Source of sodium without chloride?

Why a source of sodium without chloride?

Many feed producers are still using NaCl as the sole source of sodium in their feed formulation, but an additional source of sodium without chloride has many advantages. See below:

Sodium and chloride are important in monogastrics’ nutrition because of their regulatory role in cellular osmotic pressure and in acid base equilibrium. Those elements also play a role in nervous system cell metabolism and monosaccharides and amino acids absorption. It is therefore important to know the precise Na and Cl levels to optimise animal growth. A majority of recommendations for poultry advise similar Na and Cl levels, as shown in the table below:

Source: NRC 1994

It is worth following these requirements, and keeping the balance between sodium and chloride, as chloride or sodium deficiencies or excesses were proven to be detrimental to broilers or laying hens:

• A sodium deficiency depresses feed intake, weight gain, laying performance and leads to cannibalism.
• In excess, sodium increases water consumption and thus wet litter. It also decreases performance, carcass quality and increases the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension.
• A chloride deficiency depresses weight gain and leads to an increase in mortality and a risk of tetany.
• In excess, chloride affects feed consumption, growth and laying performance (especially eggshell breakage). It also increases the occurrence of ascites and mortality.

Another important parameter for poultry to take into account that is linked with Na and Cl is the Dietary Electrolyte Balance (DEB), which plays an important role in blood acid-base regulation. A DEB of 240 mEq/kg is recommended for poultry diets to optimise performance. This requirement affects the source of sodium to be used in formulations.

Finally, when formulating a diet, a nutritionist must follow a minimum requirement for sodium, without exceeding the maximum chloride requirement. The nutritionist aims for this objective, and can choose one of the three approaches below:

– Minimum DEB

– Minimum Na/Cl ratio

– Maximum Cl

As such, supplementing only NaCl is insufficient. Indeed, supplementing NaCl does not fulfil the requirements for the correct proportions of Na and Cl in, as it contains 39% Na⁺ and 61% Cl^–. Typically, NaCl will be incorporated in the diet to first reach the maximum requirement for chloride. Then, a chloride free source of sodium is required to fulfil the minimum requirement for sodium.

Then, in the same logic, to reach the recommended DEB for the poultry diet, a source of sodium without chloride is needed. Indeed, if only salt (NaCl) is added in the poultry diet, it will not improve the DEB because it contains as much sodium as chloride. Consequently, the DEB level will be too low, around 180-190 mEq/kg.

To obtain more information about the value of a source of sodium without chloride, you can contact us through the FeedSolutions website, or talk to your sales representative.