Efendiev BSh, Khatkova MKh, Ulimbashev MB.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026. Vol. 109. No. 2. Р. 272-283.

doi:  10.33284/2658-3135-109-2-272

Original article

Montmorillonite clays: production of nanosized material and its efficiency in poultry farming

 

Beslan Sh Efendiev1, Maryat Kh Khatkova2, Murat B Ulimbashev3

1Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia

2Maikop State Technological University, Maykop, Russia

3Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University named after V.M. Kokov, Nalchik, Russia

1beslanefendiev@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-5730-2160

2maryat.khatkova76@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3188-7359

3murat-ul@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9344-5751

 

Abstract. This article presents a process for producing nanosized montmorillonite from the Gerpegezhskoye deposit in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic for use as a feed additive in broiler chickens. It was established that the process of producing nanosized montmorillonite involves three stages: sifting the clay to remove large mechanical impurities, grinding in a ball mill to produce a powder with uniform particle size, and sieving the powder in a multi-frequency vibrating sieve. The following results were obtained as a result of converting the bentonite to a nanosized state: almost all gangue minerals were removed,  the  distribution  of  clay particles ranging in size from 10 to 50 nm was 24.61%, and from 60 to 90 nm, 48.22%. Clay processing technology using a multi-frequency vibrating sieve allowed for the recovery of up to 72.83% nanosized clay, significantly reducing the production period and enabling its scalability. A scientific and economic trial to determine the effects of nanosized montmorillonite on broiler chickens showed that the experimental group receiving nanosized montmorillonite advanced over the control group in absolute live weight gain by 663 g, and average daily live weight gain by 15.8 g, or 36.3%. Feed costs per unit of production decreased by 26.6% compared to birds raised on a standard diet. Flock survival in the experimental group was 99.4%, compared to 91.8% in the control group.

Keywords: farm poultry, broiler chickens, feed additive, montmorillonite, Gerpegezhskoye deposit, clay processing, nanosize, weight gain, safety

Acknowledgments: the work was supported in accordance to the plan of research works for 2025- 2027 FSBRI Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

For citation: Efendiev BSh, Khatkova MKh, Ulimbashev MB. Montmorillonite clays: production of nanosized material and its efficiency in poultry farming. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2026;109(2):272-283. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-109-2-272

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Information about the authors:

Beslan Sh Efendiev, Dr. Sci. (Agriculture), head of the Laboratory «Intelligent production systems of animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming», Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Balkarova St., Nalchik, 360010, tel.: +7(928)7200017.

Maryat Kh Khatkova, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Associate Professor of Agricultural Production Technology Department, Maykop State Technological University, 191 Pervomayskaya St., Maikop, 385000, tel.: +7(918)4204979.

Murat B Ulimbashev, Dr. Sci. (Agriculture), Professor of Department of Zootechnics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise, Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University named after V.M. Kokov, 1v Lenin Avenue, Nalchik, 360030, tel.: +7(963)3937087.

The article was submitted 11.02.2026; approved after reviewing 09.04.2026; accepted for publication 15.06.2026.

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