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Dietary Sodium and Chloride for Twenty-Nine-to Forty-Two-Day-Old Broiler Chickens at Constant Electrolyte Balance Under Subtropical Summer Conditions

T. Mushtaq^*,1, M. Aslam Mirza^*, M. Athar^*,2, D. M. Hooge, T. Ahmad^*,3, G. Ahmad^*,4, M. M. H. Mushtaq^* and U. Noreen

^* Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, and Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan 38040; and Hooge Consulting Service Inc., Eagle Mountain, UT 84043

¹ Corresponding author: tmmirza{at}fsd.paknet.com.pk.

The study was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chicks to different dietary Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations with similar dietary electrolyte balance of 250 mEq/kg during 29 to 42 d of age in a hot environment with average minimum and maximum temperatures of 32.4 and 36.6°C, respectively, and an average RH of 69.2%. Three levels of dietary Na⁺ (0.20, 0.25, and 0.30%) and 3 levels of dietary Cl^– (0.30, 0.40, and 0.50%) were used in 3 x 3 factorial arrangement in which BW at 28 d were used as covariate in the statistical analysis. A decreasing linear effect of dietary Na⁺ was observed on breast yield and lowering of abdominal fat, whereas increasing dietary Cl^– linearly increased litter moisture and decreased dressing weights. No significant effects of dietary Na⁺, Cl^–, or Na⁺ x Cl^– were observed on feed intake, BW gain, feed:gain, rectal temperature, water:feed, or mortality. An improvement in litter condition, toe ash, blood parameters, and lowered abdominal fat yield was observed for the diet having 0.30% dietary Na⁺. The results of the present study suggest the dietary requirements of 0.20 to 0.25% Na⁺ and 0.30% Cl^– during the finisher phase (29 to 42 d) of broiler chicks when the ambient temperature ranged from 32 to 40°C.

Key Words: sodium • chloride • broiler • hot environment • electrolyte balance

² Present address: Hi-Tech Feeds, Lahore, Pakistan.

³ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

⁴ Present address: Sadiq Brothers Poultry, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

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