Effects of Dietary Silicate Minerals on Ammonia Emission from Excreta and Performance of Laying Hens
2009
Lee, J.S., Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea | Kang, S.W., Balan Agricultural High School, Hwaseong, Republic of Korea | Yoon, J.A., Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea | Son, Y.S., Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary silicate minerals on ammonia emission from the excreta and performance in laying hens. A total of one thousand and twenty 49 week-old Lohmann brown layers were divided into three treatment groups consisting two replicates of 170 birds each. The experimental diets were containing three kinds of silicate minerals (Sand, Na-bentonite and SY feldspar) added at the level of 2% by top-dressing. Ammonia emission from the excreta was significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) by the supplementation of Na-bentonite or SY feldspar. N concentration of the excreta was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) for the hens fed Na-bentonite or SY feldspar compared to those fed sand. However, no significant differences were observed in feed intake and laying performance with over 80% laying rate observed for all the treatments. Egg shell strength was diminished when SY feldspar was added to the diet. As a whole, the results obtained from the experiment indicated that supplementation of Na-bentonite or SY feldspar added at 2% to the laying hen diet should not affect laying performance but help to reduce ammonia from the excreta at the same time.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Korea Agricultural Science Digital Library