Effects of Physical Size of Clinoptilolite on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Litter Quality of Broiler Chickens in the Growing Phase

A total of 448 Ross 308 male broiler chickens were assigned to seven treatments with four replicates, each containing 16 chicks. The birds were reared from d 21 to 42 and effects of physical sizes (<0.25 mm, 0.4- 0.8 mm and 1- 2 mm) and levels of clinoptilolite (1.5 and 3%) were examined. They were fed ad libitum by a basal commercial broiler diet with 3050 Kcal/Kg ME and 19.06% CP/Kg from 21 to 42 d. The chickens which received clinoptilolite (1.5% with particle size of 0.4-0.8 mm) showed a significant increase in body weight gain compared to the control group birds receiving no clinoptilolite (P<0.05). Adding clinoptilolite to the diet caused a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio in days 21-28, 28-35, 35-42 and 21-42 (P<0.05). Broilers fed 1.5% clinoptilolite with particle size of 0.4- 0.8 mm had lower feed conversion ratio compared to the other groups. The highest level of blood glucose, total protein and albumin were found in birds receiving 1.5% clinoptilolite with the particle size of 0.4- 0.8 mm, while the lowest level of blood glucose, total protein and albumin were obtained in the control groups (P<0.05). The lowest litter moisture was observed in the groups fed with 3% clinoptilolite with a particle size of 1-2 mm. Therefore, it can be concluded that supplementation of the diet with clinoptilolite has positive effects on performance and litter moisture in broilers.