GOPALA REDDY, A(MAJOR)USHA RANI, MANAND KUMAR, ACHANDRAVATHY, JADA2018-10-292018-10-292009-11http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810082493THESESABSTRACT : A total of 130 sexed male broiler chicks, immediately after hatch, belonging to Vencobb strain were randomly divided into six groups consisting of twenty five chicks each in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, and fifteen each in groups 5 and 6. Group 1 was maintained on basal diet, group 2 on herbal neonatal chick care @ 6g/chick/day for 2 days after hatching and later continued with basal diet up to 42nd day (6 wks). Group 3 was kept on herbal neonatal chick care @ 8g/chick/day for 2 days after hatching and later continued with basal diet up to 42nd day (6 wks). Group 4 was given FeSO4 @ 0.5% of feed for 42 days (6 wks). Group 5 was given herbal neonatal chick care @ 6g/chick/day for 2 days after hatching and later continued with the FeSO4 @ 0.5% of feed up to 42nd day (6 wks). Group 6 was given herbal neonatal chick care @ 8g/chick/day for 2 days after hatching and later continued with the FeSO4 @ 0.5% of feed up to 42nd day (6 wks). The performance parameters were recorded at weekly intervals. Antioxidant defense profile, biomarkers of hepatic damage, renal damage, lipid profile, protein profile and HI titre in serum were estimated at the end of 4th and 6th wk. Histopathology and estimation of TBARS, GSH, protein carbonyls, HI and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) index were done at the end of 6th wk. The ferrous sulphate treatment in group 4 resulted in significant (P<0.05) reduction in body weights, protein profile, GSH (6th week), HDL cholesterol, HI titre and PHA index (6th week), while FCR, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, TBARS (6th week), ALT, CPK and creatinine were significantly (P<0.05) increased at the end of 4th week and a similar trend was continued at the end of 6th week. Treatment with herbal neonatal chick care in groups 2, 3, 5 and 6 resulted in a marked improvement in all the above parameters as compared to those of ferrous sulphate toxic control group 4 at the end of 6th week. Histological abnormalities were also recorded in the liver, kidney and other tissues in ferrous sulphate toxic control group 4. Groups 1, 2 and 3 did not reveal any abnormalities on histopathology, while the treated groups revealed lesions of mild intensity or signs of regeneration. Thus, it is concluded that ferrous sulphate induces biological damage by means of oxidative stress and the herbal neonatal chick care offered protection and proved beneficial in resisting the adverse effects of stressorennullThesis