title: Effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite on growth performance, nutrient retention, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal function of broiler chickens.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (Zn-ZCP) on performance, growth performance, nutrient retention, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal function in broiler chickens. A total of 180 1-day-old Arbor Acres chickens were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates of ten birds for a 21-day feeding period. Birds were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (29.1 mg of Zn per kilogram of diet) without supplemental zinc (control) or the same diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg zinc from ZnSO4 or Zn-ZCP. Zn-ZCP and ZnSO4 treatments had lower feed: gain ratio than that of control group (P < 0.05). Addition of Zn-ZCP increased (P < 0.05) the apparent retention of organic matter and ether extract during 14-17 days, and increased (P < 0.05) pancreatic lipase activity at 14 and 21 days as well as amylase activity at 21 days. Addition of Zn-ZCP increased the villus heights and villus height to crypt depth ratio at the duodenal (P < 0.05) and jejunal (P < 0.05) of broilers at 14 days. Broilers fed the diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP had higher villus heights and villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum (P < 0.05) and jejunum (P < 0.05) than those fed with control diet on day 21. Zn-ZCP treatment increased (P < 0.05) IgG and sIgA concentrations in jejunum at 21 days. The results indicated that Zn-ZCP supplementation which might have modified the release of Zn further down in the intestinal tract with the controlled-release characteristic, modulated digestive enzyme activities and intestinal structure and function, increased nutrient retention, and improved feed efficiency.
authors: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Tang
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Wen
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Tian
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Yanmin
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D017641:Zeolites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C083175:clinoptilolite; D017641:Zeolites; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D015032:Zinc