Ammoniated broiler diets reduce fecal phosphorus excretion

To determine if diet ammoniation would alter the fecal characteristics of g rowing broilers during the last week of production, forty broiler chicks we re raised on the same diet up to 28 days of age. On day 28 for two weeks, b roilers were equally and randomly assigned to the following dietary treatme nts: (a) control or (b) control diet plus 3% added ammonia. Fecal samples w ere collected at day 28 and day 35 to assess any changes in composition. Ac ross both treatment levels, the percentages of fecal calcium, sodium and po tassium was reduced between day 28 and 35. Also, the percentage (7.3% reduc tion) in fecal phosphorus was reduced in broilers receiving the ammoniated diet. This study would suggest ammoniated diets reduce the level of fecal P in broilers during the last week of production.