Safety of Improved Milbond-TX ® when fed in broiler diets at greater than recommended levels

Abstract

A maize-soybean meal diet was supplemented with Improved Milbond-TX ® (IMTX), a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), in two experiments to determine product safety at elevated levels for broilers fed for 21 days. In Experiment 1, IMTX was incorporated into isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets at 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg. In Experiment 2, IMTX was added to the finished feed at 10 or 20 g/kg by weight to simulate a feed mixing error. There was generally a linear (P<0.01) increase in feed intake and body weight of birds given IMTX in Experiment 1 but this trend did not reach significance in Experiment 2. Excreta moisture decreased linearly (P<0.001) in response to increasing IMTX in Experiment 2 but not in Experiment 1. There was no difference (P>0.10) in any blood components due to treatment. Improved Milbond-TX ® appears to be safe for broilers when added at levels up to eight times the recommended amount.