Requirements of Sodium and Chloride by Leghorn Laying Hens
A. E. Murakami,* M. I. Sakamoto,* J. R. G. Franco,* E. N. Martins,* and E. O. Oviedo Rondon†*Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—CEP 87020-900—Maringá—PR—Brazil; and †Department of Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, P.O. Box 13000—SFA Station, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962-3000
Primary Audience: Nutritionists, Poultry Scientists
SUMMARY
Sodium and Cl are low-cost nutrients with great influence on feed conversion ratio (FCR), eggshell quality, and excreta moisture. Actual values of dietary requirements of these minerals for commercial laying hens are not well defined. These requirements were reevaluated in a factorial experiment using corn-soybean meal basal diets. No significant influence of Na and Cl levels was observed on egg production (%), egg weight (g), or feed intake (g/d), but levels of these minerals had variable effects on FCR, eggshell quality, and excreta moisture. The optimum requirement of Na changed according to the variable evaluated and level of Cl used.Key words: chloride, layer, requirement, sodium
2003 Journal of Applied Poultry Research 12:217-221
©2003 by Poultry Science Association, Inc. All rights reserved.