Effect of natural zeolite on live weight changes, ruminal fermentation and nitrogen metabolism of ewe lambs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of natural zeolite on the performance and nitrogen metabolism of Rambouillet ewe lambs. Forty Rambouillet ewe lambs with an initial weight of 41.06 ± 3.9 kg were randomly assigned to one of four experimental diets, namely 0, 20, 40 and 60 g of natural zeolite (Comercializadora Omega® México) per kg dietary dry matter in a completely randomized design and sixteen ewe lambs were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square metabolism study. Performance was not modified by natural zeolite levels in the diet, and daily gain showed a quadratic response. Ammonia concentration at 8 and 12 hours increased linearly with zeolite. Zeolite increased ruminal pH linearly at 8 and 12 hours. Acetate and butyrate presented a quadratic response, and total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration was linearly increased by zeolite. Nitrogen retention showed a linear and quadratic response to zeolite. The estimated fractions of protein digested in the small intestine, when rumen-fermentable energy was limiting (PDIE) and when rumen-fermentable nitrogen was limiting, showed a linear and quadratic response to zeolite. PDIE was positively correlated (r = 0.96) with average daily gain.

Nutrient intake, digestibility, growth performance, and carcass of sheep fed urea‐based diet supplemented with natural clinoptilolite

“…Furthermore, zeolite supplementation could be responsible for N recycling in the rumen (Toprak et al, 2016). This agrees with the observation of Roque‐Jiménez et al (2018) who reported higher N retention in lambs fed diet supplemented with graded levels of natural zeolite. In this study, better utilization of N found in sheep receiving the UR‐Z diet may reflect that higher ruminal NH 3 ‐N absorption resulting from hydrolysis not only improved the DMI, ADG, and FCR but also N balance and utilization, suggesting that sheep fed UR‐Z diet were functionally able to utilize their dietary urea N.…”

“…Furthermore, agreement with Dschaak et al (2010), not only the high osmotically active cations of zeolite substances might facilitate ruminal fermentation but also high osmotic activity might regulate ruminal pH reflecting one of the frequently reported benefits of its buffering capability against hydrogen ions of organic acids. In contrast, zeolite inclusion in urea‐based diet was shown to increase ruminal pH values (Roque‐Jiménez et al, 2018) and ruminal branched‐SCFA (isobutyrate and isovalerate) proportions (Shingfield et al, 2002) indicating higher microbial biomass and enzymatic activities (Andries et al, 1987). Total ruminal volatile fatty acids concentrations were linearly increased by adding zeolite to the diet.…”

“…The unique outstanding catalytic, physical and chemical properties of zeolite may favorably contribute to the efficiency of nitrogen (N) utilization in ruminants. Roque-Jiménez et al (2018) reported the capability of clinoptilolite aluminum silicates to capture and sequester ammonium ions (NH 4 + ) in the rumen, due to their large cation exchange capacity (Migliorati et al, 2007) causing a decline in the rate of their ruminal release and absorption. This may be advantageous for enhancing the utilization of ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) in the digestive system (Leung et al, 2007).…”

Influence of ferulic acid and clinoptilolite supplementation on growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of finished lambs

“…Deligiannis et al [ 40 ] reported that lambs supplemented with 3% of CTL showed a better weight gain with no change on carcass traits. Similarly, other studies have reported that CTL supplementation enhances weight gain (carcass characteristics were not evaluated) [ 17 , 41 , 42 ]. The effects of CTL supplementation in lambs in other studies, could be related to the ability of CTL to modify ruminal fermentation due to its cation exchange property, resulting in better energy efficiency by improving the acetate:propionate ratio or by stimulating some populations of ruminal bacteria [ 18 , 44 , 45 ].…”

“…A study has shown that supplementing lambs with CTL increased muscle tissue deposition and decreased fat tissue deposition [ 15 ]. Additionally, an improvement in feed efficiency and ADG was reported [ 16 , 17 ]; the ion-exchange property of CTL favorably modulates ruminal fermentation, improving energy efficiency, which is reflected in animal growth performance [ 18 ]. However, the available results are conflicting; hence, more research is required in order to fully elucidate CTL’s response in ruminants.…”