Abstract
Tropical regions across the globe are characterized by an annually prolonged hot weather conditions that showcase limiting production efficiency in livestock industry, as domesticated animals leave the zone of maximum comfort, under heat stress, with death and reduced carcass yield accompanying the subsequent alteration in body chemistry and behavior. However, pen house orientation, cooling systems, genetic modification and different dietary manipulations have been employed in poultry industry, but many of such did not account for the body’s acid-base equilibrium and the potentials of aggregate levels of dietary electrolytes in enhancing carcass yield of broilers under severe heat stress conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of different electrolyte-balanced diets on overall performance, carcass yield, meat safety potentials and economic value of heat-stressed broilers reared for five weeks. Arbor Acre broiler chicks (n = 300) were randomly allotted to diets with aggregate electrolyte balance of 210 (T1), 240 (T2), 270 (T3), 300 (T4), 330 (T5) and 360 (T6) mEq/Kg, in a completely randomised design. On day 35, birds whose weights were closest to the mean class weight were selected from each replicate pen for carcass yield assessment. Also, data on performance and cost-benefit analysis were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α = 0.05. Electrolyte-balanced diets though contained salts that presumably could have improved satiety, yet they do not enhance appetite in heat-stressed broilers. However, dietary protein efficiency was enhanced at an electrolyte balance levels of 240 and 270 mEq/kg, which translated into increased body weight gain. Weights of primal parts of birds on 270 mEq/kg DEB were highest at 35 days. Feed cost values (per kilogram weight gain) of rations with 240 mEq/kg and 270 mEq/kg DEB were lower and showcased promising economic buoyancy to both rural and commercial poultry farmers, while ensuring a high food safety standard under tropical conditions.
Highlights
The fast growth of the poultry industry has been attributed to poultry’s good converting ability of feeds into useable protein in meat and eggs coupled with the relatively high return on investment as the production cycle is relatively short, and an undue tie up of capital over a long period is prevented [1] (Ojo, 2003)
Tropical regions across the globe are characterized by an annually prolonged hot weather conditions that showcase limiting production efficiency in livestock industry, as domesticated animals leave the zone of maximum comfort, under heat stress, with death and reduced carcass yield accompanying the subsequent alteration in body chemistry and behavior
Pen house orientation, cooling systems, genetic modification and different dietary manipulations have been employed in poultry industry, but many of such did not account for the body’s acid-base equilibrium and the potentials of aggregate levels of dietary electrolytes in enhancing carcass yield of broilers under severe heat stress conditions
Summary
The fast growth of the poultry industry has been attributed to poultry’s good converting ability of feeds into useable protein in meat and eggs coupled with the relatively high return on investment as the production cycle is relatively short, and an undue tie up of capital over a long period is prevented [1] (Ojo, 2003). According to Muriu et al (2002) [3], the economization of feed cost using cheaper, but highly nutritive unconventional feed resources and additives is an important aspect of commercial livestock production. St-Pierre et al (2003) [5] reported that heat stress resulted in estimated total annual economic loss to the US livestock production industry of $1.69 to $2.36 billion; and from this total, $128 to $165 million occurs in the poultry industry
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