Effect of sodium gluconate on performance, carcass characteristics, and intestinal morphometry of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age

摘要

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of the sodium gluconate addition on performance (feed intake, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, livability and productive efficiency), carcass characteristics (carcass, breast, thigh and drumstick, wing and back yield), and morphometry of duodenum, jejunal and ileum of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age. A total of 1,200 Cobb male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40% sodium gluconate), and eight replications of 30 broilers each. The inclusion of sodium gluconate did not affect the broiler performance and carcass characteristics. However, the morphometry of duodenum and jejunal mucosa showed beneficial effects.