Zeólitas naturais na dieta de frangos de corte / Natural zeolites in broiler diet

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de 0,5% da zeólita natural clinoptilolita na dieta de frangos de corte sobre o consumo de água, ração e características das excretas. Foi conduzido um ensaio em gaiolas metabólicas, com frangos de corte de linhagem comercial, no período de 14 a 23 dias de idade. O experimento foi constituído de dois grupos de aves, sendo que um recebeu dieta sem inclusão de zeólitas (controle) e outro dieta com inclusão de 0,5% de zeólita (clinoptilolita) em rações isonutritivas, em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com 10 repetições de 10 aves. Avaliou-se o consumo de água e de ração, nas excretas, pH, teor de nitrogênio total e umidade. A inclusão de 0,5% de zeólitas naturais na dieta não alterou (P>0,05) o consumo de água e de ração e o teor de nitrogênio das excretas, entretanto, reduziu (P<0,05) o pH e a umidade das excretas. Conclui-se que a inclusão de 0,5% de zeólitas naturais na dieta de frangos de corte reduz o pH e a umidade das excretas e pode ser utilizada como aditivo alimentar sem prejudicar o consumo de água e de ração.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the addition of 0.5% natural zeolites (clinoptilolite) to the diet of broilers and their effect on water and feed intake and excreta characteristics. The test was carried out in metabolic cages, with commercial line broilers, in the period from 14 to 23 days old. The experiment was conducted with two groups of broilers: one group received diet without zeolite inclusion (control) and the other received a diet with 0.5% inclusion of zeolite (clinoptilolite) in balanced diets, in a completely randomized design, with 10 replicates of 10 broilers. Water and feed intake, pH, total nitrogen, and moisture of excreta were evaluated. The inclusion of 0.5% of natural zeolites in the diet did not change (P>0.05) the water and feed intake and total nitrogen of excreta, nevertheless, it decreased (P<0.05) the pH and moisture of excreta. We conclude that the addition of 0.5% natural zeolites to the diet of broilers decreases pH and moisture of excreta and can be used as feed additive without compromising water and feed intake.(AU)

Natural zeolites in diet or litter of broilers.

This study aims to analyse the influence of adding natural zeolites (clinoptilolite) to the diet or litter of broilers and their effects on growth performance, carcass yield and litter quality. Three consecutive flocks of broilers were raised on the same sawdust litter, from d 1 to d 42 of age, and distributed in three treatments (control with no added zeolites, addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to diet and addition of 100 g/kg zeolites to litter). The addition of zeolites to the diet or litter did not affect growth performance or carcass yield. The addition of zeolites to the diet did not influence moisture content of the litter, ammonia volatilisation was reduced only in the first flock and pH of litter was reduced in the second and third flock. However, the addition of zeolites to the litter reduced moisture content, litter pH and ammonia volatilisation in all flocks analysed. The addition of 5 g/kg zeolite to the diet in three consecutive flocks was not effective in maintaining litter quality, whereas the addition of 100 g/kg natural zeolites to sawdust litter reduced litter moisture and ammonia volatilisation in three consecutive flocks raised on the same litter.