Effect of Adding Different Levels of L - Carnitine to the Diet on theConcentrations of Certain Sex Hormonesin Guinea Fowls

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Poultry Farm of Department of Animal Resource, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad during the period from 15 / 2 / 2011 to 1 / 8 / 2011. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of carnitine on concentrations of sex hormones in blood serum.A total of 24 guinea fowl males and 72 females, 30 weeks of old were used in this study. Birds were randomly distributed into 4 treatment groups (C0, C100, C200, C300) which is added to the diets carnitine levels 0, 100, 200, 300 mg Carnitine / kg diet. Birds were fed during the whole period of birds rearing which lasted 22 weeks on diet contain 18.38 % crude protein and 2962.1 Kcal metabolic energy / Kg. L-carnitine was added to the diets of birds at the beginning of 34 weeks of birds age till the end of experiment which lasted 18 weeks including 2 weeks which considered as preliminary carnitine treatment period. Guinea fowl were reared during experimental period in separated cages.Resulted Showed significant improvement (P<0.05) or (P<0.01) in concentrations of testosterone in male serum, and Estrogen, Progesterone in female serum as a result of carnitine treatment. In conclusion dietary supplementation with L-carnitine resulted in significant improvement as regards sex hormone concentration in blood serum of guinea fowl which will reflect in improving productive and reproductive performance of these birds.

Keywords

Sex Horm., guinea