Potassium Balance of the 5 to 8-Week-Old Broiler Exposed to Constant Heat or Cycling High Temperature Stress and the Effects of Supplemental Potassium Chloride on Body Weight Gain and Feed Efficiency

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to study the impact of ambient temperature and relative humidity stress upon K excretion and the effects of KCl supplementation of broilers exposed to chronic heat and cycling temperature stress. Potassium excretion, corrected for K intake and body weight, increased by 633% as ambient temperature was elevated from a constant 24 C to a constant 35 C. Feed (.73% K) and drinking water (0% K) were supplemented with KCl so effects of KCl on live weight gain and feed efficiency could be evaluated. In a previous study at thermoneutral temperature, no benefit of supplemental KCl was observed whereas in this study a dietary level of 1.5 to 2% K in the form of KCl improved gain under conditions of chronic high ambient temperature stress. This equals about 1.8 to 2.3 g K per chick daily or about .24 to .3% of the drinking water.

Effects of Dietary Genistein on Nutrient Use and Mineral Status in Heat-Stressed Quails

“…Payne et al [29] reported that supplemental soy isoflavones improved feed efficiency and growth rate without affecting feed intake in broilers. The negative effect of heat stress on mineral excretion has been noted in previous reports [37]. Studies have shown that high ambient temperature influences retention and excretion of minerals in poultry [34,37].…”

“…The negative effect of heat stress on mineral excretion has been noted in previous reports [37]. Studies have shown that high ambient temperature influences retention and excretion of minerals in poultry [34,37]. The study of El Husseiny and Creger [12] showed that broilers reared under environmental stress had lower rates of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Zn retention.…”

Effects of Chromium Picolinate and Ascorbic Acid Dietary Supplementation on Nitrogen and Mineral Excretion of Laying Hens Reared in a Low Ambient Temperature (7 °C)

“…By decreasing synthesis and secretion of corticosteroids, vitamin C alleviates the negative effects of environmental stress such as cold stress-related depression in poultry performance (McDowell 1989;Pardue et al1985). Environmental stress has been shown to increase mineral excretion (Smith and Teeter 1987). El-Husseiny and Creger (1981) found that broilers reared under environmental stress had lower rates of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, and Zn retention.…”

Effects of the reduction of dietary heat increment on the performance, carcass yield, and diet digestibility of broilers submitted to heat stress

“…One of the differences between continuously high temperatures (chronic heat stress) and cyclic heat stress is that, in CHS, birds are able to dissipate heat during the cooler night period, which is not possible when birds are maintained to constantly high temperatures. Therefore, birds submitted to heat stress ingest feed during the cooler periods, influencing nutritional requirements (Balnave & Oliva, 1990), response to feed supplements (Smith & Teeter, 1987), and compensatory weight gain (Ribeiro et al, 2001a).…”