Effect of Zeolite Addition to Diets and Litter on Carcass Traits and Blood Biochemistry Parameters of Laying Hens (Silver Montazah)

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of zeolite addition to diet and litter of Egyptian local strain hens (Silver Montazah) on carcass traits and blood biochemical parameters. A total number of 720 laying hens and 96 cocks of Silver Montazah at age of 40 weeks, nearly equals in average body weight, randomly chosen, distributed into 12 groups (60 hens and 8 cocks / each group) in a factorial experimental design (4×3). Each group sub-divided into four replicates (each of 15 hens and 2 cocks) for evaluating dietary supplementation of zeolite with levels of (0, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg diet) and its addition to litter with levels of (0, 1.5 and 2 kg/ m²) and the interaction effects between them. The obtained results revealed that significant (P<0.05) improve were found in carcass traits and internal organs and the most of blood biochemical parameters compared control groups of silver Montazah laying hens due to feeding on diet supplemented with different zeolite and reared on litter provided with zeolite at different levels. Furthermore, it is clearly observed that laying hens fed diet supplemented with zeolite at a level of 20 g/kg diet and raised on litter provided with zeolite at a level of 2 kg/m² showed the best improvement in carcass traits and blood biochemical parameters, compared with the other treatments applied and control group. Thus, it could be concluded that using of zeolite as a feed additive and mixing it with the litter in laying farms achieved the most favorable results.