Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers

Cold stress disrupts broiler homeostasis, and a single intervention may be insufficient for protection. This study examined the effects of early cold conditioning (25 ± 1 °C for 3 h at 5 days) and glutamine (Gln) supplementation on broiler thermotolerance during a 16 ± 1 °C cold challenge at 35 days...

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Main Authors: Hanan Al-Khalaifah, Samar A. Tolba, Afaf Al-Nasser, Ahmed Gouda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1386
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author Hanan Al-Khalaifah
Samar A. Tolba
Afaf Al-Nasser
Ahmed Gouda
author_facet Hanan Al-Khalaifah
Samar A. Tolba
Afaf Al-Nasser
Ahmed Gouda
author_sort Hanan Al-Khalaifah
collection DOAJ
description Cold stress disrupts broiler homeostasis, and a single intervention may be insufficient for protection. This study examined the effects of early cold conditioning (25 ± 1 °C for 3 h at 5 days) and glutamine (Gln) supplementation on broiler thermotolerance during a 16 ± 1 °C cold challenge at 35 days. A 2 × 3 factorial design assigned 360 Cobb-500 broilers to six treatments (six replicates/treatment, ten birds/replicate) with three Gln levels (0%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) and two temperature conditions: standard temperature and a 7 °C reduction at 5 days old. Supplementing with 0.3% and 0.5% Gln and cold conditioning improved growth performance (<i>p</i> < 0.05), except for feed intake during the grower-finisher phase and overall growth with cold conditioning alone. Adding 0.3% and 0.5% Gln enhanced hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, triiodothyronine (T<sub>3</sub>), thyroxine (T<sub>4</sub>), antioxidant capacity, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), interleukin 2 (IL2), IL10, IL4, interferon-γ (INF-γ), and troponin-T levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cold conditioning influenced packed cell volume, T<sub>3</sub>, T<sub>4</sub>, CAT, HSP70, IL10, INF-γ, and troponin-T levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Diet-temperature interaction influenced growth, antioxidant, and immune responses, but not hematological or biochemical indicators. Overall, dietary Gln at 0.3% and 0.5% and early cold conditioning may serve as complementary strategies to mitigate cold stress in broilers.
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spelling doaj-art-03d7b2964a3e464182a721ee86bd92d52025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510138610.3390/ani15101386Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in BroilersHanan Al-Khalaifah0Samar A. Tolba1Afaf Al-Nasser2Ahmed Gouda3Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait City 13109, KuwaitDepartment of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig P.O. Box 44511, EgyptEnvironment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Kuwait City 13109, KuwaitDepartment of Animal Production, National Research Center, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza P.O. Box 12622, EgyptCold stress disrupts broiler homeostasis, and a single intervention may be insufficient for protection. This study examined the effects of early cold conditioning (25 ± 1 °C for 3 h at 5 days) and glutamine (Gln) supplementation on broiler thermotolerance during a 16 ± 1 °C cold challenge at 35 days. A 2 × 3 factorial design assigned 360 Cobb-500 broilers to six treatments (six replicates/treatment, ten birds/replicate) with three Gln levels (0%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) and two temperature conditions: standard temperature and a 7 °C reduction at 5 days old. Supplementing with 0.3% and 0.5% Gln and cold conditioning improved growth performance (<i>p</i> < 0.05), except for feed intake during the grower-finisher phase and overall growth with cold conditioning alone. Adding 0.3% and 0.5% Gln enhanced hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, triiodothyronine (T<sub>3</sub>), thyroxine (T<sub>4</sub>), antioxidant capacity, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), interleukin 2 (IL2), IL10, IL4, interferon-γ (INF-γ), and troponin-T levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cold conditioning influenced packed cell volume, T<sub>3</sub>, T<sub>4</sub>, CAT, HSP70, IL10, INF-γ, and troponin-T levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Diet-temperature interaction influenced growth, antioxidant, and immune responses, but not hematological or biochemical indicators. Overall, dietary Gln at 0.3% and 0.5% and early cold conditioning may serve as complementary strategies to mitigate cold stress in broilers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1386antioxidant activitybroilerscold conditioningglutamineimmunity
spellingShingle Hanan Al-Khalaifah
Samar A. Tolba
Afaf Al-Nasser
Ahmed Gouda
Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
Animals
antioxidant activity
broilers
cold conditioning
glutamine
immunity
title Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
title_full Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
title_fullStr Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
title_short Effects of Glutamine Supplementation and Early Cold Conditioning on Cold Stress Adaptability in Broilers
title_sort effects of glutamine supplementation and early cold conditioning on cold stress adaptability in broilers
topic antioxidant activity
broilers
cold conditioning
glutamine
immunity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1386
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AT afafalnasser effectsofglutaminesupplementationandearlycoldconditioningoncoldstressadaptabilityinbroilers
AT ahmedgouda effectsofglutaminesupplementationandearlycoldconditioningoncoldstressadaptabilityinbroilers