Poult. Sci.
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Poult Sci 2008. 87:1276-1280. doi:10.3382/ps.2007-00299
© 2008 Poultry Science Association
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ENVIRONMENT, WELL-BEING, AND BEHAVIOR

Effect of Potassium Chloride Supplementation in Drinking Water on Broiler Performance Under Heat Stress Conditions

T. Ahmad*, T. Khalid{dagger}, T. Mushtaq{ddagger},1,2, M. A. Mirza{ddagger}, A. Nadeem§, M. E. Babar§ and G. Ahmad#

* Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 46300; {dagger} Department of Zoology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 46300; {ddagger} Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan 38040; § Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan 54000; and # Al-Watnia Poultry, Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 51431

2 Corresponding author: tmmirza{at}fsd.paknet.com.pk or tmmirza{at}ghazibrothers.com

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°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°C).

Key Words: potassium chloride • drinking water • heat stress • broiler

1 Present location: Ghazi Brothers, Karachi, Pakistan 75350.






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