본 연구에서는 Ross strain-208 브로일러 수컷 36,800 수를 기본 사료만 급여한 대조구와 기본 사료에 0.3% 점토 광물질 발효 산물을 첨가 급여한 처리구로 나누어 5주간 사양 시험을 시행하였고, 사육 후 육계의 최종 체중 및 일당 증체량, 육성율, 사료 섭취량, 사료 효율, 생산 지수 등에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 그 결과, 최종 체중은 점토 광물질 발효 산물을 0.3% 첨가 급여한 처리구가 대조구에 비해 유의성은 없으나 약 18.5% 증가하였고, 일당 증체량은 약 18.2% 유의하게 증가한 것으로 나타났다(p<0.05). 사료 섭취량과 처리구가 대조구보다 유의하게 21.4% 증가하였고, 사료 효율은 유의성은 없으나 약 2.7% 증가한 것으로 나타났다. 특히 육성율과 생산 지수는 처리구가 대조구에 비해 유의하게 각각 4.4%와 4.9% 증가하였다(p<0.05). 또, ND(뉴캐슬병)와 IBD(전염성 F낭병)의 백신을 음용 투여하였을 때의 항체 역가는, 0.3 % 점토 광물질 발효 산물 첨가구가 대조구에 비해 유의성은 없으나 각각 13.8%와 15.7% 높은 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로부터 점토 광물질 발효 산물의 첨가급여는 육계의 생산성과 면역 기능을 증진시켜 항생제를 저감한 친환경적인 고품질 육계 생산에 도움이 될 것으로 사료되었다.
A feeding trial was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplement of fermented clay mineral (FCM) on the growth performance and immune stimulation in broiler chickens. A total of 36,800 broilers, (of) Ross strain-208, were randomly allotted into 2 experimental (diet) groups. Control group was fed the basal diet (corn-soybean meal based), and treatment group was fed the natural clay mineral that was fermented with aboriginal microorganisms at $37^{circ}C$ for 72 h. Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the experiment for 5 weeks of experimental feeding period. Daily weight gain of treatment group fed 0.3% fermented clay mineral was significantly increased in comparison with control group. Feed intake of treatment group was significantly increased 21.4% (p<0.05), and feed efficiency was also increased 2.7% compared to control group. Especially, growth rate and production index of treatment group were significantly higher as much as 4.4% and 4.8%, respectively, than those of control group (p<0.05). By the feeding of dietary 0.3 % FCM, the antibody productions against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease antigens were shown to increase 13.8 % and 15.7 %, respectively, more than control group chickens. From these results, it appears that the supply of fermented clay mineral at 0.3 % level in the broiler chicken diet could enhance the growth performance and immune stimulation of broiler chickens.
