Gut health and physiological aspects of broiler chicken fed zeolite as a dietary supplement: its effect on growth, cecal microbiota and digesta viscosity, digestive enzymes, carcass traits, blood constituents and antioxidant parameters.

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of dietary zeolite supplementation on growth, cecal microbiota and digesta viscosity, digestive enzymes, carcass traits, blood constituents, and antioxidant parameters of broilers. A completely randomized design was used with 240 one-day-old broiler chicks randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (0%, 1.5%, and 3% zeolite as a feed additive) with four replicates of 20 chicks each. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's multiple range test (p < 0.05). The findings indicated that growth performance was enhanced by the addition of zeolite, especially at the 3% supplementation level. Both blood biochemistry and hematological parameters showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) with supplementation at both 3% and 1.5% zeolite levels. Antioxidant parameters indicated significantly elevated serum amylase activity and total antioxidant capacity with both 3% and 1.5% zeolite diets. Cecal microbiota was improved by zeolite, enhancing beneficial bacteria and reducing E. coli and anaerobes. Carcass characteristics were positively influenced by 3% zeolite. Digesta viscosity and intestinal pH decreased with zeolite inclusion. In conclusion, the inclusion of zeolite up to 3% in broiler diets had positive effects on diverse aspects of health, intestinal microbiota, performance, and blood constituents.