Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementing broiler chickens' drinking water with levocarnitine and thymosin V on their growth, immunological condition, and performance.
Methods: One hundred one-day-old non-vaccinated cobb broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups. The control group received no treatment, Group 2 received levocarnitine-infused water, Group 3 received thymosin V-infused water, and Group 4 received both levocarnitine and thymosin V-infused water. Body weight, feed intake, lymphoid organ weight, hematological parameters, phagocytic activity, and interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels were measured and compared among the groups.
Results: Levocarnitine supplementation resulted in increased body weight gain and feed intake. Thymosin V supplementation led to enhanced lymphoid organ weight and improved hematological parameters. All treated groups showed higher phagocytic activity and phagocytic index values compared to the control group. IL-2 levels were significantly increased in the treated groups.
Conclusion: The supplementation of levocarnitine and thymosin V in broiler chickens' drinking water positively influenced growth performance and immune function. Levocarnitine improved body weight gain and nutrient utilization, while thymosin V enhanced immune-related parameters. These findings suggest that levocarnitine and thymosin V have potential as dietary supplements to enhance broiler chicken production and immune response. Further research is needed to optimize their usage and understand the underlying mechanisms.