Effects of Dietary Sodium and Chloride on Slaughter Performance, Digestive Tract Development and Tibia Mineralization of Geese

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Sodium and chloride are essential electrolytes in the organism, mainly found in extracellular fluid, that play a critical role in maintaining osmotic pressure and acid-base balance of bodily fluids. However, excessive addition of sodium and chloride may cause many adverse effects, such as increasing water consumption and land salinization, and even threatening poultry health. This research explored the effects of different levels of sodium (0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20%) and chloride (0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25%) in diet on slaughter performance, intestinal development and tibia quality of 29–70-day-old geese. Our findings suggest a significant interaction between sodium and chloride on tibia quality; high sodium and chloride levels reduced the tibia’s strength. In addition, reducing dietary sodium and chloride levels will not have adverse effects on geese. The nutritional requirements for geese have yet to be determined. Therefore, the experiment provides new insights into the formulation of the diets of geese, especially the requirement of macronutrients. ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the slaughter performance, digestive tract development and tibia mineralization effects of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) on geese. Four hundred and thirty-four male geese at 29 days were randomly assigned into nine groups with six replicates (eight in each). The experiment employed a 3 × 3 factorial design, with two instances each of three Na levels (0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.20%) and three Cl levels (0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25%). All experimental birds were husbanded for 42 days. Dietary Na and Cl levels and their interactions (Na ×Cl) had no significant effect on the slaughter, breast, thigh, abdominal fat yield, and digestive tract index of geese (p > 0.05). However, dietary Na and Cl level significantly affected the crypt depth of the jejunum and tibial development. Variations in Na and Cl levels had a significant interaction on the crypt depth of jejunal (p < 0.05), 0.20% Na × 0.25% Cl had a minor crypt depth. Dietary variations in Na and Cl significantly affected the tibial strength, and there was a significant interaction between them (p < 0.05). When Na and Cl were at their maximum (0.20% Na and 0.25% Cl), the strength of the tibia was the lowest. In addition, a single factor (Na or Cl) had no effect (p > 0.05), but its interaction significantly affected the calcium (Ca) content of bone (p < 0.05). When the Na and Cl levels were 0.15% and 0.15%, respectively, the Ca content in bone was the highest. These results suggest that dietary Na and Cl had interactive effects on geese, especially in the development of the tibia. High dietary Na and Cl levels adversely influenced the tibia and intestinal crypt morphology. Therefore, we do not advocate supplementing too much Na or Cl in the diet. Combined with our previous results, for 29–70-day-old geese, it is recommended that dietary Na and Cl levels should be 0.10% and 0.15%, respectively.