RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium (Na) levels in the drinking water on the performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens. A completely randomized design with 4 treatments (4.90; 32.30; 60.53; and 101.0 mg/L of Na in water) and 6 replications, with 20 birds per experimental unit, was adopted. The treatments are evaluated in the following: 10 to 25, 10 to 39, and 10 to 54 days. For slow-growing chickens from 10 to 25 days, the Na levels in the drinking water promoted a quadratic effect for water and feed intake (p<0.05). The inclusion of Na in the drinking water offered to slow-growing chickens from 10 to 39 days resulted in a reduction in voluntary water intake (p<0.05). For slow-growing chickens from 10 to 54 days, the Na levels in the drinking water promoted a quadratic effect for water intake and feed conversion (p<0.05). After 54 days, the slow-growing chickens were slaughtered and it was observed that the Na inclusion in the drinking water offered to slow-growing chickens provided a quadratic effect for cold carcass, breast, and kidney weights and for kidney and liver yields (p<0.05). Liver weight was reduced with increasing Na levels in the drinking water (p<0.05). For the breast cut, the Na levels in the drinking water promoted a quadratic effect for pH24h, drip loss, cooking loss, protein, and fat and an increase in shear force (p<0.05). For the thigh cut, the Na levels in the drinking water increased the pH24h and reduced drip loss and shear force (p<0.05), and a quadratic effect was observed for moisture and fat (p<0.05). Levels of up to 60.53 mg/L of Na promote an increase in feed intake, which provided a higher breast weight and protein content with reduced fat and drip loss.