Effect of Adding Different Levels of Dietary Electrolyte in Broiler Rations using Sodium Bicarbonate as a Source of Electrolyte
Effect of Adding Different Levels of Dietary Electrolyte in Broiler Rations using Sodium Bicarbonate as a Source of Electrolyte
Talat Bilal Yasoob and Nasir Ali Tauqir*
ABSTRACT
The study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of dietary electrolyte by adding sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on the performance of broilers. Experiment was conducted in two phases. In first phase (0-4 weeks), six broiler starter rations were formulated; a ration without NaHCO3 was served as control whereas other five rations had 0.15-0.73% NaHCO3 in the rations. In this way six dietary treatments resulted in dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and sodium levels of 245, 262, 279, 297, 314, 331 meq/kg and 0.166, 0.206, 0.246, 0.286, 0.326, 0.336%, respectively. Protein and energy values in all broiler starter rations were kept at 20% and 2800 kcal/kg, respectively. In second phase, six finisher rations (5-6 weeks) were formulated viz., control ration and five other rations having 0.10-0.74% levels of NaHCO3. The resulting dietary treatments were having DEB and sodium levels of 222, 240, 256, 273, 290, and 307 meq/kg and sodium levels of 0.203, 0.243, 0.283, 0.323 and 0.363%, respectively. The protein and energy level were 18% and 2800 kcal/kg, respectively. One eighty day-old broiler chicks were distributed in 18 units having 10 chicks each according to completely randomized design. Feed consumption, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P<0.05) improved in broilers fed all the experimental diets as compared to control during starter and finisher phases. A quadratic response was also observed on the performance of broilers during starter phase. However, a linear effect was seen for feed consumption during finisher phase while quadratic effect was observed for weight gain and FCR in boilers fed different levels of DEB and sodium. At 28 day of age percent thigh meat yield, breast meat yield and abdominal fat yield were significantly better in broilers fed experimental rations as compared to those fed control ration however non-significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in dressing percentage. But at 42 day age dressing percentage, percent thigh meat yield, breast meat yield and abdominal fat yield did not show any treatment effect. The electrolyte contents (Na+, K+, and Cl-) of thigh and breast meat were also significantly higher in broilers fed experimental rations as compared to control. Similarly, significantly better Na+, K+, and Cl- contents of thigh and breast meat were observed (P<0.05) among all the treatments. The results of present study depict that to support optimal performance of broilers, DEB levels between 250-300 and sodium levels of 0.28% is required.
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December 2017
Vol. 49, Iss. 6, Pages 1937-2341
