Electrolytic Balance in Broiler Chicks During the First Week of Age

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out using 712 day-old chicks to evaluate the electrolytic balance (Na+K-Cl) in pre-starter (1-7 days) broiler diets. The feed, based on corn and soybean meal with 21.5 % protein and 2,900 kcal ME/kg, was offered ad libitum. In experiment I, K level was fixed, and Na and Cl levels were changed, using four 4 treatments and eight replicates of 16 birds. In experiment II, increasing levels of Na and K were used, with a total of four treatments and five repetitions of 10 birds. In both experiments, the dietary electrolytic balance was 40; 140; 240 and 340 mEq/kg. Electrolytic balance caused a quadratic effect on weight gain and feed:gain ratio, and a linear increase in feed intake when the electrolytic balance was increased by the single supplementation of Na, indicating that this ion stimulates feed intake of birds at this stage. However, feed intake was maximum for 202 mEq/kg, when K and Na levels were concurrently increased in the diet, indicating that there is a limit over which feed intake is depressed as a function of excessive K. The ideal electrolytic dietary balance was between 246 and 277 mEq/kg, obtained by the manipulation of Na and Cl levels.

Electrolytes, dietary electrolyte balance and salts in broilers: an updated review on growth performance, water intake and litter quality

“…Supplementation of varying DEB levels in drinking water did not affect litter moisture contents across several studies (Karunajeewa et al, 1986;Salvador et al, 1999) while other researchers (Balnave and Gorman, 1993;Nagwa and Maghraby, 1995;Borges et al, 2002) reported that this is directly related to DEB. Supplementation of varying DEB levels in drinking water did not affect litter moisture contents across several studies (Karunajeewa et al, 1986;Salvador et al, 1999) while other researchers (Balnave and Gorman, 1993;Nagwa and Maghraby, 1995;Borges et al, 2002) reported that this is directly related to DEB.…”

“…Supplementation of varying DEB levels in drinking water did not affect litter moisture contents across several studies (Karunajeewa et al, 1986;Salvador et al, 1999) while other researchers (Balnave and Gorman, 1993;Nagwa and Maghraby, 1995;Borges et al, 2002) reported that this is directly related to DEB. Borges et al (2002) confirmed that there was no effect of DEB (246-277 mEq/kg) on the litter moisture. However, Maiorka et al (2004) did not find any effect of DEB (from 100 to 300 mEq) on excreta moisture up to seven days of age when DEB was changed using dietary Na.…”

“…Mushtaq et al (2013b) recorded a similar observation when increasing Cl did not show any effect on water consumption. Borges et al (2002) showed that diets containing 0.30 and 0.45% Na caused higher litter moisture. Mushtaq et al (2013a) observed similar results for water intake by increasing Na (0.17-0.44%), whilst a lower increase in Na levels (0.08-0.17%) did not affect litter moisture (Jankowski et al, 2011b).…”

“…Water consumption increases linearly with increasing electrolytes in the diet (Mongin, 1980;Borges et al, 2002). Higher levels of electrolytes cause osmotic changes in the intestinal lumen of the birds and can enhance water retention in the digesta (Murakami et al, 2000).…”

“…Likewise, the supplementation of K can be considered in this regard, while the role of Cl is considered inconsequential Rondon et al, 2001). Borges et al (2002) suggested that diets with high levels of Cl and/or K did not stimulate water intake during the first seven days of age.…”