Underestimating the negative impacts of ammonia produced in litters of poultry birds raised under high temperature-humidity index is dangerous, as broiler chickens (BC) are sensitive to high ammonia concentrations which can result in blindness and overall decrease in productive performance. Hence, it is ideal to maintain litter moisture by optimizing the utilization of water by broiler chicks. The balance of acid-base in broilers could be enhanced by supplementing diets or water of BC under heat stress with electrolytes. However, electrolytes increase water intake and might affect litter quality. Therefore, effect of varying dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on water intake (WI), litter moisture (LM) and productive performance of BC were investigated at pre-starter and starter phases using a total of three hundred, 1-day-old Arbor Acre chicks that were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments [210 (T 1), 240 (T 2), 270 (T 3), 300 (T 4), 330 (T 5) and 360 (T 6)] mEq/Kg DEB, in a completely randomised design. Birds were reared at pre-starter phase (PSP) of 0-14 days and starter phase (SP) of 14-21 days, under the temperature-humidity index of 24.97-35.19. Water intake and litter moisture were monitored. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α 0.05. Water intake was enhanced at PSP and SP in birds on 360 mEq/kg, but with increased litter moisture. However, a dietary electrolyte balance of 270 mEq/kg improved performances of broiler chicks at pre-starter and starter phases.

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The loss of electrolyte balance in diets of broiler chickens has resulted in a serious disturbance of blood acid-base balance, coupled with elevated body temperature. The body losses carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and bicarbonate (HCO 3 ), resulting in respiratory alkalosis or acidosis. Under tropical conditions of high environmental temperatures, the balance of electrolytes in feeds must be set much higher as to maintain equal metabolic and digestive efficiency. However, information on the ideal dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) that could effectively correct acid-base imbalance in broiler chickens under severe heat stress condition is scanty. Therefore, the effects of varying electrolyte balance in diets on haematology, blood glucose and serum inorganic elements were assessed in broiler chickens at starter (0 -21 d) and finisher (22 -35 d) phases, under temperature-humidity index of 24.97 -35.19. One day-old Arbor Acre chicks (n = 300) were procured and randomly allotted to diets supplemented with potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, to balance monovalent ions (sodium, potassium and chloride) at 210 (T1), 240 (T2), 270 (T3), 300 (T4), 330 (T5) and 360 (T6) mEq/kg DEB, in a completely randomised design. On days 21 and 35, blood (5 mL) samples were collected from birds in each replicate whose weights were closest to the mean class weight for haematology and serum biochemical indices using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α = 0.05. Different levels of DEB did not significantly affect (P > 0.05) haematology and blood glucose at starter phase. However, at finisher phase, heterophil: lymphocyte of birds on 270 and 240 mEq/kg DEB were lower (P < 0.05) compared to other dietary treatments. Blood acid-base balance was relatively enhanced in birds on aggregate DEB level of 360 mEq/kg with reduced chloride ion Open Access https://doi.org/10.4236/ns.2020.121002 5 Natural Science and relatively lower incidence of hemodilution with respect to high haemoglobin levels as this level is advantageous in balancing blood acid to base ratio in broiler chickens reared under severe environmental temperatures higher than 43˚C ± 5˚C as against some previous opinions that did not take into consideration, the inherent dietary electrolyte balance in feedstuff, other functional mono or divalent ions, and the severity of environmental factors.

The shelf life of chicken meat has been rapidly reduced as a result of high environmental temperatures prevalent in the tropics which favored the activities of spoilage micro-organisms, and reactive oxygen species that function in oxidative damage. Newbouldia laevis (N. laevis) possess valuable antioxidant and antibacterial properties. However, information on the effect of aqueous extracts of dry and wet leaves of N. laevis on preservation of fresh chicken meat under tropical condition is scanty and thus, investigated. Broiler chicken meat (10kg weight) was obtained immediately after slaughter and were randomly allotted to three treatments (T1- control; T2- aqueous extract of wet leaves of N. laevis; and T3- aqueous extract of dry leaves of N. laevis) in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Tropical plant, such as Newbouldia laevis with relatively high resistance to heat stress, possesses viable bioactive compounds that can lower the growth of spoilage micro-organisms and activities of reactive oxygen species on fresh chicken meat under tropical conditions for 48 hours. Hence, poultry farmers in developing nations with fluctuating power supply can adopt the quick meat shelf life enhancement technique, while commercial poultry farmers across the globe can embark on product fortification using extracts of Newbouldia laevis.

A degree centigrade fall or rise in body temperature of broiler chickens is sufficient to reduce performance, alter sound physiological state and divert nutritional metabolism in quest for ensuring thermal balance. Thermoregulatory mechanisms of newly hatched chicks are poorly developed, and fluctuations in brooding temperature coupled with severe environmental temperatures in the tropics could threaten the survivability, production and economic integrity of fast-growing strains of broilers. However, information on the effect of sharp fluctuations in body temperature on nutrient intake and European production index (EPI) of broilers fed dietary electrolytes is scanty and thus investigated. Using a total of 300, one-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Arbor Acre) that were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments (T1-210, T2-240, T3270, T4-300, T5-330 and T6-360 mEq/kg electrolyte balance), data on performance characteristics and their correlations with body temperature and EPI at prestarter, starter and finisher phases were determined using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α = 0.05. At prestarter phase, feed intake (FI) had a strong and positive relationship with protein intake (r = 1.00; p < 0.01), EPI (r = 0.96; p < 0.01) and potassium (K) intake (r = 0.66; p < 0.01), but was negatively correlated with temperature change (r = −0.39; p < 0.05). However, FI was not significantly correlated with body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), sodium (Na) and water intake. At starter phase, EPI was positively correlated to K intake (r = 0.38; p < 0.05), but not Na and chloride (Cl) intake. European production index of starter chicks could be enhanced by increasing the level of K intake through dietary supplementation up to 1.02%. Weight gain was adversely affected by sharp changes in temperature at finisher phase.