Effect of different magnesium sources on digesta and excreta moisture content and production performance in broiler chickens

Abstract

Reducing litter moisture is an effective measure to reduce the incidence of footpad dermatitis. Dietary mineral levels affect intestinal conditions with regard to osmolarity and water reabsorption. Magnesium is often used as a laxative, preventing reabsorption of water from the digesta, and as a consequence, more moisture in the excreta. The objective of the current experiment was to evaluate Mg in broiler diets as a model for reduced intestinal water reabsorption. Effects of magnesium source (magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, and magnesium chloride), each at 3 levels (0.255, 1.02, and 2.04 g·kg(-1) diet), were studied. Measured effects were digesta moisture levels throughout the gastrointestinal tract and the moisture level of the excreta. The 10 treatments were randomly assigned to cages within 6 blocks, resulting in 6 replicates per treatments with 18 birds per replicate. Adding magnesium to the diet of broilers linearly increased the excreta moisture content, following the pattern MgCl > MgSO(4) = MgO. This rejects the hypothesis that MgO and MgCl are less laxative sources compared with MgSO(4). The magnesium sources most likely changed the water reabsorption in the distal gastrointestinal tract, as confirmed by the increased digesta moisture percentage in the ceca and colon. Increasing dietary MgSO(4) linearly reduced BW gain and feed intake, though absolute differences were minor. The results of this experiment show that Mg addition in the diet may be used as a model to study wet litter caused by reduced intestinal water reabsorption.

Moisture content in broiler excreta is influenced by excreta nutrient contents1

“…Increased protein content of the digesta in the hindgut can, therefore, affect microbial composition in the hindgut and affect water reabsorption. However, in a previous experiment no relation of microbial composition and excreta moisture content was observed (van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al, 2013b).…”

Feed supplementation with red seaweeds, Chondrus crispus and Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii, affects performance, egg quality, and gut microbiota of layer hens

“…Subsequently, each sample was dried in a forced-air oven at 70°C for 24 h and weighed. Percent moisture was calculated using the following formula (Miles et al, 2011;van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al, 2013):…”

Dietary Supplementation of Magnesium Sulfate during Late Gestation and Lactation Affects the Milk Composition and Immunoglobulin Levels in Sows

“…Different with our results, Stockdale (2004) reported that adding 105 to 155 g MgSO 4 to the diet of cows during the last 3 weeks of gestation had a negative effect on intake before calving. Supplementation of MgSO 4 at doses of 0.255, 1.02, and 2.04 g/kg diet linearly reduced BW gain and feed intake in broiler chickens (Van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al, 2013). Stockdale (2004) interpretated that supplementation of MgSO 4 would seriously affect the palatability of the feed and reduce the feed intake.…”

“…Similar finding on finishing pig constipation with the addition of MgSO 4 to diets was reported by Tang (2000). According to Van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al (2013), adding Mg (MgSO 4 , MgO, and magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ), each at 3 levels (0.255, 1.02, and 2.04 g/kg diet)) to the diet of broilers linearly increased the excreta moisture content, following the pattern MgCl 2 >MgSO 4 = MgO, which has confirmed that Mg can prevent reabsorption of water from the digesta, and as a consequence, more moisture will be present in the excreta.…”