Electrolytes are minerals in the body that have an electric charge. They are present in the blood, urine and body fluids. To function normally, the body must maintain fluid at levels that are optimum, in and around the cells and in the blood. Electrolytes especially Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Bicarbonate help the body maintain normal fluid levels intracellularly and in intercellular spaces. Heat stress is a very serious situation for birds and if not dealt with properly, can even lead to mortality. In our part of the world specifically, which sees temperatures well above 40°C, chickens lose excess heat through panting (evaporative cooling) to maintain proper body temperature. Panting and associated heat regulatory metabolic pathways lead to the loss of electrolytes and a disturbed acid-base balance of the body fluids. Its severity depends on the temperature and duration of heat stress. This call for supplementing diets with electrolytes that not only helps birds achieve homeostasis and hence, optimum performance, but also ensures the following:

• Cellular integrity
• Maintaining myocardial and neurological function by carrying electrical impulses across nerves and muscle cells
• Oxygen delivery
• Water balance
• Acid-base balance and much more

Are all electrolytes available in the market equal to the task?

Probably not! In order to choose the right product for your hens, factors mentioned below are some of the important ones to be considered.

Dietary Electrolyte Balance (DEB)

Disturbance in the electrolyte balance is a serious outcome of heat stress. All body systems are affected when DEB is disturbed as this directly influences the blood pH which is linked with performance. Proper DEB is necessary for normal feed intake, better growth, bone development, egg shell quality, amino acid and phytase utilization. Managing the balance of dietary electrolytes is a key factor in maximizing performance in high environmental temperatures.
Ensuring, therefore, that the electrolyte supplement being given through feed/drinking water has no effect on the DEB is important in enabling relief from stress and maintaining optimum performance.

Osmolarity

Osmolarity is the concentration of solute per litre of solution. It is expressed in milliOsmoles (mOsm). It determines the strength of the solution. Different reviews published by scientists clearly indicate that osmolarity of an electrolyte solution should be within the stipulated range, so that it does not inhibit feed intake. Electrolyte solution with high osmolarity may cause Hypernatremia and adversely affect the absorption of the nutrients from the gut. On the other hand a too low osmolarity value of an electrolyte solution indicates very less number of ions in solution to offer any immediate recovery.

Is Sodium Bicarbonate alone enough to combat the heat stress?

The requirement for strong (monovalent) ions that have a characteristic effect on body fluid homeostasis cannot be considered individually because it is the overall electrolyte balance that is important. The change in blood pH from normal to alkaline (respiratory alkalosis) and then acidic (body fluid acidosis) in response to heat stress disturbs the acid-base balance of the body. This occurs due to the loss of electrolytes from the body. Though more water is consumed to combat heat, water is not retaineddue to the lack of sufficient concentration of strong electrolytes in the body fluids. Feed intake is also impaired. Overall impact of heat stress is growth retardation and poor performance, often leading to mortality especially when it is unattended.

Although, Sodium Bicarbonate is one of the most important constituents of the blood buffer system, in order to maintain a proper acid-base balance and to get optimum performance during high ambient temperatures it is necessary to enrich the feed and/or water with a well balanced electrolyte supplement, which not only augments the supply of bicarbonates, but also provides other critical ions like Potassium that are heavily drained out especially during heat stress.

Further questions to ask your supplier:

• Is the electrolyte mix formulated scientifically?
• Does it possess a Zero Ionic Balance?
• Will your electrolyte mix leave the DEB and Acid-Base Balance undisturbed?
• Does the product contain only Monovalent Ions (for quick rehydration and recovery)?
• Does the electrolyte mix produce a solution withosmolarityat the desired limits?

Choosing the right electrolyte supplement is therefore of paramount importance in order to provide immediate relief during stress and to enable optimum production and performance.
Avilyte, a product of Avitech nutrition Pvt Ltd, is a unique formula with zero ionic balance. It is ideal to combat stress from heat, handling during shifting and transportation, vaccination, debeaking or other production related stress.