A total of 552 female Ross broiler chicks were fed diets containing 3 different sodium sources (sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sodium formiate, with or without addition of ammonium chloride) from 22 to 42 days of age. Performance and litter moisture content were evaluated. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. A complete experimental block design was used. Birds were distributed into 4 treatments with 6 replicates each. Each one of the replicates contained 23 birds. Each body

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... weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, the european effciency factor and litter moisture content were examined. Experimental data was analyzed using ANOVA. When a significant F test was obtained, means were separated using Tukey test. A probability of 0.05 was required for statements of significance. Results indicated that sodium bicarbonate and sodium formiate did not influence broiler growth performance, however a hight litter moisture content was observed in birds fed diets containing sodium bicarbonate. Furthermore, the addition of amonium chloride to the diet containing sodium formiate did not influence broiler growth performance and litter moisture. Key words: Electrolyte balance, excreta, sodium bicarbonate, sodium formiate. Foram utilizadas 552 fêmeas de corte, da linhagem Ross, no período de 22 a 42 dias de idade, com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de três fontes de sódio (Na+) na dieta sobre o desempenho das aves e também sobre a umidade da cama. As aves receberam ração e água ad libitum. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições, sendo a unidade experimental representada pelo boxe com 23 aves. Utilizaram-se como fontes de sódio o cloreto de sódio, o bicarbonato de sódio e o formiato de sódio, com ou sem adição de fonte de cloro (cloreto de amônia). As variáveis analisadas foram: consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, índice de eficiência produtivo e umidade da cama. As análises foram realiza [...]