Dietary addition of Calcium Bentonite enhances conditions of livestock hygiene and Droppings Characteristics and Health of Broilers Chicks

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of the addition of calcium bentonite (CaB) supplementation on growth performance, hygienic con-ditions of livestock buildings, dropping characteristics and health of broiler chicks. One hundred and fifty 1 day-old male Hubbard ISA broilers were allo-cated to 3 groups, reared for 50 days, designated as follows: soy-corn based diet without addition of bentonite (control), 2% CaB and 5% CaB. At 50th day, body weight was about 13% (P<0.05) higher in broilers groups feeding bentonite than in the control group. The CaB 5% diet decreased significantly (P<0.05) the moisture proportion of dropping characteristics. Thereby, the results of microbiological analysis (total germs, yeast and mould, total coliform, fecal coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal streptococci) showed that the microbial load is reduced in the groups receiving bentonite compared to the control group. The HDL cholesterol was higher 0.64 g/l (P<0.05) in the groups receiving bentonite compared with the LDL cholesterol which was higher in the control group. Erythrocytes, leucocytes and thrombocytes cell count, and hematocrit percentage were significantly (P<0.05) lower in CaB2% group of broilers, but these levels increased (P<0.05) in CaB5% group. Microscopic observations made on histological sections of groups CaB2% and CaB5% show more scar tissue in the foci of lymphoid necrosis in the Fabricius bursa than the control group. The results from this experiment suggest that the addition of calcium bentonite in broiler diets has the beneficial effects by improving the hygienic conditions of livestock buildings and the health of animals.