Effect of potassium chloride supplementation in drinking water on broiler performance under heat stress conditions.
The effect of water supplementation of KCl on performance of heat-stressed Hubbard broilers was evaluated in the present experiment. The 3 experimental treatments (i.e., control, 0.3 and 0.6% KCl) were allocated to 3 replicates of 15 birds each. The control group was kept on dugout tap water, whereas the other 2 groups were supplied water supplemented with 0.3 and 0.6% KCl (wt/vol) by supplementing 3 and 6 g of KCl, respectively, per liter of drinking water. Broilers were provided ad libitum access to feed and water for the experimental period of 7 to 42 d of age and kept in open-sided house. The birds were reared under continuous thermostress (minimum 28.2 +/- 1.02 and maximum 37.5 +/- 0.78 degrees C) environment. Supplementing drinking water with 0.6% KCl reduced panting-phase blood pH to 7.31 and significantly increased live BW gain by 14.5 (P = 0.036) and 7.9% (P = 0.029) at 28 and 42 d of age, respectively, relative to control. An improved (P = 0.04) feed:gain and lowered body temperature were noted in groups supplemented with 0.6% KCl as compared with control and 0.3% KCl. Enhanced physiological adaptation with 0.6% KCl was evidenced by a more favorable pH during the panting phase in the present study. These findings demonstrated a possibility of better broiler live performance through KCl supplementation under conditions of severe heat stress (35 to 38 degrees C).
Ahmad
T
T
Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Khalid
T
T
Mushtaq
T
T
Mirza
M A
MA
Nadeem
A
A
Babar
M E
ME
Ahmad
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D014867:Water; D011189:Potassium Chloride