EFFECTS OF CALCIUM BENTONITE CLAY ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PULLET CHICKENS

Abstract

The 8-week study was aimed to evaluate the effects of calcium bentonite clay on the growth performance of pullets. A total a total of 150-day old, pullet chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments designated T1 (0% bentonite clay), T2 (1% bentonite clay), T3 (2% bentonite clay), T4 (3% bentonite clay) and T5 (4% bentonite clay). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 10 birds per replicate, making a total of 30 birds per treatment in a completely randomized design. The result showed that significant (P<0.05) difference existed for feed intake across the treatment means, which was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 (27.42g) and T2 (27.00g), while T3 (25.80g) and T4 (25.25g) had the least feed intake. The birds fed T3 and T4 recorded the highest final body weight, average weight gain and average daily weight gain when compared with other treatments. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the broiler starter chickens fed T3 and T4 were significantly superior (P<0.05) to others. Bentonite clay inclusion levels of 3% and 4% of the diets of pullet chicks significantly (p<0.05) improved the weight gain of the birds.