Effect of Different Sodium Bentonite Levels on Performance, Carcass Traits and Passage Rate of Broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of different sodium bentonite (SB) levels on performance, carcass characteristics and passage rate of broilers. Two hundred eighty eight day-old Ross strain mix broilers were allocated to 6 experimental diets with 4 replications in a completely randomized design. Treatments levels of sodium bentonite were 0.00, 0.75, 1.50, 2.25, 3.00 and 3.75%. Broilers fed SB containing diets consumed more feeds (P<0.05) and showed better weight gain (P>0.05) with no difference across treatments containing SB. The diet with 3.75% SB had the best FCR. Relative weight of liver decreased as percentage of SB increased in diet while control group had highest relative weight of breast (P<0.05). Supplementation of diets by SB increased retention time and decreased gastrointestinal passage rate. The use of SB in broiler diets had no adverse effects on performance; addition SB to broiler diets had beneficial effects on performance, carcass characteristics and passage rate and resulted in improved efficiency of production. (C) 2011 PVJ. All rights reserved