Effect of dietary interaction of sodium bentonite and litter treated with aluminum sulfate on growth performance, litter quality and serum biochemical indices of Nigerian Noiler birds.

Abstract

A 6-weeks study was designed to determine the effect of dietary interaction of sodium bentonite and litter treated with aluminum sulfate on growth performance, litter quality and serum biochemical indices of Nigerian Noiler birds. A total of 180 mixed sex (2 weeks old) Nigerian Noiler birds were allotted to six treatment groups in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design with 5 replicates of 6 birds each and were fed ad libitum. Sodium bentonite was used at 3 levels (0, 15 and 30 g/kg), while aluminum sulfate was used at 2 levels (0 and 400 g/3 kg litter). Treatments include: T1 = 0 g NaB /kg + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T2 = 15 g NaB /kg + 0 g alum /3 kg litter, T3 = 30 g NaB /kg + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T4 = 0 g NaB /kg + 400 g alum /3 kg litter, T5 = 15 g NaB /kg + 400 g alum/3 kg litter and T6 = 30 g NaB /kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter. Results showed that the interaction of dietary sodium bentonite and litter treated with aluminum sulfate caused significant effect (p < 0.05) on the values of feed intake, ADFI, WG, ADWG, feed cost per kg gain, litter NH₃, moisture, pH, TVC, salmonella, serum cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride, ALT, AST and bilirubin. Birds fed sodium bentonite and on litter treated with aluminum sulfate performed better (p < 0.05) than the control group. Litter moisture and pH were lower (p < 0.05) in treated litter than the control. Litter ammonia gas of 28.66 observed in control litter was higher (p < 0.05) than the 18.50, 17.00, 16.66, 12.50 and 13.65 recorded in T2-T6. TVC value of 0.83 × 10⁷ and salmonella value of 1.53 × 10⁷ obtained in control litter were the highest (p < 0.05) across the treatments. Serum cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride were higher (p < 0.05) in treated groups, while the serum liver enzymes and bilirubin values were also lower (p < 0.05) in treated groups compared to control. In summary, the study observed that dietary sodium bentonite and litter treated with aluminum sulfate improved the litter quality without any damaging impact on the growth performance and serum biochemical parameters of the birds. It was concluded that 15 g NaB /kg + 400 g alum/3 kg litter can be applied by the poultry farmers to enhance the performance, litter quality and health of avian species.