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Relationship Between Bicarbonate Retention and Bone Characteristics in Broiler Chickens

M. A. Leslie^*, R. A. Coleman^*,, S. Moehn^*, R. O. Ball^* and D. R. Korver^*,1

^* Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2P5; and School of Animal Studies, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia, 4343

¹ Corresponding author: doug.korver{at}ualberta.ca

Determination of the bicarbonate retention factor (BRF) is an important step during development of the indicator amino acid oxidation technique for use in a new model. A series of 4-h oxidation experiments were performed to determine the BRF of broilers aged 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d using 4 birds per age group. A priming dose of 1.2 µCi of NaH¹⁴CO₃, followed by eight half-hourly doses of 1 µCi of NaH¹⁴CO₃ were given orally to each of 4 birds per age. The percentage of ¹⁴C dose expired by the bird at a steady state was measured. These birds, as well as 12 additional birds matched for age and BW, were killed, and femur bone mineral density was measured by quantitative computed tomography to determine the relationship between bone development and bicarbonate retention at each age. There was a correlation (r = 0.50; P < 0.05) between total cross-sectional femur bone mineral density and bicarbonate retention at each age. A prediction equation (Y = 6.95 x 10^–2X – 3.51 x 10^–5X² + 27.58; P < 0.0001, R² = 0.79) where Y = bicarbonate retention and X = BW was generated to predict Y as a function of X. Bicarbonate retention values peaked at 28 d, during the stage of the most rapid bone deposition and the highest growth rate. A constant BRF was found from 1,900 to 2,700 g of BW of 35.15 ± 1.095% (mean ± SEM). This retention factor will allow the accurate correction of oxidation of ¹⁴C-labeled substrates in broilers of different ages and BW in future indicator amino acid oxidation studies.

Key Words: broiler chicken • indicator amino acid oxidation • bicarbonate retention factor • quantitative computed tomography • bone density