Effect of different levels and particle sizes of perlite on serum biochemical factors of broiler chicks

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels and particle sizes of perlite in broiler chicks’ diets on serum biochemical factors. For the stated purpose, 280 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to seven treatments and four replications in a factorial experiment on the basis of randomized complete block design. One factor consisted of two levels (perlite particle sizes of 1.5 and 3 mm) and the other factor included three levels of perlite (1, 3 and 5% of diet). A control treatment with no perlite was also included in the experiment. Based on the results obtained, the perlite levels and particle sizes did not affect the serum Ca, P, Cl, Na and Fe, however, they influenced the serum Mg and K significantly (P < 0.05). It seems that perlite did not have any major impact on the biochemical factors of chick's serum.

Key words: Perlite, aluminosilicate, particle size, serum biochemical factors.