Comparative Effects of Regular and Activated Guanidinoacetic Acid on Creatine Metabolism in Broilers Under Heat Stress and Mycotoxin Exposure
Yafi Guo, Marcelo Silva, Lin Deng and Yafeng Zhai*
ABSTRACT
Heat stress and mycotoxin exposure can impair either hepatic or kidney functions, oxidative balance and cellular energy metabolism in broiler chickens.
Methods: Two hundred and eighty-eight as hatched broilers were assigned to four treatments, with six replicates of twelve birds per pen. Birds were maintained under natural hot environment from day 1 to day 28. Challenged groups received both aflatoxin B1 at 0.5 mg/kg and ochratoxin A at 0.1 mg/kg of feed from day 8 to day 28. Regular guanidinoacetic acid (RGAA) or activated guanidinoacetic acid (AGAA) was supplemented at 600 mg/kg.
Results: The combined challenge induced hepatic injury and oxidative stress. Both RGAA and AGAA treatments significantly increased creatine contet in serum and pectoralis major muscle. The creatine increasing associated with AGAA was 27.64% and 33.37% greater in serum and pectoralis major muscle, respectively, when compared to RGAA
Conclusion: Under combined hot environment and mycotoxin challenge, AGAA produced a stronger creatine-related metabolic response than RGAA at the same inclusion rate. These results highlight that AGAA improve creatine formation which may help support growth performance in broilers under challenging conditions.
