RESPONSES OF BROILER CHIILC:KS TO GRADED LEVELS OF DIETARY SODIUM CHLCPXIUE 4 COMMON SALT ) IN A HUMID TROPICAL FPJVHRONMENT

Abstract

Graded levels (0, 0.4, 0.8 or 1.2"/0) of sodium chloride (common salt) were incorporated into is caloric and is nitrogenous broiler starter and finisher diets which were fed to Anak broiler chicks from 1 day old to 8 weeks of age. During the experimental period, body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and conversion were recorded as indices of production or performance. Ten chickens from each treatment were randomly selected from the replicates and bled for plasma sodium and packed cell volume measurements at the end of the 8th week. Results showed that NaCl effectively potentiated body weight gain of the broilers up to the 0.8% levels and that thereafter body weight was depressed. The 0 and I 1.2% NaCl did not significantly influence plasma sodium a$ PCV, probably because of the incorporated 5% fishmeal in the 0% diet. And the activity of salt glands in the 1.2% Nakl diet. It was demonstrated that Nakl may not be fed above 0.8% in broiler chicken diets.