· Sodium bicarbonate can neutralize gastric acid, dissolve mucus, reduce the viscosity of digestive juice, and strengthen the contraction of the gastrointestinal tract, play a role in strengthening the stomach, suppressing acid and increasing appetite.
· The addition of sodium bicarbonate to the feed can supplement the poultry's heat wheezing (exhaled CO₂ too much) caused the reduction of carbonate in the blood, thereby improving the body's calcium metabolism.
· The addition of sodium bicarbonate to the feed can increase the mobility of phosphorus in the egg. In order to form a good eggshell, it is necessary to maintain an appropriate phosphorus concentration in the blood. Sodium bicarbonate can maintain the concentration of phosphorus in the blood of egg birds at the optimal level necessary to form an eggshell.
· Sodium bicarbonate can separate CO₂ in the digestive tract, thereby taking away a large amount of heat, which is beneficial to maintain the body's heat balance when it is hot.
· Adding sodium bicarbonate to the feed can provide a source of sodium, so that the blood maintains an appropriate sodium concentration. The feed of laying hens contains sodium in the range of 0.14% to 0.28% and chlorine in the range of 0.20% to 0.24%. The ratio of sodium to chlorine is suitable. The indicators of egg production rate, egg weight, eggshell formation and feed efficiency are all good. The most suitable mineral level for chicken feed for meat is 0.15% to 0.20% for sodium, 0.80% for potassium, and 0.12% to 0.15% for chlorine. The use of sodium chloride makes it difficult to balance the sodium and chlorine in the feed within the above range. Due to the increase in the amount of choline chloride, the imbalance of sodium and chlorine is further exacerbated.
