EFFECTS OF ZEOLITES ON LITTER FLOOR ON PERFORMENT OF BROILER

Abstract

Effect of zeolites-spread litters on broiler performances under different floor spaces had been performed in five weeks. As many as 324 chicks of a day-old Hubbard strain were fed rations contained 3,000 "? 3,100 Kcal/Kg ME and 21% crude protein during starter period and fed the ratio contained 20% crude protein with similar energy during finisher period. The chicks were randomly allocated to three different floor spaces (10, 12, and 14 heads/m2) and three different zeolites spread litters (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 kg zeolites/m2) under completely randomized design with factor 3 x 3 and 3 replications. Parameters concerned of present research including feed intake, live weight gain, and mortality rate were analyzed with analysis of variance and least significant different. Results of the present research showed that there was no interaction effect between floor spaces and zeolites spread litters on all parameters concerned. Floor spaces affected both feed intake and feed conversion significantly (P<0.01) but neither did live weight gain nor mortality rate. The zeolites-spread litters affected feed conversion significantly (P<0.05). Spreading zeolites at rates of 5.0 kg/m2 on litter floor resulted in the lowest feed conversion (P<0.05). It was concluded that the only significantly improved by spreading zeolites at rates of 5.0 kg/m2 on litter floor was the feed conversion. It was an indication that spreading zeolites on litter floor tended to improve environmental quality of broiler barn, maintain both feed intake and live weight gain, and decrease mortality rate of broilers raised under higher floor spaces.