The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of chlorine and phosphate salts in the diet, and 2 different levels of diet Ca,on the acid-based balance,growth performance and development of tibial dyscondroplasia (TD)in broiler chicks. Three hundred Ross X PM3, 1-day-old broiler chicks were used during the 5-week trial.Chicks were divided into 6 groups. Three groups (2 experimental and 1 control)were given diets with Ca levels near the bottom limit of the normal requirement (starter 0.90%and grower 0.80%)and 3 groups (2 experimental and one control)were given diets with higher Ca levels (starter 1.25%and grower 1.15%). No anionic salt was added to 1 of the diets,while the other 2 were supplemented with 100 meq/kg DM CaCl2 .2H2O or CaHPO4 .2H2O. All the chicks were weighed individually at the beginning of the trial and once per week from then on.Weekly feed consumption of the chicks was recorded. At the end of the 3rd and 5th weeks,from each group 10 chicks were randomly selected and blood samples collected in order to determine the blood pH,pCO2 ,HCO3- and N+ , K+ and Cl- levels. A blood gas measurement device was used for this purpose. Subsequently, the right and left tibias were removed in order to check for TD and determine bone ash levels,respectively. The results of the trial indicated that the live weight gain of chicks on a lower Ca diet,except group 2 which was supplemented with Cl,was higher than that of chicks on a higher Ca diet.Cl reduced and PO 4 increased the live weight gain of chicks (P

The aim of this trial was to investigate the effects of chlorine and phosphate salts in the diet, and 2 different levels of diet Ca,on the acid-based balance,growth performance and development of tibial dyscondroplasia (TD)in broiler chicks. Three hundred Ross X PM3, 1-day-old broiler chicks were used during the 5-week trial.Chicks were divided into 6 groups. Three groups (2 experimental and 1 control)were given diets with Ca levels near the bottom limit of the normal requirement (starter 0.90%and grower 0.80%)and 3 groups (2 experimental and one control)were given diets with higher Ca levels (starter 1.25%and grower 1.15%). No anionic salt was added to 1 of the diets,while the other 2 were supplemented with 100 meq/kg DM CaCl2 .2H2O or CaHPO4 .2H2O. All the chicks were weighed individually at the beginning of the trial and once per week from then on.Weekly feed consumption of the chicks was recorded. At the end of the 3rd and 5th weeks,from each group 10 chicks were randomly selected and blood samples collected in order to determine the blood pH,pCO2 ,HCO3- and N+ , K+ and Cl- levels. A blood gas measurement device was used for this purpose. Subsequently, the right and left tibias were removed in order to check for TD and determine bone ash levels,respectively. The results of the trial indicated that the live weight gain of chicks on a lower Ca diet,except group 2 which was supplemented with Cl,was higher than that of chicks on a higher Ca diet.Cl reduced and PO 4 increased the live weight gain of chicks (P