Effect of different level of dietary kaolin and litter treatedwith sodium bisulfate on litter ammonia gas emission, microbial load, bloodindices and growth performance of broilers

C  EZENWOSU; C O  OSITA; C M  UGWU; N W  ANIZOBA; C C  NWOGA; J I  UGWUOKE; A L  OBINNA; O S  AGBARA; Y  MERCY; R C  EZEOKONKWO

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i2.169127

Authors

C EZENWOSU University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
C O OSITA University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
C M UGWU University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
N W ANIZOBA University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
C C NWOGA University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
J I UGWUOKE University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
A L OBINNA University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
O S AGBARA University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
Y MERCY University of Jos, Nigeria
R C EZEOKONKWO University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i2.169127

Keywords:

Ammonia gas, Broiler birds, Growth performance, Kaolin, Sodium bisulfate

Abstract

A six-week experiment was carried out at the Department of Animal Science, Teaching, and Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka from February-March, 2025, to determine the effect of different level of dietary kaolin and litter treated with sodium bisulfate on litter ammonia gas emission, microbial load, blood indices and growth performance of broilers. By the application of 3×2 factorial arrangements in CRD, 300 Anak strain broiler birds (2 weeks old) were divided to six research groups with 5 replications of 10 birds each. Treatments were as follows: T1= 0 g kaolin /kg + 0 g SB/5kg litter, T2= 15 g kaolin /kg+0g SB/5kg litter, T3= 30 g kaolin /kg + 0g SB/5kg litter, T4= 0 g kaolin/kg + 500 g SB/3kg litter, T5=15 g kaolin /kg +500g SB/5kg litter and T6= 30 g kaolin /kg + 500g SB/5kg litter. Parameters measured were as follows: body weight, ADWG, feed intake, ADFI, FCR, feed cost per kg gain, litter pH, moisture, ammonia gas, TVC, blood PCV, RBC, WBC. Results showed that control group broilers had total weight gain and ADWG values of 2200.00 g/bird and 52.38 g/bird and these values were the lowest (p<0.05) among the treatments. FCR values of 2.64 obtained for birds on control treatment was the same (p>0.05) with T4 and both were the highest among the treatments. Litter moisture values of 13.20, 26.00 and 29.66 % obtained at week 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 were higher (p<0.05) in T1 compared to other treatments. Weekly pH values of 5.06, 7.66 and 8.33 at week 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 were highest in T1 litter. Ammonia values of 22.00, 29.00 and 44.33ppm obtained at week 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 in T1 were higher (p<0.05) when compared with values obtained in T2-6 in both weeks. Values of PCV, RBC and WBC improved better in T2-T6 when juxtaposed with value obtained in T1. It was concluded that dietary kaolin and litter treated with sodium bisulfate diminished the emission of litter ammonia gas without destructive impact on the performance of the birds. It was, suggested that 15g kaolin /kg + 500 g SB/5kg litter could be applied for better performance and reduction in litter ammonia gas emission in poultry production.

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