Studies with Clinoptilolite in Poultry. II. Effect of Feeding Broilers and the Direct Application of Clinoptilolite (Zeolite) on Clean and Reused Broiler Litter on Broiler Performance and House Environment ,

Abstract

Three broiler experiments were carried out to determine whether various methods and uses of clinoptilolite (clin) application would affect broiler performance and house environment. Neither applications of clin on clean and reused wood shaving litter and clin as sole source of litter in the most frequented areas (1.82 m × 2.44 m) of the pens nor feeding 10% clin significantly affected mean body weight, feed conversion, and feed consumption. Total respiratory dust levels were generally much higher in pens where clin was applied on the clean or reused litter or primarily used as the sole source of litter. Applying clin on either unused or reused wood shavings litters reduced the incidence of foot pad burns; however, incorporating 10% clin in the ration and fed from 1 to 49 days of production (market age) significantly increased the incidence of foot pad burns. The contradictory observation may be attributed to the greater extent of caked litter in clin-fed pens. Litter moisture and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) levels were lowered when clin was applied on clean wood shaving litter. The NH3-N levels were significantly lowered when clin was incorporated in the feed and fed from 1 to 49 days of production. Mortality was significantly increased when used primarily as a sole source of litter in a portion of two pens. Under the conditions of our experiments, the best method for the reduction of NH3-N and litter moisture is the application of clin or clean wood shaving litter at the rate of 5 kg/m2 after 28 days of production (28 days of age).