Effect of using olive pulp supplemented with or without sodium bentonite supplementation on productive performance of broilers

Abstract

A total number of 240 broiler chicks (Cobb 500 ) were arranged in a factorial experiment (2x4) with 3 replicates per treatment of 10 chicks per replicate, (5 males + 5 females). Two dietary levels of Sodium Bentonite (SB) namely 0 and 2.5 %, and four dietary levels of olive pulp (OP) namely 0, 5, 10, and 15 %, and their interactions were conducted to study its effects on productive performance and carcass characteristics. The experiment lasted from hatch to 35 days of age. Results indicated that dietary SB 2.5% improved (p≤0.0001) feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly and decreased (p≤0.0330) total feed intake (FI) significantly, gizzard weight (p≤0.0001) and increased significantly (p≤0.0008) front Parts weight compared to that of 0% level of dietary SB. Results also indicated that 10 or 15% dietary OP decreased non significantly the final body weight (BWT), total body weight gain (BWG), and total FI. The dietary group 10 or 15% dietary OP decreased significantly (p≤0.0003) the abdominal fat compared to that 0 or 5% levels of dietary OP. There were no significant effect either of OP or SB levels on weights of carcass, hind parts, heart, liver and spleen. There were also no significant interactions among all levels of SB and OP on all experiment variables. In conclusion, it could be recommended that the use of dietary SB with level of 2.5% and/or dietary OP with levels up to 15% in broiler feeds have no adverse effects.