Effect of Potassium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Thermotolerance of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress

A t otal of 100-day-old broiler chicken were randomly divided into five groups and kept under elevated temperature (95-98.6 F) to observe the effect of potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate on the o weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), serum potassium and serum bicarbonate level. Thermostress lead to significant in decrease (P<0.05) weight gain, serum potassium and serum bicarbonate level, while FCR was increased. During heat stress, KCl and NaHCO at levels of 1.5% and 0.5% respectively, improved 3 weight gain, and FCR and significantly increased (P<0.05) serum potassium and bicarbonate level. The results showed that combination of KCl and NaHCO supplementation alleviated the negative effects of heat 3 stress in broilers.