Effect of some feed additives on the performance of broiler chicks fed diets containing high levels of meat and bone meal

Abstract

Two experiments, each of five weeks duration, were conducted to determine the effects of vitamin D3, EDTA, potassium oxalate, magnesium oxide and potassium sulphate on the performance of broiler chicks given diets containing a high level of meat and bone meal. The addition of 0.095 per cent EDTA or 0.063 per cent EDTA plus 0.1 25 per cent magnesium oxide or 0.063 per cent potassium oxalate improved efficiency of feed conversion, and 0.188 per cent potassium sulphate improved both liveweight gain and efficiency of feed conversion, of chicks fed diets with a high level of meat and bone meal. Magnesium oxide, either independently or in combination with potassium oxalate, had no effect on chick performance. Non-supplementation of meat and bone meal based diets with vitamin D3 caused a depression in growth, feed intake, efficiency of feed conversion, tibia weight and tibia ash content. These adverse effects were aggravated by the addition of 0.25 per cent EDTA to such a diet.