SODIUM-BICARBONATE AND BROILER PERFORMANCE AT HIGH STOCKING DENSITIESIN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Two trials attempted to evaluate the effect of the addition of 0.5% so dium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to the diet of broilers raised at high stock ing densities during the hot and humid months in Yucatan, Mexico. Tria l 1 obtained higher body weight and feed consumption, but fewer kg of broiler/m(2), when 10.5 males/m(2) were used instead of 13.5 males/m(2 ). Feed conversion and mortality were similar for both stocking densit ies. The addition of NaHCO3 to the diet of the broilers raised at 13.5 birds/m(2) increased the profit margin by $0.64/m(2). In Trial 2, how ever, there were no differences (P > .05) in performance of male or fe male broilers (13.5 and 15.5 birds/m(2), respectively) given 0.5% of N aHCO3 in the diet during the last 2, 3, or 4 wk of production and a co ntrol (without NaHCO3) diet.