Effects of Zeolite a or Clinoptilolite in Diets of Growing Swine

Abstract

Growth, nutrient balance, plasma ammonia levels and urinary p-cresol excretion were evaluated in growing pigs fed diets containing various levels of zeolite A or clinoptilolite. In one growth trial, crossbred pigs averaging 25 kg initial body weight were assigned to diets containing no zeolite, .3% zeolite A or .5% clinoptilolite for a 6-wk growing phase trial. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADF) and feed/gain (F/G) were unaffected by supplementation of either zeolite in the diet, but metabolizable energy (ME) utilization was improved by feeding diets containing either zeolite. A second growth trial utilized the same crossbred pigs, which averaged 65 kg initial body weight, and were assigned to diets containing no zeolite, 1% zeolite A or 5% clinoptilolite for an 8-wk finishing phase trial. Average daily gain, ADF, and ME utilization were unaffected by feeding either zeolite diet, while F/G was increased in pigs fed the diet containing 5% clinoptilolite. In two nutrient balance trials, 16 crossbred pigs averaging 7.5 kg in initial body weight were fed diets containing 0, 1, 2 or 3% zeolite A in one trial and 16 crossbred pigs averaging 7.0 kg initial body weight were fed diets containing 0, 2.5, 5.0 or 7.5% clinoptilolite in a second trial. In both trials, digestible energy, ME, N-corrected ME and ME corrected for N balance and zeolite levels were linearly reduced as increasing amounts of either zeolite were fed. Daily fecal N increased and apparent digestibility of N was linearly reduced by feeding increasing amounts of zeolite A or clinoptilolite. Biological value of protein was improved linearly as higher levels of zeolite A were fed, indicating that there may be some ammonia binding to zeolite A in the gastrointestinal tract. Net protein utilization was reduced by feeding increasing levels of clinoptilolite in the diet. Calcium, P, Mg, Na, K and Fe retentions were linearly reduced by feeding increasing amounts of zeolite A in the diet, while increasing levels of clinoptilolite caused only P retention to be linearly reduced. Both free and conjugated forms of urinary p-cresol were linearly reduced by feeding increasing levels of clinoptilolite. Plasma ammonia levels were reduced at subsequent bleedings after a meal and by increasing levels of clinoptilolite.

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

“…Other authors have suggested that growth and efficiency were improved due to the reduced microbial production of ammonium in the intestines (Shurson et al, 1984;Poulsen and Oksbjerg, 1995;Papaioannou et al, 2005). This effect is comparable with antibiotics, which also reduce microbial production of ammonium and attenuate intestinal cell damage.…”

Zeolites versus Lead Toxicity

“…Studies illustrate that clinoptilolite supplementation to the diet of swine, poultry and ruminants improved body mass and feed conversion ratios [107,124,125]. In addition, milk yields have improved in dairy herds and the incidence of scours, enteritis and other intestinal diseases has decreased substantially [107].…”

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

“…Considerable evidence is available suggesting a beneficial effect of the supplementation of clinoptilolite to the diet on the growth of animals (Vrzgula and Bartko, 1984;Pond et al, 1988), and in protecting against ammonia toxicity by binding ammonia in vivo (Nakaue and Koelliker, 1981;Shurson et al, 1984). Clinoptilolite has also the ability to adsorb some mycotoxins, especially aflatoxins, and thereby prevents or reduces their adverse effects on metabolic functions in animals (Harvey et al, 1993;Keçeci et al, 1998).…”