Effects of Dietary Halloysite Supplementation on Broiler Chicken’s Blood Parameters, Carcass and Meat Quality, and Bone Characteristics: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of halloysite supplementation to the complete diets for broiler chickens on selected blood parameters, carcass and organ characteristics, as well as bone and meat traits. The trial was conducted under experimental conditions in a large-scale poultry farm on 18,000 broiler chickens. The one-day broiler Ross 308 chicks were randomly divided into two groups: control (C) and experimental (E) in an amount of 9,000 birds per group. In each group, chicks were separated into five pens (100 m²) with 1800 chicks per pen. The birds were fed granulated complete mixtures without (C group) or with halloysite (E group) distributed in an amount of 1% (based on fresh matter) from the 11 d of life. Analysis revealed that halloysite supplementation to the broiler diet at the level of 1% showed a trend (P = 0.056) towards higher final body weight, significantly improved carcass yield (P = 0.048), and reduced the relative weights of the liver and gizzard (P<0.05). No differences (P>0.05) were observed either in terms of the physicochemical parameters of the broiler chickens’ breast muscles, except a significantly lower b* value of the colour parameter (P = 0.048). In turn, in the blood serum, the addition of 1% halloysite significantly decreased (P<0.05) the content of triglycerides and the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein fraction, but did not affect (P>0.05) the high-density lipoprotein fraction, calcium, phosphorus or alkaline phosphate content. Tibia and femur characteristics (weight, length, relative bone weight, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and breaking strength) were not affected (P>0.05) by the usage of halloysite. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler diet with halloysite in the amount of 1% had beneficial effects on the carcass yield and health status of the animals, without any adverse effect on the bone parameters or meat quality of the broiler chickens.