on the substitution of sodium bicarbonate by sodium sul- phate (AdiSodium) maintaining DEB value from 230 to 250 (mEq/kg) among the four rearing phases between 0 to 37- day old. Sodium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate treat- ments were equivalent in terms of body weight gain, feed in- take, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and European Poultry Efficiency Factor (EPEF) (Figure 1). Whilst the litter and faeces moisture levels were similar, there was a numerical reduction in faecal pH (Table 1). Interestingly, at 35-day old, the sodium sulphate treatment group exhibited significantly lower litter pH and food pad lesion score than sodium bicarbonate group. When the litter was analysed, sulphate levels were twice as high in the sodium sulphate treatment (Figure 2). It is therefore presumed that if the sulphate ions were found in the litter they were not absorbed in the gut. Consequently, they cannot contribute to the anion-cation balance of the bird. Confirming that sodium sulphate improves DEB and SO4 does not get involved. The authors concluded that sodium sulphate is a safe, efficient and cost-effective source of chlo- ride-free sodium. In other trials on broilers, where sodium bi- carbonate was replaced by sodium sulphate in broiler diets, there were also no significant differences between weight gain, feed intake or Feed Conversion Ratio at 42 days of age. Similarly, no effect on water consumption was observed, or any adverse effects on litter quality. Another point that was observed in one broiler trial was a reduction of ammonia emissions from 16.0 to 4.5 ppm, along with a reduction in
litter pH. The same formulation principles have been applied in other trials to diets for laying hens and same conclusions were drawn. In a trial, the effects of a dietary treatment com- bining salt and sodium bicarbonate and another diet with salt and sodium sulphate were compared. No treatment dif- ference on laying performance or egg shell quality was iden- tified. The aim was also to disprove the supposition that sodi- um sulphate has a laxative effect when used as sodium source to balance DEB. In this purpose, a last dietary treat- ment was performed with twice the dose of sodium sulphate needed and, even in this condition, there was no effect on either faecal dry matter or excreta score of laying hens.
Effect on ammonia emissions Two hypotheses have been put forward to explain why the replacement of sodium bicarbonate with sodium sulphate reduces ammonia levels. The first is that the sulphate reduces
Table 1 – Litter and faecal quality at 35 days of age.
Feacal moisture (g/kg) Litter moisture (g/kg) Faecal pH Litter pH
Sodium bicarbonate Sodium sulphate 777 511 6.29 6.73a
773 533 6.19 6.07b
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 25, No. 10, 2017 11
The use of sodi- um sulphate significantly reduces litter ammonia emis- sions compared to sodium bicar- bonate.
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