Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation on Growth Performance and Haematology of Broilers Under Heat Stress in Kebbi State

Ascorbic acid supplementation has been proposed as a nutritional strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress on poultry production, particularly in hot and dry climatic regions such as Kebbi State in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Under heat stress, endogenous Vitamin C synthesis declines in birds, impairing immune function and haematological stability. This study assessed the effects of dietary Vitamin C supplementation on growth performance and haematological parameters of broiler chickens raised under simulated heat stress conditions in Birnin Kebbi. One hundred and twenty Arbor Acres broilers were allocated to four treatment groups: thermoneutral control, heat-stressed unsupplemented group, and heat-stressed groups supplemented with 200 and 400 mg/kg Vitamin C. Heat stress was induced by maintaining ambient temperatures at 35 to 38 degrees Celsius for eight hours daily from days 22 to 42. Weekly body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were recorded. Blood samples were collected at days 28 and 42 for haematological analysis. Vitamin C supplementation at 400 mg/kg significantly improved weekly weight gain and feed conversion ratio in heat-stressed birds compared with unsupplemented controls. PCV and haemoglobin values were significantly better maintained in supplemented groups. Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, a recognised stress indicator, was significantly lower in the 400 mg/kg group. These findings support dietary Vitamin C supplementation as a cost-effective intervention to reduce heat stress-induced production losses in Kebbi State poultry farms. Keywords: Vitamin C, broiler, heat stress, haematology, Kebbi State.