Effect of Dietary Sand on the Performance of Young Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted with day-old broiler chicks given diets varying in the level of sand, protein, and energy. In all experiments when a level of 6% oven-dried builders’ sand was added by weight at the expense of basal feed to a 23% protein and 3200 kcal ME/kg broiler starter feed, 21-day body weights were increased (4.46, 2.19, and 1.15%). Adjusted feed conversion values (diluted feed minus sand portion) were decreased in two trials (.68 and 2.10%) but were unaffected in the third trial. Since dietary sand improved feed utilization and caloric efficiency and currently costs only a fraction as much as feed, the use of sand in broiler-starter diets appears to be economically advantageous. It was concluded that a level of 6% sand may be added to a broiler-starter basal feed containing 23% protein and 3050 or 3200 kcal ME/kg, or 26% protein and 2900, 3050, or 3200 kcal ME/kg to improve feed utilization without adversely affecting body weights.