Effect of different levels of bentonite supplementation in diets on zootechnical performance of broiler chicken

Abstract

Clay is one of many other additives proposed as substitutes to optimize avian performances. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of bentonite sodium (BS) from the Maghnia field on the zootechnical performances of the broiler chicken. For that, 490 Harbord broiler chicks were distributed into 7 lots, each comprising 70 subjects. We prepared a control lot (T) with a standard corn feed and lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 added 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% bentonite by corn substitution, respectively. Zootechnical performances (weight gain WG, consumption index CI) were calculated every 5 days. Our results showed a significant improvement in WG and CI of bentonite-added chickens compared to the control lot. However, in the start-up/ growth phase, there was performance degradation in chickens with 5% BS, which would mean that although BS was beneficial, chicken did not tolerate high levels of BS during young age. In addition to improving performances, BS offered a very large savings in corn (up to 5 kg/100 kg of food). Since BS is a plentiful natural product, it reduces production costs and improves performances of the broiler.

Keywords

• additive
• bentonite sodium
• zootechnical performances
• broiler chicken.