Abstract
Underestimating the negative impacts of ammonia produced in litters of poultry birds raised under high temperature-humidity index is dangerous, as broiler chickens (BC) are sensitive to high ammonia concentrations which can result in blindness and overall decrease in productive performance. Hence, it is ideal to maintain litter moisture by optimizing the utilization of water by broiler chicks. The balance of acid-base in broilers could be enhanced by supplementing diets or water of BC under heat stress with electrolytes. However, electrolytes increase water intake and might affect litter quality. Therefore, effect of varying dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on water intake (WI), litter moisture (LM) and productive performance of BC were investigated at pre-starter and starter phases using a total of three hundred, 1-day-old Arbor Acre chicks that were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments [210 (T1), 240 (T2), 270 (T3), 300 (T4), 330 (T5) and 360 (T6)] mEq/Kg DEB, in a completely randomised design. Birds were reared at pre-starter phase (PSP) of 0 - 14 days and starter phase (SP) of 14 - 21 days, under the temperature-humidity index of 24.97 - 35.19. Water intake and litter moisture were monitored. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Water intake was enhanced at PSP and SP in birds on 360 mEq/kg, but with increased litter moisture. However, a dietary electrolyte balance of 270 mEq/kg improved performances of broiler chicks at pre-starter and starter phases.
Highlights
Effect of varying dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on water intake (WI), litter moisture (LM) and productive performance of broiler chickens (BC) were investigated at pre-starter and starter phases using a total of three hundred, 1-day-old Arbor Acre chicks that were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments [210 (T1), 240 (T2), 270 (T3), 300 (T4), 330 (T5) and 360 (T6)] mEq/Kg DEB, in a completely randomised design
This study aimed at assessing the effect of different dietary electrolyte balance and water intake on the feeding potential and excreta quality of broiler chicks reared under heat stress at pre-starter and starter phases
At 0 to 21 days, analysis of variance showed no significant (p > 0.05) differences in feed intake and DM intake of birds fed different DEB treatments. This result has shown that birds ‘appetite was not enhanced by dietary electrolyte balance at starter phase
Summary
Water is crucial in poultry nutrition, as it functions in metabolism, regulation of body temperature, transport of nutrients and excretion of waste materials [1]. [2] reported that it is an acceptable practice to daily monitor birds’ water consumption, which gives an early indication of a health problem when water consumption is compared to the standard consumption expected. [3] reported that water consumption in birds can be affected by factors such as environmental conditions; feed and water quality, among others like external air humidity, type and management of a drinker system, age and weight of birds [4]. [5] reported that inadequate management practices in a poultry house leading to increased ammonia concentration in air often result in health problems including contact dermatitis, enteritis and respiratory diseases. [6] noted that drier poultry litter reduces the emission of ammonia into the environment, and this would help avoid environmental and animal welfare problems, with increasing economic profits as one of the end results. [3] reported that water consumption in birds can be affected by factors such as environmental conditions; feed and water quality, among others like external air humidity, type and management of a drinker system, age and weight of birds [4]. [5] reported that inadequate management practices in a poultry house leading to increased ammonia concentration in air often result in health problems including contact dermatitis, enteritis and respiratory diseases. Additional potassium and sodium are favorable for birds reared in heat stress environment, and increases water intake. This study aimed at assessing the effect of different dietary electrolyte balance and water intake on the feeding potential and excreta quality of broiler chicks reared under heat stress at pre-starter and starter phases
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