Production Performance of Broilers Fed Rations Supplemented with Natural Clay and the Bioavailability of Clay Mineral

Chinwe Aronu, Theodore Kamalu, John Ihedioha
2016 International Journal of Advanced Scientific Research and Management   unpublished
The cost of commercial feed is very exorbitant and inorganic elements used in poultry feed production are not available and/or affordable to small scale farmers that own greater part of poultry business in Nigeria. This study evaluated production performance of broilers fed rations containing natural clay for a period of eight weeks and the bioavailability of clay mineral. A total of 80 unsexed arbor acres broiler chicks were equally and randomly allocated to four treatment groups (Treatments
more » ... 4). Four treatment rations (isonitrogenous and isocaloric) were compounded and fed correspondingly to the treatment groups. Treatment 1 had no clay, 2 contained trace mineral elements from inorganic sources and both served as negative and positive controls respectively. Treatments 3 and 4 had 2% and 1% clay inclusion, respectively. Clay was found to increase trace mineral composition in feed, blood serum and liver tissue. Dose response to clay supplementation in favour of 2% inclusion confirms positive influence of treatment on production parameters and the bioavailability of clay minerals to the animal, and hence the possibility of clay being used as a replacement for trace minerals in broiler production.
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