Abstract

This study was examined to investigate the effect of Azomite (AZO) on the growth performance, immune function, and bone mineralization of broiler chickens. A total of 240-d old male chicks were randomly assigned into four treatments with six replicates (n = 10), which included control (basal diet), basal diet +0.25% AZO, basal diet + 0.50% AZO and basal diet + kitasamycin as antibiotic growth promoter (AGP). The results indicate that live body weight (LBW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < .05) improved in AZO 0.25% and 0.50% than the control. The weight of bursa of Fabricus was significantly (p < .05) higher in AZO-0.25% and AZO-0.50% than control. Total protein (TP), globulin, IgA and IgG levels were significantly (p < .05) increased with AZO supplemented treatments. Tibia diameter tibia breaking strength was significantly (p < .05) increased in AZO- 0.25% and AZO-0.50% treatment. In conclusion, the results indicated that addition of AZO at the doses of 0.25% and 0.50% in the diet had beneficial effects on growth performance, immune functions and tibia breaking strength.

摘要

本研究旨在调查偶氮藻 (AZO) 对肉鸡生长性能、免疫功能和骨矿化的影响。将 240 日龄雄性雏鸡随机分为 4 个处理，每处理 6 个重复（n  =10），包括对照（基础日粮）、基础日粮+0.25% AZO、基础日粮+0.50% AZO 和基础日粮+北沙霉素作为抗生素生长促进剂 (AGP)。 结果表明，与对照组相比，添加 0.25% 和 0.50% 的 AZO组的活体重 (LBW)、平均日增重 (ADG) 和饲料转化率 (FCR) 显着提高 ( p < .05)。法氏囊的重量显着（p < .05) AZO-0.25% 和 AZO-0.50% 高于对照。总蛋白 (TP)、球蛋白、IgA 和 IgG 水平 随着 AZO 补充治疗而显着 ( p < .05) 增加。 在 AZO- 0.25% 和 AZO-0.50% 处理中，胫骨直径胫骨断裂强度显着增加 ( p < .05)。总之，结果表明在日粮中添加 0.25% 和 0.50% 剂量的 AZO 对生长性能、免疫功能和胫骨断裂强度具有有益影响。