<b>Effect of acid-base balance and poultry by-products in performance of young broiler chicks (1 to 21 days of age)</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v25i2.2005

Abstract

The objective of this trial was to determine the effect of the dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and poultry by-products for young broiler chicks (01 to 21 days of age). 1,500 one-day Cobb-Vantress chickens, distributed in a completely randomized design, in a factorial 2x5 (bowel meal-BM and feather meal-FM x DEB 205, 235, 265, 295 and 325mEq/kg), three repetitions and 50 birds each. There was not interaction between by-products and DEB, on the studied variables. The broilers fed with rations contend BM they presented better feed conversion ratio (FCR). The levels of DEB only influenced FCR, in a quadratic way and with point of minimum in 292mEq/kg, and litter humidity in a growing lineal way. It was concluded that BM provided better performance than FM and best DEB were 292mEq/kg, independent of the utilization of by-product, however, the increase of DEB shown elevated the litter moisture.