Investigation of the Effects of Different Levels of Dietary Clinoptilolite on Bone Development, Carcass Traits and Some Blood Parameters in Japanese Quails

This study was aimed at determining the effects of dietary supplementation with 0%, 3%, 6% and 8% of clinoptilolite on live weight gain, carcass/carcass part traits and some blood and bone parameters in quails. For this purpose, forty 17-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly assigned to four groups, each of 10 animals. The study groups were established as follows: BC (+0% clinoptilolite), B3C (3% clinoptilolite), B6C (6% clinoptilolite) and B8C (8% clinoptilolite). Live weight measurements were performed until 35 days of age, and after the measurement of the slaughter weight at 38 days of age, all animals were slaughtered. The live weight values measured in Groups B3C and B6C were similar to those of group BC, the control group. Even if slightly different, higher mean initial live weights in the males resulted in final live weights higher than those of the females. It was observed that the feed conversion rate had improved in the groups that received dietary clinoptilolite. The weight of abdominal fat was determined to have decreased with increasing dietary clinoptilolite levels. The weights of the edible visceral organs and abdominal fat were higher in the female quails, compared to the males. The osteometric values of the femur and humerus were higher in the males, compared to the females, in Group B3C. While calcium (Ca-CAL) and magnesium (Mg) levels were lowest in Group B8C, phosphorus (P-FOS) levels were lowest in groups BC and B3C. In result, it is suggested that dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite, up to a level of 6%, would not show any adverse effect on the fattening performance of animals. Thus, clinoptilolite can be used as a feed additive. Furthermore, good quality clinoptilolite supplied at low costs may also aid in preventing feed losses due to wetting, depending on the environmental conditions