Ammoniated Broiler Diets Reduce Fecal Phosphorus Excretion

Abstract

Latour, M.A., Meunier, R.A., Huber, D. and Stallings, K. 2000. Ammoniated broiler diets reduce fecal phosphorus excretion. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 18: 91–95.

To determine if diet ammoniation would alter the fecal characteristics of growing broilers during the last week of production, forty broiler chicks were raised on the same diet up to 28 days of age. On day 28 for two weeks, broilers were equally and randomly assigned to the following dietary treatments: (a) control or (b) control diet plus 3% added ammonia. Fecal samples were collected at day 28 and day 35 to assess any changes in composition. Across both treatment levels, the percentage of fecal calcium, sodium and potassium was reduced between day 28 and 35. Also, the percentage (7.3% reduction) in fecal phosphorus was reduced in broilers receiving the ammoniated diet. This study would suggest ammoniated diets reduce the level of fecal P in broilers during the last week of production.

Key words:

• Phosphorus
• ammoniation
• broilers