Indian Journal of Poultry Science

Sodium, potassium, chloride contents of commonly used feed ingredients in poultry ingredients were estimated for calculating their dietary anion cation difference (DCAD) value. Ten samples each of the different locally used feed ingredients in poultry feed were analysed for sodium, potassium and chloride contents. The animal protein sources had higher sodium and chloride than the cereals, cereal-by products and vegetable protein sources. The vegetable protein sources and rice polish had higher potassium content than cereals, cereal-by products and animal protein sources. The DCAD value of cereals, cereal-by products, vegetable protein sources (except soybean meal) and animal protein sources was 71,227 to 238, 253 to 267 and 285 to 295 mEq/kg, respectively and the value for soybean meal was 478.6 mEq/kg.