Use of sodium bentonite in poultry feed
Corn-soya based mash diet has problem in flowing in the feeder and it gets stuck in the bridge. Some of the literature say that sodium bentonite can be mixed at the rate of 2kg/ton to overcome this problem. I need practical suggestion regarding use of sodium bentonite in poultry mash feed. And is there any other more effective solution to this problem other than using clay?
Sodium bentonite could be the answer for your above mentioned problem but will not give you very satisfactory results. Sodium bentonite, due to its sodium salt, is hygroscopic in nature. It may be unable to control the problem up to satisfactory extent, further it increases more sodium levels in the poultry diet. The next alternative choice is calcium bentonite, it is less hygroscopic than sodium bentonite with benefits of having less sodium content in diet. Before using of bentonite in feed following important points are to be considered:
As per Gray et al., 1998, (Bentonite (0.5 %) decreases the anticoccidial effects of low levels of monensin (55 mg/kg) and salinomycin (22 mg/kg). Bentonite (2 %) makes tilmicosin ineffective (Shryock et al., 1994). Robenidine (and ipronidazole and buquinolate) were found to be incompatible with bentonite.
References are available that supplementation of manganese is necessary when chickens are fed diets containing bentonite, since it may interfere with manganese availability.
I would suggest the best alternative here is HSCAS (hydrated sodium calcium alluminosilicate), is a broad spectrum toxin binder, absorbs excess moisture from the feed quickly, makes feed free flowing and free from the lumps, suggested to be added 1kg/ ton of feed.
Dr. C.S. Bedi,
Shubbhangee Paatil
Guybro chemical, Mumbai
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
