Nastaran Shahebrahimi; Khalil Mirzadeh; Morteza Mamuei; Ahmad Tatar; Mohammad Hojjati
Volume 18, Issue 2 , June 2016, , Pages 299-310
Abstract
Effect of natural zeolites and nano-zeolite on gut flora, tibia bone characteristics, blood parameters and performance of broilers investigated with 336 male Ross 308 broilers chicks allocated to seven treatments with four replicates and 12 chicks per each. Experimental treatments were control ...
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Effect of natural zeolites and nano-zeolite on gut flora, tibia bone characteristics, blood parameters and performance of broilers investigated with 336 male Ross 308 broilers chicks allocated to seven treatments with four replicates and 12 chicks per each. Experimental treatments were control (no zeolite supplemented), natural zeolite (0.5, 1 and 1.5 percent) and nano-zeolite (0.5, 1 and 1.5 percent). Experimental diets had no significant effect on relative weight of breast, thights, liver, abdominal fat, gizzard and carcass efficiency. Zeolite and nano-zeolite supplementation led to significant decrease of total bacteria and E. Coli population (P<0.05). Experimental additives did not show effect on weight, length, volume and density of fresh and dry tibia. Nano-zeolite inclusion increased phosphorus, ALP and AST amounts compared to control group (P<0.05). It could be concluded that nano-zeolite inclusion in broiler diet, promote gut microflora and increased hepatic enzymes activity.