Effects of L-carnitine supplementation in drinking water on layer-type chick juvenile performance

In young chicks, L-carnitine supplementation during the starter stage may lead to faster utilization of yolk sac content and hence improvement of juvenile performance. To evaluate possible dose effects of L-carnitine supplementation in drinking water on juvenile layer-type chick performance, a total of 684 Hisex Brown layer chicks were studied. The chicks were divided into three groups of 228 chicks each, namely 1) control group (Cont), 2) chicks with supplementation of 30 mg of L-carnitine per liter of drinking water (LC30) and 3) chicks with supplementation of 60 mg of L-carnitine per liter of drinking water (LC60). Within each group, chicks were divided into two replications of 114 each and were reared up to 14 d of age. Sample of chicks used to collect blood and to weigh yolk sac at 1, 7 and 14 d of age.status: publishe