Effect of Azomite on growth performance, immune function and tibia breaking strength of broiler chickens during starter period

Abstract

This study was examined to investigate the effect of Azomite (AZO) on the growth performance, immune function, and bone mineralization of broiler chickens. A total of 240-d old male chicks were randomly assigned into four treatments with six replicates (n = 10), which included control (basal diet), basal diet +0.25% AZO, basal diet + 0.50% AZO and basal diet + kitasamycin as antibiotic growth promoter (AGP). The results indicate that live body weight (LBW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < .05) improved in AZO 0.25% and 0.50% than the control. The weight of bursa of Fabricus was significantly (p < .05) higher in AZO-0.25% and AZO-0.50% than control. Total protein (TP), globulin, IgA and IgG levels were significantly (p < .05) increased with AZO supplemented treatments. Tibia diameter tibia breaking strength was significantly (p < .05) increased in AZO- 0.25% and AZO-0.50% treatment. In conclusion, the results indicated that addition of AZO at the doses of 0.25% and 0.50% in the diet had beneficial effects on growth performance, immune functions and tibia breaking strength.

Keywords:

• Azomite
• growth performance
• immune functions
• tibia strength
• broiler chickens

Acknowledgments

We are also grateful to the staff of the laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Agricultural Ministry, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, for the technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

The authors of this manuscript declare that there is no conflict of interests that could possibly arise.

Additional information

Funding

This research work was funded by National Key Research and Development Program of China [2018YFG0501401].