Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Sodium Bentonite on Biochemical Characteristics of Blood Serum in Broiler Chickens

The effects of different levels of sodium bentonite on blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens were studied. A total of 256 days-old broilers of male Ross 308 strain were assigned to four treatments with four replicates each containing 16 chicks in a completely randomized design. Treatments were as control and 15, 30, 45 g/kg of sodium bentonite. Blood serum biochemical values such as serum proteins, lipids, enzymes, glucose and total bilirubin were measured at 42 days of experimental period. Results showed that total protein, albumin and total bilirubin in dietary treatments with 45 g/kg sodium bentonite and albumin/globulin in dietary treatment 30 and 45 g/kg sodium bentonite and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the control. Broilers given diet containing 15 g/kg sodium bentonite had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glucose compared to control. Levels of globulin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CPK), glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) did not significantly differ among dietary treatments and control. Supplementation of broiler chickens diet with sodium bentonite had not any adverse effects on their blood serum biochemical characteristics. Thus it can be used as a beneficial feed additive in broiler chicken diet. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers