Comparison of source and levels of sodium in broilers under low temperature conditions

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two sources of sodium at different levels on broiler performance,water consumption and blood na concentration under low temperature conditions. six corn-soy based experimental diets containing graded levels (0.15,0.20 or 0.25 %) of sodium either from sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate were assigned to 240 day old hubbard broilers. higher level of sodium (0.25%) especially when the source was sodium chloride,resulted in an increase (p<0.05) in body weight and feed efficiency during first two weeks of age. however there was no carryover effect of this increase at the end of experiment. feed consumption was independent of dietary na treatments (p>0.05). water consumption was increased (p<0.05) with the increasing level of na in diet,but source of na did not show any difference. blood na concentration showed a linear increase (p<0.05) from low to high level of na. this increase was more pronounced when na was added in diet as sodium bicarbonate. it can be concluded that feeding higher sodium levels especially as sodium chloride for first two weeks may result in increases in body weight and feed efficiency but this effect did not persist till marketable age of broiler. water consumption and blood na concentration has direct relationship with level of na in diet. copyright 2010 zoological society of pakistan.