Effects of a clinoptilolite supplement in pig diets on performance and serum parameters

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The effects of clinoptilolite in pig's diets were examined on sixty Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred pigs of both sexes divided into two groups: 1. control group, with basal diets; 2. treatment, with basal diets supplemented with 5 g clinoptilolite per 1 kg diet (Cp group). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Individual live weights were recorded on days 45, 90 and 135 of the experiment. Feed consumptions were recorded weekly. Blood was drawn from the anterior vena cava of each pig at day 135 for the determination of serum biochemical parameters. During the first 90 days of the experiment pigs from the Cp group had higher body weight gain (BWG) compared with the control group (+2.5% and +7.0%, respectively) but in the finishing phase of growing their growth parameters were significantly lower (-4.8%). Blood serum biochemical parameters from all experimental pigs were generally within the normal range. Higher triglyceride concentration, lower total cholesterol concentration and increased activity of AST were recorded in the serum of the Cp group.

The effect of kaolin feeding on efficiency, health status and course of diarrhoeal infections caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains in weaned piglets

“…These studies documented that even long-term feeding did not affect levels of total serum protein, albumin and mineral elements in pigs Alexopoulos et al, 2007). Some studies have reported changes in glucose, cholesterol and AST levels (ConcepcionRosabal et al, 1997;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007). The present study did not find any changes in Fe distribution and haematological parameters in piglets.…”

“…The structure and physical-chemical characteristics of these clay minerals and kaolin, which is a phyllosilicate mineral, are similar . A significant increase in the body weight gain and improved conversion of feed containing clay minerals has been shown by numerous studies (Pond et al, 1981(Pond et al, , 1988Vrzgula et al, 1982;Bartko et al, 1983;Pond and Yen, 1987;Castro and Iglesias, 1989;Cabezas et al, 1991;Papaioannou et al, 2004;Chen et al, 2005;Kolacz et al, 2005;Papaioannou et al, 2005;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007). Naturally, their effect on the efficiency of animals is associated with the type, physicochemical and structural qualities, purity and proportion of these minerals in the diet (Pond and Yen, 1987;Pond et al, 1988;Papaioannou et al, 2004Papaioannou et al, , 2005, and by the age of animals (Papaioannou et al, 2004;Alexopoulos et al, 2007).…”

Alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in prevention of diarrhoea in weaned piglets: a review

“…Nevertheless, diets supplemented with a higher proportion of such adsorbents are also voluntarily ingested by animals (Castro and Elias, 1978;Vrzgula et al, 1982;Bartko et al, 1983;Castro and Iglesias, 1989), and do not exert any adverse effect on their growth and performance (Castro and Elias, 1978;Castro and Iglesias, 1989). Many studies have documented significant improvements in body weight gain and feed conversion after supplementation of a diet with clay minerals (Pond et al, 1981;Vrzgula et al, 1982;Bartko et al, 1983;Pond and Yen, 1987;Pond et al, 1988;Castro and Iglesias, 1989;Cabezas et al, 1991;Papaioannou et al, 2004Papaioannou et al, , 2005Chen et al, 2005;Kolacz et al, 2005;Alexopoulos et al, 2007;Prvulovic et al, 2007;Trckova et al, 2009). …”

Investigation of structural properties of clinoptilolite rich zeolites in simulated digestion conditions and their cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells in vitro

“…Natural zeolite clinoptilolite has been reported to be nutritionally inert adsorbent and non-toxic to animals [4,5] which make clinoptilolite very advantageous. Several studies demonstrated that clinoptilolite supplementation was well tolerated by animals such as it resulted significant feed conversion and promoted biomass production, weight gain and animal health [6][7][8][9][10][11]. Clinoptilolite was used to protect animals from feed-originated toxins by adsorbing toxic compounds in gastrointestinal tract and by preventing their passage to circulatory system [12][13][14].…”