PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN FED GRADED LEVELS OF BENTONITE

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of broiler chicken fed graded levels of Bentonite. 300 chicks (10 days old) were allotted to five treatments (0%, 0.5%,1%, 1.5% and 2% Bentonite) and replicated thrice with 20 birds/replicate in a completely randomized lay out. During the eight weeks experimental period, the birds were offered feed and water ad libitum and routine vaccinations/medications were administered appropriately. 0.5% Bentonite inclusion in Broiler chicken diets improves final weight gain, daily weight gain, total weight gain, FCR and reduced mortality by 6.32%, 6.72%, 6.75%, 6.72% and 50.19% respectively. 0.5% bentonite inclusion in broiler chicken diet improves dressing weight, carcass weight and dressing percentage by 11.71%, 12.90% and 5.07% respectively. Inclusion of at least 0.5% Bentonite in diet improves performance of broiler chickens.