Effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate on egg production and egg quality of laying hens during high summer temperature

WOS: 0001659116000061. This research was conducted to determine the effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate supplementation on egg production, egg quality parameters, feed consumption, feed efficiency and rectal temperatures at high summer temperature. 2. A 2x5 factorial experimental design involving two commercial layer strains (white and brown) and three levels of NaHCO3 (0, 0.3 and 0.5%) was conducted. The experiment was carried out with 360 commercial hybrid layers at 30 wks of age in July and lasted for four weeks. 3. The results of the present study indicated that NaHCO3 supplementation at a level of 0.3% significantly improved eggshell quality and feed conversion but decreased egg production in both strains. 4. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation significantly reduced egg weight in white layers while no beneficial effect was observed on brown layers. 5. Rectal temperatures during the hot hours of the day were higher in brown layers than in white layers but were not significantly affected by NaHCO3 supplementation