Sepiolite as a feed supplement for broilers

Abstract

This study was planned to determine the importance of sepiolite in broiler nutrition. For this purpose a total of 180 Ross 308 male broiler chicks aged one day were used. One control group and two treatment groups were designed for 6weeks of experimental period. Each group was divided into 10 replicates of 6 chicks each in pens. Sepiolite (Exal T®, Tolsa Turkey) was added at the level of 0, 1 and 2% to the diets of control group and the first and the second treatment groups as topdressed, respectively. Sepiolite supplementation at the level of 1% improved final body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency. Dietary treatments did not affect feed intake, gut pH, carcass yield, relative weight of the liver, kidney, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and carcass parts, footpad score, excreta and litter characteristics. Tibia characteristics, blood parameters and breast meat characteristics were not affected by the usage of sepiolite. Relative weight of the abdominal fat and ileal digesta viscosity were reduced and duodenal villus height, ileal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein was increased with the usage of 1% sepiolite. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with 1% sepiolite was an effective feed additive for broiler feeding due to its beneficial effects on growth performance, abdominal fat percentage, ileal digesta viscosity, duodenal villus height and ileal digestibility.