Effects of Forms Feed and Sodium Chloride on Performance, Blood Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers Chicks Under Hot Climatic Conditions

Abstract

The study was investigated to determine the effects of feed physical form and sodium chloride on performance, blood profile and carcass criteria of broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty, one day old Ross broiler chicks were randomly distributed into sex treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates of 10 birds each. A factorial design (2×3) was used in which there were two feed forms (mash and pellet). Both mash and pellet diet groups were subdivided into three treatments each (drinking tap water; control group), 1500 ppm sodium chloride and 3000 ppm sodium chloride in drinking water, respectively. The results showed that Body weight, weight gain and feed intake of broilers fed pellet-diet was significantly greater than that of those fed mash diet at 2 and 6 weeks of age. However, Growth performance parameters such as body weight and weight gains were not significantly affected due to the supplementations of sodium chloride in water. Feed conversion ratio was also not significantly affected by the dietary physical form or sodium chloride. Water intakes of broilers were significantly affected by the dietary physical form or sodium chloride levels. Serum K and Ca of broilers fed mash-diet were significantly greater than that of those fed pellet-diet. There were significant differences on serum P and aldosterone concentrations of broilers drinking water supplemented with NaCl levels, but had no effect (P>0.05) on the other variables evaluated. Dressing percentage and internal organs such as liver and gizzard were not significantly affected due to feed physical form or the supplementations of sodium chloride in water, but had effect (P>0.05) on spleen and heart. Based on these results, it can be concluded that fed pelletdiet with or without sodium choride up to 3000 ppm improved productive performance but had no consistent effect on overall carcass traits of broilers.