Effect of supplementation of different treatments of sodium bentonite in feed on the performance of broilers

A study was conducted to determine the effect of ration containing differently treated Sodium Bentonite on broiler performance. 280 day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 7 experimental groups designated as A (Control), B & C (Sodium Bentonite 0.5% & 1.0% respectively), D & E (Sodium Bentonite + Gention Violet 0.5% & 1.0% respectively), F & G (Sodium Bentonite + Acetic Acid 0.5% & 1.0% respectively). The experimental diets were fed for the period of six weeks. At the end of the experiment (day 42), weight gain, feed intake, feed conversation ratio, protein efficiency ratio and digestibility of protein were calculated. This study showed that birds fed diets containing Sodium bentonite treated with either 0.5% or 1.0% acetic acid in feed showed significantly better (p<0.05) performance as compared to control and other experimental groups. Introduction Bentonites are the clays having strong colloidal properties and when in contact with water absorb water rapidly and by swelling increase its volume manifold giving rise to a thixotropic, gelatinous substance. (Duval, 1999). Bentonites are white, light weight rock deposits mostly salts of hydrated aluminosilicates of Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and occasionally Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Nickel etc. These bentonites are highly negative charged and balanced by cations such as Mg, K and Na located in the cavities, so these don’t react with food / feed ingredients and act as inert material with neutral pH or slightly alkaline. (Khan et al, 2001).Several studies showed that poultry feed supplemented with bentonite can improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broilers (Santurio et al. (1999) and Southern et al. (1994). Materials and Methods Two hundred and eighty day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to seven experimental treatments designated as A (Control), B & C (Sodium Bentonite 0.5% & 1.0% respectively), D & E (Sodium Bentonite + Gention Violet 0.5% & 1.0% respectively), F & G (Sodium Bentonite + Acetic Acid 0.5% & 1.0% respectively). The commercial starter and finisher ration after supplementation were fed for the period of six weeks. Each treatment having 40 birds were randomly sub-divided into four replicates of ten birds. At the end of the experiment weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and digestibility of protein were calculated. Two birds from each replicate were randomly selected and ileal digesta (from the last 10cm part of the ileum) was collected as described by Annison (1993). Fecal samples were also collected over the last 24 hours (Almquist, et al 1967) dried at low temperature in vacuum ovens at 55C° for 48 hrs and ground through a 0.5mm screen prior to analysis (Adeola, et al 1997) and then subject to proximate analysis as described by A.O.A.C. (1984). The determined chemical composition of starter and finisher ration is presented in Table-1.The data was then analyzed statistically by complete randomized design and the means differences were compared by Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan, 1995).