experiment, day-old broiler chicks were housed in a group until the experimental day (4 days old). On the day of the experiment, each chick (5 days old) was orally administered distilled water, red watermelon extract or yellow watermelon extract by the elastic plastic needle on small syringe. Feed intake and body temperature changes were measured at 30, 60 and 120 min. The results in experiment revealed that watermelon juice significantly decreased body temperature. However, oral administration of the watermelon extract did not significantly alter feed intake in chicks. we conclude that oral administration of both red and yellow watermelon juice may play a potent role in declining body temperature. Red watermelon rind extract is more effect on thermoregulation in broiler chicks than yellow watermelon rind.

Biography

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Edi Erwan is the Dean for Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Science, State Islamic University of Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Indonesia.Edi Erwan's had finished 12 research works with 76 citations and 621 reads, including: Orally, Posters etc.

E-mail: erwan_edi@yahoo.com