Trop Anim Health Prod. 2025 Nov 11;57(8):485. doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04722-y.
ABSTRACT
Since litter is the major source of ammonia gas (NH3) emission during poultry production, its management is therefore, of a paramount importance. Nutritional incorporation of sodium bentonite and litter treatment with aluminum sulfate are major option for enhancing litter quality for the purpose of curtailing ammonia gas production which still remain a veritable threat to productivity of birds. The study aimed to assess the impact of nanoclay (sodium bentonite) in the feed and aluminum sulfate in the litter on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, and litter chemistry of Nigerian Noiler cockerel birds. A total of 360 Nigerian Noiler cockerels (8 weeks old) weighing between 1050 and 1067 g, were assigned to six treatment groups in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design (CRD) with six replications of 10 birds each. Sodium bentonite (NaB) was utilized at levels (0, 15, and 30 g/kg), whereas litter was treated with aluminum sulfate at two levels (0 and 400 g/3 kg of litter). The treatments administered comprised: T1: 0 g NaB/kg diet + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T2: 15 g NaB/kg diet + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T3: 30 g NaB/kg diet + 0 g alum/3 kg litter, T4: 0 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter, T5: 15 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter, T6: 30 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter. The results indicated that birds fed sodium bentonite and housed on litter treated with aluminum sulfate exhibited superior (P < 0.05) weight increase, lower FCR and reduced feed costs per kg gain compared to the control group. Birds on T5 had the greatest feed intake value of 8258.52 g (p < 0.05), comparable to those on T4. The weight gain of 2201.91 g noted in birds on T5 was statistically equivalent (p > 0.05) to the 2021.33 g reported in T6, while both values were the highest (p < 0.05) among the treatments. The treated groups exhibited reduced feed conversion ratios (FCR) and feed costs per kg gain relative to the control group’s values of 4.64 and 1273.18 (₦) for both parameters. Serum biochemical indices (protein, albumin, globulin and BUN) showed greater improvement (P < 0.05) in the treated groups relative to the control. The reported litter ammonia gas value of 29.00 ppm observed in control litter was the highest among the treatments. In conclusion, the study observed that sodium bentonite in the diet and litter treated with aluminum sulfate enhanced litter quality without adversely affecting the growth performance and serum biochemical markers of the birds. The study recommended that. 15 g NaB/kg diet + 400 g alum/3 kg litter can be applied by poultry famers foe reducing ammonia emission and improving the productive performance of birds.
PMID:41217587 | DOI:10.1007/s11250-025-04722-y