EFFECT OF SODIUM BENTONITE OR HYDRATED SODIUM-CALCIUM ALUMINOSILICATE ON GROWTH-PERFORMANCE AND TIBIA MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS IN BROILER CHICKS FED NUTRIENT-DEFICIENT DIETS

An experiment was conducted to determine whether sodium bentonite (NaB) or hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCA) would affect growth performance and tibia mineral concentrations in chicks fed nutrient-deficient diets. Two identical trials were conducted; each using 240 5- to 19-d-old broiler chicks (4 replicates of 5 chicks each) in a completely random design. A factorial arrangement of treatments consisted of four types of nutrient deficiencies [nutritionally complete basal (C), macromineral-deficient (-MM), trace mineral- and vitamin-deficient (-TMV), and crude protein-deficient (-CP)], and three types of additive (none, .5% NaB, and .5% HSCA). The -MM and -TMV diets reduced (P < .01) gain, feed intake, and gain:feed. The -CP diet decreased (P < .01) gain and gain:feed but did not affect (P > . 10) feed intake. Sodium bentonite increased feed intake (P < .01) of all diets, resulting in an increase in gain (P < .09). Sodium bentonite increased gain:feed in chicks fed the -MM diet but did not affect gain:feed in chicks fed the C, -TMV, or -CP diets (NaB x -MM interaction, P < .02). The -MM and -TMV diets decreased (P < .01) tibia ash, but the -CP diet increased (P < .01) tibia ash. The -MM diet decreased (P < .01) tibia Ca but increased (P < .01) tibia P. Neither NaB nor HSCA affected percentage of tibia ash, Ca, or P. Tibia Zn and Mn concentrations were increased (P <.01) by the -MM diet and decreased (P <.01) by the -TMV diet. Tibia Mn concentration was increased (P < .01) by the -CP diet. Sodium bentonite and HSCA did not adversely affect growth performance or tibia mineral concentrations of chicks fed nutrient-deficient diets.