EFFECT OF USING SODIUM FORMATE WITH RESTRICTED CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS ON BROILER PERFORMANCE AND GUT HEALTH

The present experiment was conducted to study effects of using different levels of sodium-di-formate (NDF) with different levels of restricted phosphorus in broiler diets on productive performance, carcass traits and gut health. At one day of age, 175 Hubbard chicks were divided into 7 groups (25 birds each). Each group contained 5 replicates of 5 birds each. The experimental groups were as follows:
1. Control diet contains 100% Ca and available phosphorus (AP) requirements without NDF.
2. Diet contains 50% of Ca and AP requirements + 1.50 Kg/ ton NDF.
3. Diet contains 40% of Ca and AP requirements + 1.50 Kg/ ton NDF.
4. Diet contains 50% of Ca and AP requirements + 2.25 Kg/ ton NDF.
5. Diet contains 40% of Ca and AP requirements + 2.25 Kg/ ton NDF.
6. Diet contains 50% of Ca and AP requirements + 3.00 Kg/ ton NDF.
7. Diet contains 40% of Ca and AP requirements + 3.00 Kg/ ton NDF.
Main results obtained could be summarized as following:
1. There were no significant differences among all groups in live body weight (LBW) during starter period, while final LBW was superior with (T5) and (T7) groups. Also, no significant differences were noticed within all groups in daily weight gain (DWG) during starter period, while overall DWG was superior with birds fed (T5) or (T7) diet.
2. No significant differences among all experimental groups in daily feed consumption (DFC) during starter period, while birds of (T5) or (T7) groups consumed more feed during overall test period. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) values indicated that best FCR was recorded with chicks fed (T2), (T5) or (T7) diet during starter period, while overall FCR was found to be similar within all groups.
3. Values of both performance index (PI) and production efficiency factor (PEF) showed that all experimental groups are significantly similar to the control (T1) group.
4. Chicks fed (T5) or (T6) diet had better protein conversion ratio (PCR) and energy conversion ratio (ECR) values during starter period. While during overall period, PCR and ECR values of all test groups are significantly similar to those of control (T1) group.
5. All carcass traits were not significantly affected by different dietary treatments including dressing, giblets and abdominal fat percentages.
6. Chicks fed different dietary level of NDF showed obvious effect on all ileal microflora classes including lactic acid bacteria counts when compared to those fed control (T1) diet.
It could be concluded that incorporation of Formi® NDF at 2.25 to 3.00 Kg/ ton, in broiler diets, had many beneficial effects on different productive performance classes with no adverse effect on carcass traits or intestinal microbiological population.