Natural zeolites in diet or litter of broilers

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the influence of adding natural zeolites (clinoptilolite) to the diet or litter of broilers and their effects on growth performance, carcass yield and litter quality. Three consecutive flocks of broilers were raised on the same sawdust litter, from d 1 to d 42 of age, and distributed in three treatments (control with no added zeolites, addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to diet and addition of 100 g/kg zeolites to litter). The addition of zeolites to the diet or litter did not affect growth performance or carcass yield. The addition of zeolites to the diet did not influence moisture content of the litter, ammonia volatilisation was reduced only in the first flock and pH of litter was reduced in the second and third flock. However, the addition of zeolites to the litter reduced moisture content, litter pH and ammonia volatilisation in all flocks analysed. The addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to the diet in three consecutive flocks was not effective in maintaining litter quality, whereas the addition of 100 g/kg natural zeolites to sawdust litter reduced litter moisture and ammonia volatilisation in three consecutive flocks raised on the same litter.

Zeolites in poultry and swine production

“…Inclusion of 15g kg -1 or 25g kg -1 in the diet of broilers reduced broiler weight gain; however, poultry house ammonia levels were also reduced from 21.15ppm (control) to 17.25ppm and 17.75ppm with use of 15g kg -1 and 25g kg -1 zeolite, respectively (ÇABUK et al, 2004). The addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to the diet or 100g kg -1 zeolite to the litter of broilers did not affect feed intake, live body weight, feed conversion and average daily gain up to 42 days old (SCHNEIDER et al, 2016). Data generated from metabolism testing showed reductions in pH and moisture of excreta when poultry received a diet with 0.5% clinoptilolite zeolite (SCHNEIDER, 2017).…”

“…For broilers, inclusion of zeolites as a feed additive showed a beneficial effect on broiler performance and led to the improvement of their litter quality (NIKOLAKAKIS et al, 2013). The inclusion of 10% zeolite in litter reduced litter moisture and ammonia volatilization (SCHNEIDER et al, 2016). In addition, the health of the intestine was improved by inclusion of zeolites in diet (WU et al, 2013a).…”

“…Two broiler diets were tested containing 3.0 or 10.0% linseed and 2.0% zeolite and it was observed that the addition of the natural zeolite resulted in a significant increase in thigh meat weight and decrease of abdominal fat (CHRISTAKI et al, 2006). In contrast, the inclusion of 0.5% zeolite in the diet and 10% zeolite in litter did not lead to differences of total carcass yield, or breast, leg and thigh meat of broilers (SCHNEIDER et al, 2016). Also, the inclusion of 2% and 4% zeolite in broiler diets slaughtered at 42 days old did not change the carcass weight, breast meat, thigh meat, distal back and drumsticks and abdominal fat relative to the weight percentage (TATAR et al, 2012).…”

“…The unique addition and initial addition of 10% natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) in relation to total weight of sawdust litter in three consecutive flocks raised on the same litter reduced litter moisture and ammonia volatilization by up to 32%. Thus, effects were observed until the third flock, which means that zeolites do not need to be added for every new flock (SCHNEIDER et al, 2016).…”

Utilising Organic-Mineral Fertilisers Produced from Man-Made Waste of Poultry Farms

“…The prospective way to minimise ecological hazard at sites for keeping birds is to apply sorbents in litter composition, which adsorb part of ammonia released by chicken droppings [9,10]. This will ensure the reduction of ammonia emissions polluting the atmosphere as a result of it intake by adsorbents.…”