Zeólita clinoptilolita como melhorador de desempenho para frangos de corte

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of zeolite (clinoptilolite) as a performance enhancer in broilers. In experiment I, a metabolism assay was performed using 150 birds from 14 to 24 days of age, distributed in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of a reference diet (RR), and two diets with 40% replacement by two different types of corn (1 and 2). The corn used had different amounts of mycotoxin, corn 1 had >6000 µg kg-1 of fumonisin and corn 2 had 4200 µg kg-1 of fumonisin and 160 µg kg-1 of Deoxynivalenol (DON). In experiment II, 1275 male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x3 factorial arrangement, consisting of the two types of corn and the inclusion of zeolite (0; 5000 and 10000 g ton-1). In the period from 1 to 21 days, there was an interaction (P <0.05) between the types of corn and the inclusion of zeolite for feed conversion (CA). In the phase from 1 to 42 days of age, there was an interaction (P<0.05) between the types of corn and the levels of inclusion of zeolite on serum creatinine levels (CREA), gross digestible energy levels (EBdig), and on visual analysis, and frequency of aggressive liver damage at 42 days. In the period from 1 to 42 days, corn 2 was responsible for the decrease in weight gain (GP), increase (P<0.05) in the amount of abdominal fat and increased frequency of aggressive liver damage. The inclusion levels of zeolite were responsible for the increase (P<0.05) of the digestible PB and digestible MM, as well as for the increase (P<0.05) in the weight of the pancreas and hot carcass yield. In experiment III, 900 male broilers were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with 4 treatments and 9 repetitions. The diets were formulated using corn 1 with the inclusion of 4 concentrations of clinoptilolite zeolite (0; 2500; 5000 and 10000 g ton-1). The different levels of zeolite inclusion influenced (P<0.05) the amount of ammonia released by the litter at 21 and 42 days, with increasing linear behavior. The dry matter digestibility coefficient (CDMS) increased (P<0.05), while the digestibility coefficients of crude protein (CDPB), crude energy (CDEB), and mineral matter (CDMM) were not influenced. The inclusion levels of zeolite impacted (P<0.05) the values of PBdig, EBdig and MMdig, with EBdig showing a quadratic effect and MMdig showing linear and quadratic effects. The percentage of abdominal fat and the relative weight of the pancreas showed a quadratic effect. In conclusion, corn 2 provided worst performance to poultry, increased the amount of abdominal fat, and worsened the macroscopic appearance of the liver at 42 days of age. Zeolite did not alter the performance, serum levels and quality of the poultry litter at 42 days of age, being responsible for the improvement of the percentage of digestible nutrients (PB, EB, and MM), which influenced the weight of the pancreas and did not cause changes in the other organs.