Author(s)

Ibukun Olukorede Popoola^1*, Debola Olusegun Oshibanjo², Oluwabukola Rashidat Popoola¹, Titilayo Adetola Okuneye¹, Ibinabo Imuetinyan Ilaboya¹, Eustace Ayemere Iyayi¹

¹Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
²Department of Animal Production, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

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.

Broilers, Electrolytes, Feed Conversion Ratio, Heat Stress, Homeostasis, Litter Moisture

Popoola, I. , Oshibanjo, D. , Popoola, O. , Okuneye, T. , Ilaboya, I. and Iyayi, E. (2019) Effect of Dietary Electrolyte Balance on Water Intake, Litter Moisture and Production of Broiler chicks at Pre-Starter and Starter Phases. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 9, 472-480. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2019.94036.