Effects of Graded Dietary Sodium Bicarbonate Levels on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Finisher Broiler Chickens under Semi-Arid Conditions

Abstract

Poultry production is a key source of affordable animal protein globally, but increasing demand and population growth continue to drive expansion. However, heat stress in broilers reduces performance, and dietary electrolyte balance is widely used to improve their physiological stability and productivity. This study evaluated the effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) supplementation on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of broiler chickens during the finisher phase in the semi-arid environment. A total of 120 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments comprised a basal diet supplemented with sodium bicarbonate at graded levels: 0, 50, 100, and 150g/100kg as T1 (Control), T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Data were collected on growth parameters (weight gain, feed intake, FCR, mortality), carcass yield, and meat quality indices (pH, drip loss, and water-holding capacity). Results indicated that sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly (p<0.05) improved final body weight, total weight gain and FCR. Mortality was observed to have differed significantly (p<0.05) across all the treatments. Even though the percentage mortality was very high across the treatment which could be attributed the bacterial infection (salmonellosis) as confirmed by postmortem and isolation of the parasite from the tissues. Birds in the T4 group (150 g/100kg) had the highest final body weight and lowest FCR suggesting improved nutrient utilization under heat stress as a result of supplementing Sodium bicarbonate. While feed intake, and carcass characteristics (primal cuts and organ weights) were not significantly affected (p>0.05), meat quality analysis revealed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in Water Holding Capacity (WHC) for birds in the T2 group (0.5 g/kg). The study concludes that sodium bicarbonate is effective in mitigating the adverse effects of heat stress, with 1.5 g/kg recommended for optimizing growth performance.