Effect of nano silver zeolite, zeolite and flavomycine on performance and ileal nutrients digestibility of broiler chickens during the starter period

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nano silver zeolite, zeolite and Favomycin on performance, ileal nutrients digestibility and relative weights of some internal organs of broiler chickens. A total of 288 broiler chicks (Ross 308) were divided into four treatment groups with four replicates and eighteen mixed-sex chicks in each by employing a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were a control diet without any additives, control diet + 0.5% nanosilver zeolite, control diet+ 0.5% zeolite, and control diet+ 0.1% Flavomycin. Digesta samples and internal organs were collected on day 21 following the slaughtering. Results showed that the experimental treatments had no significant effect on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds during the experimental period (1-21 day) (P>0.05). Using nano silver zeolite in the diet improved ileal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy (P<0.05). Inclusion of zeolite in the diet also increased digestibility of dry matter and crud fat (P<0.05). All additives resulted in decreased pH value of gizzard content of chickens and the most reduction was observed in chickens received zeolite in their diet (P<0.001). Flavomycin lowered pH value of cecal content (P<0.01). There were no significant differences among internal organs relative weights of birds fed different dietary treatments. In conclusion, despite decreasing digesta pH value by the treatments and improving nutrients digestibility by nano silver zeolite and zeolite, the additives did not showed any significant effect on broiler's growth performance.