SOME INTERIOR EGG CHARACTERISTICS AS INFLUENCED BY ADDITION OF GREEK CLINOPTILOLITIC ROCK MATERIAL IN THE HEN DIET

The effect of clinoptilolitic rock material (natural zeolite NZ) on so me egg characteristics was examined in an experiment. One genotype (Hi sser) 22 wk of age was caged in 12 pens (8 hens per pen). Duplicate pe ns were fed on each of 6 experimental diets, which were isonitrogenous (treatments: A - control = 0% NZ, B = 4% NZ, C = 6% NZ) or isonitroge nous and isoenergetic (treatments: D - control = 0% NZ, E = 4% NZ, Z = 6% NZ), for 49 wks. Results obtained of this study show that a respon se - especially in egg weight, albumen and yolk weight, and number of blood and meat spots - can be achieved by feeding the hens with NZ. Th e results also suggest that there was no significant effect on yolk co lor, or Haugh units. The beneficial effect of NZ on egg and albumen we ight was independent of hen age and the type of diet (isonitrogenous o r isonitrogenous + isoenergetic).