Sodium requirement for broiler breeder hens

Two experiments were conducted with Arbor Acres hens to determine their Na requirement. Sodium chloride was added to a corn-soybean meal diet to furnish daily intakes of 35, 65, 95, 125, and 150 mg per hen in Experiment 1. The 150 mg level was replaced with 180 mg in Experiment 2. The hens were maintained in floor pens with wood shavings used as litter. Experiment 1 was conducted for 9 wk and Experiment 2 for 12 wk. Egg production was significantly reduced during Week 4, when the hens had an intake of 35 mg Na/d. Egg production was reduced by Week 7 when the diet furnished 65 mg/d. Plasma Na was reduced and plasma K increased when the intake was 35 or 65 mg/d. Performance data from 6 to 9, and 6 to 12 wk were used in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, to determine the daily Na requirement. The daily requirement for maximum production was 113.8 and 96 mg and the requirement for egg mass was 105 and 100 mg in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively.