Effects of Various Type of Bentonite (Montmorillonite) on Ascites-Related Physiologic and Metabolic Factors in Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ascites-related physiological and metabolic parameters in broiler chickens fed with different components of bentonite. Two hundred and seven days old Arian male chicks were allocated into five dietary treatment groups including 1) basal diet (control); 2) basal diet + 1% sulphated sodium bentonite (SSB); 3) basal diet + 1% non-processed sodium bentonite (SB); 4) basal diet + 1% sulphated calcium bentonite (SCB) and 5) basal diet 1% non-processed calcium bentonite (CB). Forty birds in each group were assigned to four replicates (10 birds in each). The ratio of right ventricle to total ventricles weight (RV/TV) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the control group (0.29). T3 and T4 were increased by use of SSB in comparison to other groups (P < 0.05). However, the mortality rate had a tendency to decrease in SSB (P < 0. 01). Dietary supplementation of SSB could be of value in lowing ascites index and improving their associated parameters. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of bentonite had some beneficial effect on ascites-related physiologic and metabolic factors in broilers which might be related to better intestinal absorption of nutrients.