Abstract
The experiment reported herein aimed to investigate whether sodium chloride (NaCl) provided through drinking water affected the body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), water intake (WI), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FCR), carcass weight (CW) and dressing percentage of broiler chickens. In a complete randomized block experimental design, a total of 120 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were allocated randomly into 4 treatment groups. Each treatment group consisted of three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds were offered ad libitum water and basal diets the composition of which was 23 and 21 % crude protein and 3010 and 3160 kcal ME/kg during starter and growing periods respectively. Treatments were drinking tap water (tap water; control group), 1500 ppm NaCl in drinking water (T1, salt stress group), 1500 ppm NaCl plus 100 IU/kg of feed DL- α-tocopherol (T2, 1500 ppm VE) and 1500 ppm NaCl plus 500 IU/L of water L-ascorbic acid (T3, 1500 ppm VC). At the end of the experimental period, no significant differences among the groups in terms of BW and BWG. Moreover, adding Vitamin E or C recorded the lowest BW and BWG. While, birds received salt supplemented with vitamin C recorded the highest WI and FI during experimental periods. Relative weights of edible organs for birds treated with 1500 mg/L NaCl plus 100 IU/kg of feed DL- α-tocopherol were increased significantly (P<0.01) compared with other experimental groups except heart. Additionally, there were a significant decrease (P<0.01) in Ca, Mg, and P of birds received Vita E or C compared to other treatments. While, there was no significant differences among treatments in K concentration. Furthermore, Aldosterone concentration was increased with vita C addition compared with other treatments. These results indicate that productive and physiological performance of broiler chicks was not adversely affected by 1500 ppm NaCl in drinking water
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
