Silica-Calcite Sedimentary Rock (Opoka) Enhances the Immunological Status and Improves the Growth Rate in Broilers Exposed to Ochratoxin A in Feed

Mycotoxins, such as Ochratoxin A (OTA), originating from fungi like Aspergillus and Penicillium, represent serious health hazards to poultry. The use of mycotoxin-adsorbing feed additives can reduce these risks. Opoka, a porous transitional rock, shows promise as one of these additives. This study is the first to examine the effect of Opoka administered with OTA on zootechnical parameters and the immune response of chickens. A 42-day investigation examined the impact of 1% of Opoka supplementation in feed on OTA-challenged broiler chickens. Seventy-two chickens were allocated into three groups of twenty-four individuals each: a control group, an OTA-exposed (2 mg/kg feed) group, and an OTA (2 mg/kg feed) plus 1% of Opoka group. Growth and blood parameters were monitored at predetermined intervals, and comprehensive biochemical, hematological, and cytometric analyses were conducted. The study showed that OTA exposure had a negative impact on chicken weight gain. However, adding Opoka to the diet improved weight gain, indicating its potential as a protective agent. Chickens fed with Opoka also had an increased white blood cell count, which suggests an improved immune response and elevated glucose and cholesterol concentrations. These findings indicate that Opoka may be useful in mitigating health complications caused by OTA exposure in broilers.

The opoka-rock in N and P of poultry manure management according to circular economy

European Green Deal (EGD) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CE) promote recycling of materials in line with circular economy principles and enhance the value of material flows. Recently, new technologies have been introduced to produce value-added products from agricultural residues and food processing side streams. However integrated approach is necessary for organic waste utilization as environmentally safe product according to the bio-economy rules. The so-called opoka-rock is characterized as a transitional rock between carbonate (app. 71%) and those of a silica character (app. 26%). This study identifies research gaps on how circular bioeconomy can be achieved through application of opoka for improvement of sustainable nitrogen and phosphorous management of poultry manure as safe fertilizer according to CE. Initially, it was found that opoka was able to effectively absorb the N and P ions from water solution and then gradual release to environment. Thermal treatment (900 °C) increased rapidly sorption capacity of opoka to 100% in the case of phosphorous, value of pH and content of Ca²⁺ions in eluates. Moreover, the volume ratio of opoka to poultry manure in experimental mixtures was optimized to determine of nitrogen and phosphorus release into the solution. The substrate was characterized by good desorption properties - the tests confirmed gradually release of N and P ions to solution with the maximum concentration obtained after 32 h equal almost 71% of initial value in mixtures in the case of phosphorous and almost 40% in the case of nitrogen. The novelty of such approach gives opportunity use opoka-rock not only as a single sorbent but also for improvement of poultry manure as mineral-organic fertilizers in the context of CE. This also allow to control for ions N, P release and maintain suitable pH value of soil environment.

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 chicken 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.