Effect of different electrolyte balances in broiler diets

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance, tibial density and mineral content, Na, K ,and Cl serum levels, and dry matter content of the litter of broilers fed diets with different levels of dietary electrolyte balances. Two experiments were carried out: during the starter phase (7 to 21 days of age, 960 broilers) and during the growe phase (22 to 38 days of age, 816 broilers). In both experiments, a completely randomized design with four treatments based on dietary electrolyte balance values (200, 240, 280 and 320 mEq/kg of diet) with four replicates was applied. Birds and diets were weighed when birds were seven, 14 and 21 days of age in the first experiment, and 22 and 38 days of age in the second experiment in order to determine weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. Final body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion and mortality rate were evaluated. On days 21 and 38, the left tibia of two birds per replicate was collected to determine bone density and the serum was used for Na and K analysis. Litter dry matter content was also determined on days 21 and 38 . There was no effect of dietary electrolyte balance values on broilers performance between 7 and 14, 7 and 21, or 22 and 38 days of age, tibial bone density and mineral content, or on Na, K and Cl serum levels. Litter dry matter was linearly reduced as dietary electrolyte balance value increased. Diets with 200 mEq/kg may be recommended for broilers from 7 to 38 days of age with no negative influence on the evaluated parameters.

Scientific Article Dietary electrolyte balance on serum hematological and biochemical parameters of broilers under heat stress

“…There was also a linear effect (p <0.05) for the level of Cl, in which its level decreases as the DEB increased. It has already been observed that thermal stress decreases the serum level of Cl- [13, 10], electrolyte is necessary in body fluids to exert an acidic action to normalize blood pH [11]. Ahmad et al [6], also observed a linear decrease (p <0.05) in Cl as the DEB increased.…”

“…In previous studies it has been observed that the use of DEB for broilers improves the performance of birds, body weight gain, bone mineralization, decreased mortality and the normalization of the acid-basic balance, making softer the effect of thermal stress keeping hematological and biochemical parameters within the normal range. [10, 9, 6].…”

The effects of inclusion level and source of sodium in diets for growing turkeys. A review

“…The physiological and performance-related effects of different dietary inclusion levels of sodium, potassium and chloride have been extensively researched in broiler chickens (Eichner et al, 2007;Enting et al, 2009;Nääs et al, 2009;Koreleski et al, 2010Koreleski et al, , 2011Jankowski et al, 2011a,b;Tykałowski et al, 2011;Zduńczyk et al, 2012;Arantes et al, 2013). Recent findings have been discussed in two review articles .…”