EFFECT OF SALT SUPPLEMENTATION METHOD ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS

Abstract

Different methods of giving supplemental NaCl, in liquid or solid forms, either mixed in the ration at required level or offered separately at ad libitum, did not significantly affect feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, return above feed and chick cost, or feed cost per kg broiler produced. However, mortality-morbidity rate significantly differed among treatments and was highest in birds receiving ad libitum sea water.
Birds were found to have greater tolerance to larger amounts of salt offered dry than in solution form probably because assimilation of elements is faster using liquid than solid form. The availability of sea water at no cost makes it an economical salt supplement, but only when mixed in the ration rather than offered at free choice. However, the sea water level in the feed should be less than the amount needed to meet the salt requirement (143 ml/kg feed) so as to reduce mortality-morbidity rate, especially if some of the feed ingredients used contain considerable amounts of Na and Cl.