EFFECT OF LEVEL AND SOURCE OF SODIUM ON PERFORMANCE OF MALE BROILERS TO 56 DAYS

This study evaluated sodium requirements of rapidly-growing male broil ers to 56 days. Two sources of sodium (feed grade salt, feed grade sod ium bicarbonate) provided dietary sodium levels of 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, a nd 0.30% Na. One series used salt alone; chloride levels ranged from 0 .24 to 0.48%. In a second series a combination of salt and sodium bica rbonate provided the same sodium levels listed above but maintained ch loride levels at 0.20%. Results from the present study suggest that th e sodium requirement of broilers was no more than 0.20% to 21 days of age and no more than 0.15% in diets fed to 42 or 56 days of age. Chlor ide levels higher than 0.20% were of no benefit. Sodium bicarbonate wa s equal to sodium chloride as a source of sodium, but displayed no pro duction advantages during this study. Litter moisture was directly rel ated to sodium level but not to sodium source. Maintaining a safe mini mum level of sodium would be beneficial in reducing problems with wet litter. Sodium levels and sodium sources had no apparent effect on tib ial dyschondroplasia scores.