Abstract
SAMArDžijA: The influence of different concentrations of feed additive, based on shell rock and bentonite, on the growth, blood and meat parameters of the African black ostrich (Struthio camelus) in south-east Kazakhstan.vet.arhiv 88, 413-425, 2018.AbSTrAcT Forty-eight 3-month old african ostrich females were divided into four groups: control and 3 experimental comprising 12 animals each.all the animals were fed the adopted diet and the experimental groups additionally received a feed supplement based on shell rock and bentonite, at a rate of 5 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 15 g/kg, respectively, for 9 months.at the beginning and the end of the experiment blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses.at the end of the experiment, 3 ostriches from each group were slaughtered and the quality of their meat was examined.at 12 months of age the weight of the birds in the experimental groups was significantly higher (P≤0.05) in comparison to the control group, by 11 kg, 13.3 kg or 16.4 kg, respectively.During the experiment, an increase in the number of red blood cells, leukocytes and hemoglobin was recorded, however all tested hematological parameters remained within the range of physiological values.The biochemical blood parameters in all groups of ostriches did not change significantly at the beginning and the end of experiment.however, the levels of total protein, glucose, Ca and P in the experimental groups