Zeolite in the diet of pigs

New strategies and commercial products must be developed to improve animal health and performance, based on their safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness. The aim of this study is to summarize the beneficial effects of currently used alternatives to in-feed antibiotics, i.e. probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, phytogenic compound sand zeolites on health and growth performance in farm animals (swine, poultry and ruminants)

Photographs showing the use of natural zeolite in feed and in the environment of pigs and cattle at a livestock farm in Preveza.

Gerald C Sharon – University of Minnesota Twin Cities,  Pao K Ku – Michigan State University, E R Miller, M T Yokoyama 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 ... Read more

C. Alexopoulos a,⁎, D.S. Papaioannou a, P. Fortomaris a, C.S. Kyriakis a, A. Tserveni-Goussi a, A. Yannakopoulos a, S.C. Kyriakis b a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Greece b Foundation of Biomedical Research, Academy of Athens, 11 527 Athens, Greece Received 22 August 2006; received in revised form 15 January 2007; accepted 22 January 2007 Abstract The effect of the long-term dietary use of a clinoptilolite-rich tuff (Cp) on certain biochemical and hematological parameters was studied in pigs. Forty-eight healthy piglets (24 females and 24 males) were used in the study, equally allocated in two experimental ... Read more

D. Prvulović1 , A. Jovanović-Galović2 , B. Stanić2 , M. Popović1 , G. Grubor-Lajšić2 1 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia 2 Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia 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 ... Read more

A field study on the effect of the dietary use of a clinoptilolite-rich tuff, alone or in combination with certain antimicrobials, on the health status and performance of weaned, growing and finishing pigs D.S. Papaioannou a, C.S. Kyriakis a, C. Alexopoulos b, E.D. Tzika a, Z.S. Polizopoulou c, S.C. Kyriakis a,* a Department of Productive Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 540 06 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece b Department of Obstetrics and Artificial Insemination, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 540 06 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece c Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Clinical Pathology, School of ... Read more

D. Papaioannou, P.D. Katsoulos, N. Panousis *, H. Karatzias Clinic of Productive Animal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece Received 4 April 2005; received in revised form 12 May 2005; accepted 12 May 2005 Available online 28 June 2005 Abstract This review discusses the role of zeolites as feed additives in the prevention and/or treatment of certain diseases in farm animals. Both natural and synthetic zeolites have been used in animal nutrition primarily to improve performance traits and, based on their fundamental physicochemical properties, they have also been tested and found to be ... Read more

Mohana Devi Subramaniam and In Ho Kim Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology20156:38 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-015-0037-9 ©  Subramaniam and Kim. 2015 Abstract Clays are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicate molecules composed of alkali and alkaline earth cations along with small amounts of various other elements. The best-known are montmorillonite, smectite, illite, kaolinite, biotite and clinoptilolite. The molecules in these clays are arranged in three-dimensional structures creating internal voids and channels capable of trapping a wide variety of molecules. As a result of this structure, clay minerals are regarded as a simple and effective tool for the prevention of the negative effects of many toxic compounds. Dietary supplementation with clays has been shown ... Read more

Doctoral Thesis THOMA A. KOTSOPOULOU, Graduate in Agricultural Science, Graduate in Civil Engineering, MSc, IKY Scholarship Holder SUPERVISOR: Prof. Gerasimos Martzopoulos This study investigated the effect of adding different quantities of natural zeolite on the anaerobic degradation of pig farm effluent. In particular, the effect of adding zeolite on increasing the energy yield of the effluent (greater quantity of methane, energy yield over a short period of time) was examined. Furthermore, the impact of introducing zeolite on the reduction of solids, volatile solids and BOD5 (environmental factors) was investigated. Two preliminary measurements were carried out, which served as a guide ... Read more

Zeolite in livestock farming | Zeolife.gr Zeolite in livestock farming Zeolite is a natural mineral product that has not undergone any chemical processing. It is widely used in livestock farming as a feed additive approved by the European Union for cattle, dairy cows, pigs, poultry (both meat and egg-laying) and sheep. Zeolite is not a medicine; it leaves no residues in animal products and does not affect the palatability of feed or meat. Its use is completely safe, as it is neither digested nor absorbed by the animals’ bodies but is excreted in faeces and urine, carrying away all harmful ... Read more