Natural source of Vitamin C to reduce oxidative cell damage in animals

Stress affects the immune system, feed intake, weight gain, egg production, fertility, egg and carcass quality, and mineral balance. It also increases losses in production. All this leads to oxidative stress and cell damage associated with activated phagocytic leukocytes. The function of leukocytes is to control inflammation and tissue damage linked with the immune response of the animals. Ascorbic acid levels are high in phagocytic cells, which have a major role in killing pathogens that invade the body. In this process, cells and tissues are damaged. They can be protected by feeding animals higher amounts of Vitamin C to better guard against oxidative damage. Healthy animals under ordinary conditions do not respond to a supplement of Vitamin

However, poultry and pigs do have Vitamin C requirements: 50 to 60 mg/kg in poultry feed, 300 mg/kg in starter feed, and 150 mg/kg in finisher pig diets. During times of environmental, nutritional, and pathological stress, the preventive addition of Vitamin C protects animals from oxidative stress.