CLAY AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTIC GROWTH PROMOTERS IN POULTRY.

A clay sourced from Australia,the clay supplement (brand name: Barnyard Grit) has been shown to have a set of positive effects on poultry performance and health. This Australian clay formulation, developed by the company Multi Minerals Australia Pty Ltd, can be added to feed and can serve as an alternative for antibiotic growth promoters.

 The additional benefits include better production, reduced feed costs, improved health and lower mortality. The clay product has been formulated from a combination of various clay levels in the company's long held mine in the Australian State of New South Wales.

 There has been several trials done by Australian poultry institutions, Universities and commercial poultry users. Trials in broilers show a 9% reduction in mortality at day 42, compared to the control group that received antibiotics from day 3.

Furthermore, a 16.5% decrease in viscosity was shown in broilers fed a wheat diet combined with Barnyard Grit, 9% in a sorghum diet. No trials have yet been done with soybean meal. Also breast meat yield was improved in the group that received the clay feed supplement.

An increase of 6.5% was observed, compared to the control group. Barnyard Grit also substantially increased thigh meat yield by 5.8% over control.

 Reduction in cracked eggs was noted in the trials,as the effect of the clay supplement was also tested in layers (aged 56 – 70 weeks) yielding better results. The trial group performed better in terms of average hen day production (+0.04%) over layers that didn't receive the supplement.

It was also shown that the clay supplement reduced the number of eggs needed to be pulped by 2.0% over layers which were not fed with clay in the diet. Using specific gravity, the eggs from layers (aged 60-70 weeks) were found to be significantly superior and the operator reported considerable reduction in cracked eggs.

 Additionally, flock uniformity was improved by 4.1% in chickens from 0-15 weeks, compared to the control group. The clay supplement (brand name: Barnyard Grit) has been sold successfully into the commercial poultry market in Australia.

The product has also been exported to Thailand. The product has been primarily supplied to the poultry industry, but field trials have shown benefits with other commercial animals.

 Research is ongoing for the cattle, dairy cow, aquaculture, pet food, and natural fertilizer industries. Source ; materials from all about feed.