Strategic application of electrolytic balance in diets for broiler breeders/Aplicacao estrategica do balanco eletrolitico em dietas para matrizes pesadas

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of the use of the electrolytic balance concept on broiler breeder's performance. A total of 57.000 Cobb 500 breeders between 55 and 62 weeks of age were used to verify the influence of eletrolitic balance on flock productive parameters. The birds were distributed in two groups of three houses each that received at an alternated way (two cycles of four weeks) feeds formulated with or without the eletrolitic balance concept. It was evaluated feed consumption, productivity, hatched eggs, mortality, egg production/bird and feed con-version. The same concept was used in four commercial houses of 6300 birds each (Ross line), since the pre laying, applied to two of this commercial houses, the concept of electrolyte balance. It was observed during the use of feed that followed the eletrolitic balance concept, lower mortality (0.285% vs 0.525%; P < 0.05), higher productivity (56.63% vs 55.69%; P < 0.05), higher weekly egg production (3.96 vs 3.88 eggs; P < 0.05) and lower feed conversion (267 vs 273g [egg.sup.-1]; P < 0.05). At the commercial houses it was possible to observe a difference in the yield curve mortality and hatching resulting in a higher production of 13.87 more salable eggs in commercial houses with the eletrolitic balance concept. The adoption of the eletrolitic balance concept of 180mEq [kg.sup.-1] for broiler breeders improve the egg production and feed conversion and reduced mortality of broiler breeders.