SODIUM BICARBONATE IN
POULTRY NUTRITION
INTRODUCTION
• Poultry industry in recent years has occupied a
leading role in many parts of the world since it has
undergone very rapid development.
• The potential for further growth is obvious in view
of the nutritional value of meat and eggs.
• The continuos demand for an improved productive
level forced many to use nutritional manipulations
both in thermoneutral conditions as well as in high
temperatures and humidity conditions.
INTRODUCTION
• Among these nutritional manipulations is
the electrolyte supplementation to
maintain a correct plasma acid-base
balance in order to improve the productive
performance of poultry.
• Sodium bicarbonate is a cheap salt that is
widely available and its beneficial effect is
confirmed by many (Teeter et al., 1985;
Bonsembiante et al., 1986, 1988, 1989,
1990; Whiting et al., 1991).
OBJECTIVES
A series of trials were performed to
evaluate the effect of different
levels of sodium bicarbonate on the
productive performance, physiological
response and meat quality of
turkeys, broilers and guinea fowls.
Trial performed on turkey meat
production
• Bird’s rearing conditions
• 145 male turkeys, 60 d, (B.U.T. Big 6, 4.9 kg).
• 2 experimental groups in 14 pens (density 0.5
m2/bird), (10 or 11 bird/pen).
• Two diets, Control T(0%) and B (2%) of NaHCO3.
• From July to October into 3 periods (4wks/period).
Materials and methods
• Temp. and humidity (L.S.I, TIGH-1 TH).
• Light intensity (Delta OHM HD 8366).
• Ammonia concentration (Dragher pump).
• Body weight, feed intake and health status.
• Diet and water analysis.
Materials and methods
• Physiological measurements and blood sampling,
Hitachi-911 (Boehringer Mannheim).
• Slaughtering yields and carcass composition.
• pH (Delta ohm) and color measurements (Minolta
CR-300 colorimeter).
• Drip loss (after freezing, -20° C), 250 g meat.
• Cooking loss.
• Shear force, Warner-Bratzer Shear Device
(INSTRON).
Experimental conditions
• Water Characteristics:
–
–
–
–
–
pH
Conductibility
K
Na
Cl
6.85 ± 0.07.
315 ± 6.4 µS/cm-20 ° C.
1.1 ± 0.03 mg/l.
3.8 ± 0.03 mg/l.
5.0 ± 0.08 mg/l.
Environmental conditions
– Temperature 25.2±2.4°C.
– Relative humidity 82.6-91.7%.
Average temperature (°C)
recorded during the turkeys trial
Temp.
28
26
8
24
16
hrs
22
24
20
I
25.2 ±2.4ºC
II
III
Periods
Whole
Whole
day
Humidity %
Average humidity % recorded
during turkeys trial
8
95
90
16
85
hrs
24
80
75
I
82.6-91.7%
II
III
Periods
Whole
Whole
day
Ingredients (%) of the experimental
diet
I period
T1
II period
B1
T2
B2
Corn meal
38.89 37.14 47.58 45.83
Soybean meal
(50% N6.25)
Triticum wheat
30.70 30.70 23.40 23.40
NaHCO3
NaCl
11.00
11.00 11.00
11.00
-
2.00
-
2.00
0.15
0.15
0.15
0.15
Chemical composition of the diet
(% on as fed basis)
- Crude protein (N6.25)
MJ/kg
- ME
- Lysine
- DL-Methionine
- Ca
- P
- Na
- K
- Cl
dEB (Na++K+-Cl-)
meq/100gm
T1
B1
T2
B2
24.17
24.01
20.11
19.95
13.41
1.57
0.71
1.08
0.74
0.13
0.76
0.18
23.5
13.16
1.56
0.71
1.15
0.69
0.21
0.74
0.16
44.2
14.12
1.23
0.56
1.11
0.71
0.29
0.71
0.19
20.3
13.87
1.04
0.41
1.07
0.75
0.35
0.73
0.20
40.1
Turkeys productive performance
Control (T)
Bicarbonate (B)
4971
9690
168a
278
1.67A
4877
9729
173
273
1.59B
14463
18615
143b
360b
2.52
14650
19082
153a
391a
2.56
I period (0-28)
Initial weight
Final body weight
Growth rate
Feed intake
Feed conversion ratio
g
g
g/d
g/d
g/g
III period (56-85)
Initial weight
g
Final body weight
g
Growth rate
g/d
Feed intake
g/d
Feed conversion ratio g/g
A, B, : P<0.01; a, b: p<0.05 a, ß: P<0.01
Turkeys productive performance for the
whole period
Control Bicarbonate
(T)
(B)
Whole period (0-85d)
Initial live wt
g
4951
4874
Final live wt.
g
18615ß
19082a
Growth rate
g/d
161b
167a
Feed intake
g/d
320
330
Feed conversion ratio
g/g
1.99
1.97
a, b:P<0.05 a, ß: P<0.01
Growth rate g/d
The effect of different levels of
NaHCO3 on growth rate
200
150
100
50
0
I period
II period
III period
% NaHCO3
0%
2%
Whole
period
Turkeys blood parameters
(metabolites)
Control
(T)
Hematocrit
%
Glucose
mmol/l
Cholesterol
mmol/l
Triglycerides mmol/l
Total protein
g/l
Albumin
g/l
Globulines
g/l
0.39
17.53
3.24
0,81
41.54
15.71
25.83
Bicarbonate
(B)
0.40
18.09
2.89
0,74
44.43
16.50
27.93
Turkeys blood parameters (pH and gases)
pH
pCO2
HCO3TCO2
mmol/l
mmol/l
mmol/l
Control Bicarbonate
(T)
(B)
7.80
8.34
0.60
0.53
34.0
35.5
36.6
37.3
Slaughtering yields and carcass data
Control Bicarbonate
(T)
(B)
Slaughter weight
Dressing (warm)
Dressing (cold)
% Cuts
-breasts
-drumsticks and thighs
-Wings
a, b: P<0.05
kg
%
%
18.60b
79.59
78.70
19.67a
80.24
79.41
36.70
30.95
8.88
37.38
30.62
8.76
Turkeys meat quality parameters
Control Bicarbonate
(T)
(B)
pH (36h)
5.79
Drip loss
%
2.53
Cooking loss
%
29.54
Shear force
Kg/cm2 2.35A
Color
L* (lightness)
49.53
a* (red color index)
4.39
b* (yellow color index)
2.13
A, B: P<0.01
5.77
2.07
31.16
1.85B
52.99
3.67
1.91
Trial performed on poultry meat
production
• Bird’s rearing conditions
• 369 male, 21d old chicks (Cobb 500, 1009g).
• 4 groups in 24 pens (6pens/treatment), 10
birds/m2 (15 bird/pen).
• 4 diets, control C (0%), B1 (0.3%), B2 (0.6% ) and B3
(0.9%) NaHCO3.
• During July and August, into 2 periods (14days
/period).
Materials and methods
• Temp. and humidity (L.S.I, TIGH-1 TH).
• Light intensity (Delta OHM HD 8366).
• Ammonia concentration (Dragher pump).
• Body weight, feed intake and health status.
• Diet and water analysis.
Materials and methods
• Physiological measurements and blood sampling,
Hitachi-911 (Boehringer Mannheim).
• Slaughtering yields and carcass composition.
• pH and color measurements (Delta ohm).
• Drip loss (after freezing, -20° C), 100 g meat.
• Cooking loss.
• Shear force, Warner-Bratzer Shear Device
(INSTRON).
Experimental conditions
Water Characteristics:
– pH
7.48 ± 0.08.
– Conductibility
440 ± 6µS/cm-20 ° C.
–K
1.8 ± 0.14 mg/l.
– Na
6.4 ± 0.05 mg/l.
– Cl
11.7± 0.95 mg/l.
Environmental conditions
– Temperature 26.6±2.3°C.
– Relative humidity 75-82%.
Average temperature (ºC)
recorded during the broilers trial
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22T
e
m
p
.
8
26.6±2.3ºC
hrs
16
I
24
II
Whole period
Whole day
Average humidity % recorded
during the broilers trial
Humidity %
100
80
60
40
20
0
8
16
hrs
Av.humidity 75-82%
I
II
24
Whole period
whole day
Ingredients (%) of the experimental diet
(I period)
C
Corn meal
B1
B2
B3
54.56 54.26 53.96 53.66
Soybean meal
30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00
(50%N6.25) as fed
Corn gluten
4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
(60%N6.25) as fed
NaHCO3
0.30 0.60 0.90
Sodium Chloride
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
Ingredients (%) of the experimental
diet (II period)
C
B1
B2
B3
Corn meal
56.73 56.43 56.13 55.83
Soybean meal
(50% N6.25)
Corn gluten
(60% N6.25)
NaHCO3
28.00 28.00 28.00 28.00
NaCl
4.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
-
0.30
0.60
0.90
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
Chemical composition of the diet (% on
as fed basis) I period
C
-
22.01
- Crude protein (N6.25)
MJ/kg 13.18
- ME
0.55
- Methionine
0.35
- Cystine
1.08
- Ca
0.74
- P
0.13
- Na
0.76
- K
0.18
- Cl
dEB (Na++K+-Cl-)
20
meq/100gm
B1
21.79
13.14
0.55
0.25
1.15
0.69
0.21
0.74
0.16
23
B2
B3
22.41
13.10
0.55
0.25
1.11
0.71
0.29
0.71
0.19
26
21.69
13.06
0.55
0.25
1.07
0.75
0.35
0.73
0.20
29
Chemical composition of the diet (% on
as fed basis) II period
- Crude protein (N6.25)
MJ/kg
- ME
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Cystine
- Ca
- P
- Na
- K
- Cl
dEB (Na++K+-Cl-)
C
B1
20.58
13.25
1.22
0.53
0.32
1.08
0.70
0.12
0.72
0.15
20
20.91 20.26 20.73
13.21 13.17 13.12
1.22 1.22 1.22
0.53 0.53 0.53
0.32 0.32 0.32
1.21 1.108 1.12
0.69 0.65 0.72
0.19
0.30 0.38
0.75
0.71 0.76
0.17
0.14 0.18
23
27
30
B2
B3
Broilers productive performance during two
periods
C
I period (0-14d)
Initial live weight
Final body weight
Growth rate
Feed intake
Feed conversion ratio
II period (14-28d)
Initial live weight
Final body weight
Growth rate
Feed intake
Feed conversion ratio
a, b:P<0.05
B1
B2
B3
g 1019
1000
1016 1002
g 1959
1946 1967 1938
g/d 67.1
67.5
67.9 66.8
g/d 136.3a 132.4ab 130.4b 129.0b
g/g 2.03a
1.96b 1.92b 1.93b
g
g
g/d
g/d
g/g
1959
1946
2941
2933
70.1
70.5
174.6a 169.9ab
2.49a
2.41b
1967
2959
70.8
167.9b
2.37b
1938
2914
69.7
165.0b
2.37b
Broilers productive performance during
the whole period (28d)
C
B1
B2
B3
Initial body weight
g 1019
1000
1016
1002
Final body weight
g 2941
2933
2959
2914
Growth rate
g/d 68.6
69.0
69.4
68.2
Feed intake
g/d 155.1a 151.2ab 149.2b 146.8b
Feed conversion ratio
g/g 2.26a
a, b: P < 0,05;
2.19b
2.15b
2.15b
The effect of different levels of
NaHCO3 on FCR in broilers trial
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
FCR g/g
0,5
0
0
FCR I period
0,3
0,6
% of NaHCO3
FCR II period
0,9
Whole period
Broilers blood parameters
(metabolites)
Hematocrit
Glucose
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Total proteins
Albumins
Globulines
l/l
mmol/l
mmol/l
mmol/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
C
B1
B2
B3
0.27
13.79
3.97
0.49
39.09
13.36
25.73
0.28
12.98
3.96
0.46
38.64
12.73
25.91
0.30
12.20
3.80
0.62
36.09
12.18
23.91
0.27
13.29
3.57
0.53
36.75
12.75
24.00
Broilers blood parameters
(pH and gases)
pH
C
B1
B2
B3
7.43
7.45
7.40
7.43
pCO2
mmHg
37.35B 40.04AB 44.47A 46.30A
HCO3-
mmol/l
21.23b
21.32b 23.27a 22.49ab
22.64
22.22
TCO2
a, b: P<0.05;
mmol/l
A,B: P<0.01
24.13
22.62
Slaughtering yields and carcass data
C
B1
B2
B3
Dressing (warm)
% 69.21
68.16
68.95
68.79
Dressing (cold)
% 67.92 66.97
67.45
67.64
% cuts*
-breasts
% 23.32 23.55
24.50
25.14
-drumsticks and thighs % 37.06 36.79
36.62
35.49
-wings
11.22
11.72
* on carcass%
% 11.99
12.25
Broilers meat quality
C
pH
Cooking loss
Shear force
5.97
% 18.21
kg/cm2 2.34
B1
B2
B3
5.87
17.90
2.20
5.83 5.96
17.25 16.91
2.27 2.31
55.27 51.52
2.25 2.53
54.13 53.00
2.16 2.66
Color
L* (lightness)
a* (red color index)
b* (yellow color index)
1.03
1.09
1.24
1.17
Trial performed on Guinea fowls
• Bird’s rearing conditions
• 432 male guinea fowls, 24d, (ISA, 509 g).
• 4 groups, 24 pens (6 pens/treatment) (18 birds/
pen)
• 4 diets, control C (0%), B1 (0.3%), B2 (0.6%) and
B3,(0.9%) NaHCO3.
• During September and October in 2 periods,
(19 days/ period).
Materials and methods
• Temp. and humidity (L.S.I, TIGH-1 TH).
• Light intensity (Delta OHM HD 8366).
• Ammonia concentration (Dragher pump).
• Body weight, feed intake, water intake and
health status.
• Diet and water analysis.
Materials and methods
• Physiological measurements and blood sampling,
Hitachi-911 (Boehringer Mannheim).
• Slaughtering yields and carcass composition.
• pH and color measurements (Delta ohm).
• Drip loss (after freezing, -20° C), 70 g meat.
• Cooking loss.
• Shear force, Warner-Bratzer Shear Device
(INSTRON).
Experimental conditions
Water Characteristics:
pH
7.11 ± 0.09
Conductibility
385 ± 6 µS/cm-20 °C
K
1.5 ± 0.11 mg/l.
Na
6.1 ± 0.07 mg/l.
Cl
10.7 ± 0.81 mg/l.
Environmental conditions:
Temperature 20.5 ± 1.8°C.
Relative humidity 82.1 ± 6.4%.
Ingredients (%) of the experimental
diet
C
B1
B2
B3
55.37
55.07
54.77
54.47
Soybean meal
20.00
(50% N6.25)
Sunflower meal 10.00
(36%N6.25)
Corn gluten
4.00
(60%% N6.25)
NaHCO3
-
20.00
20.00
20.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
4.00
4.00
4.00
0.30
0.60
0.90
0.20
0.20
0.20
Corn meal
NaCl
0.20
Chemical composition of the diet
(% on as fed basis)
- Crude protein (N6.25)
MJ/kg
- ME
- Lysine
- DL-methionine
- Cystine + methionine
- Ca
- P
- Na
- K
- Cl
dEB (Na++K+-Cl-) meq/100gm
C
B1
B2
B3
20.18
12.89
1.00
0.59
0.72
0.95
0.78
0.09
0.80
0.17
16
20.59
12.85
1.00
0.59
0.72
0.97
0.85
0.19
0.80
0.19
20
20.56
12.81
0.98
0.59
0.72
0.92
0.81
0.27
0.68
0.18
24
20.10
12.76
0.98
0.59
0.72
0.91
0.74
0.34
0.67
0.17
27
Guinea fowls productive performance in two periods
C
B1
B2
B3
513
1044
27.95
76.58a
101.6c
2.74a
510
1041
27.95
74.91ab
111.3b
2.68a
515
1040
27.63
72.94b
111.4b
2.64b
497
1011
27.05
69.52c
118.8a
2.57b
1556
26.95
101.8a
1540
26.26
92.96ab
1541
26.37
89.92b
1521
26.85
89.38b
135.5a 148.7ab
g/g 3.74a
3.54ab
150.8b
3.41b
154.2b
3.33b
I period (0-19d)
Initial live wt
g
Final wt.
g
Growth rate
g/d
Feed intake
g/d
Water intake g/d
FCR
g/g
II period (19-38d)
Final wt.
g
Growth rate g/d
Feed intake
g/d
Water intake g/d
FCR
a,b,c, P<0.05. FCR: feed conversion ratio.
Guinea fowls productive performance
during the whole period (38d)
C
Initial body weight
Final body wieght
Growth rate
Feed intake
Water intake
Feed conversion ratio
a,b,c, (P<0.05).
g
g
g/d
g/d
g/d
g/g
B1
513
510
1556 1540
27.45 27.11
88.69a 83.94ab
118.6c 130.0b
3.23a 3.10ab
B2
B3
515
1541
27.00
81.93b
131.1b
3.02bc
497
1521
26.95
79.45b
137.5a
2.95c
The effect of different levels of
NaHCO3 on feed intake in guinea fowls
trial
Feed intake g/d
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
0,3
0,6
0,9
% NaHCO3
Feed intake I period
II period
Whole period
Guinea fowls blood parameters
(metabolites)
Hematocrit
Glucose
Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Total proteins
Albumins
Globulines
l/l
mmol/l
mmol/l
mmol/l
g/l
g/l
g/l
C
B1
B2
B3
0.34
18.2
3.43
1.32
32.9
11.8
21.1
0.32
17.5
3.96
1.47
31.3
11.7
19.5
0.32
16.4
3.33
1.68
28.8
11.3
18.5
0.31
17.2
3.26
1.43
30.5
11.6
18.8
Guinea fowls blood parameters
(pH and gases)
pH
C
B1
B2
B3
7.34
7.35
7.40
7.39
pCO2
mmHg
37.6c
38.9bc
42.5ab
44.1a
HCO3-
mmol/l 22.5b
23.5ab
23.9a
24.3a
TCO2
mmol/l
23.4
23.9
25.4
a, b, c, (P<0.05).
23.0
Slaughtering yields and carcass data
C
B1
B2
B3
Dressing (warm)
% 69.75
69.85
70.66
69.34
Dressing (cold)
%
69.20
69.31
70.02
68.77
% cuts*
-breasts
%
23.28
23.01
23.24
23.31
-drumsticks and thighs % 24.84
25.08
24.96
26.08
1.32
1.31
1.26
-wings
* on cold carcass
%
1.31
Meat quality parameters
pH
Cooking loss
Shear force
Color
%
kg/cm2
L* (lightness)
a* (red color index)
b* (yellow color index)
C
B1
5.72
19.53
1.27
5.73 5.70 5.67
19.58 19.95 18.84
1.26 1.24 1.30
44.36
10.74
45.31 44.53 45.07
11.15 11.12 11.09
4.28
4.18
B2
3.38
B3
5.45
CONCLUSIONS
Then after all
these trials on
us what
conclusions you
have got?…
CONCLUSIONS
Turkey trial
 Growth rate increased 4% with 2%
NaHCO3.
 No significant effect in feed intake,
(reduced without affecting body gain).
 pCO2 and HCO3- were slightly increased,
(but not significantly) with the 2%
NaHCO3.
 Shear force was significantly improved.
 Increasing dEB from 22 to 42 meq/100g
had positively influenced growth rate.
CONCLUSIONS
Broilers trial
 No significant effect on growth rate.
 Feed consumption decreased significantly
with the increased amount of NaHCO3
(5.4%).
 Feed conversion ratio was significantly
improved.
 pCO2 and HCO3- were significantly
increased by NaHCO3 addition.
 Raising the dEB from 20-30 meq/100 g can
positively affect broilers productive
performance.
CONCLUSIONS
Guinea fowls trial
 No significant effect on growth rate.
 Feed intake was significantly reduced by
the higher % of NaHCO3, while water
intake was significantly increased.
 Feed conversion ratio was significantly
improved by the higher % of NaHCO3.
 pCO2 and HCO3- were significantly
increased with high levels of NaHCO3.
CONCLUSIONS
 Increasing the electrolyte balance from
16-27meq/100g might achieve better
productive performance.
 0.3% of sodium gave positive reactions in
guinea fowls, this notify us to study sodium
requirements for this species in more
details.
 More deep research on this species
concerning the effect of dEB status is
needed.
CONCLUSIONS
In general and in all species studied:
 No significant effect on metabolic profile
parameters.
 Slaughtering and carcass yields were not
significantly different (except in turkeys).
 No significant effect on meat quality
parameters.