Zeolite and corn with different compositions in broiler chickens feeding

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the behavior of zeolite against different types of corn in broiler chickens’ diets. 1,200 male broiler chickens were assigned to 6 diets in a completely randomized design and a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of 2 types of corn (higher or lower mycotoxin contamination) and the inclusion of zeolite (0; 5,000 and 10,000 g ton ^-1). In the period from d 1 to 21, there was an interaction ( P = 0.0040) between types of corn and the inclusion of zeolite for feed conversion ratio ( FCR). In the phase from 1 to 42 d, there was an interaction ( P = 0.0322) on the serum levels of creatinine ( CREA) and digestible gross energy ( dGE); corn with lower mycotoxin level contamination ( LMLC), caused a reduction in body weight gain ( BWG) ( P = 0.0046) and increase in the relative weight of abdominal fat ( P = 0.0256). Inclusion rates of zeolite promoted an increase in the digestible CP ( P = 0.0477) and digestible ash ( P < 0.0001), as well as an increase ( P < 0.0001) in hot carcass yield ( P = 0.0433). The results indicate that the inclusion of zeolite, in the amounts used, did not alter the performance, serum levels, intestinal development and litter quality of the birds at 42 d of age. However, it was responsible for the improvement in the percentage of digestible nutrients (CP, GE, and MM).