Pourliotis, Konstantinos D., Supervisor: Karatzias, Charilaos, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n
The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the effect of adding clinoptilolite to the feed on the absorption of E.coli on the health and performance of suckling calves. A total of 84 newborn Holstein calves were used; these were examined prior to the start of the experiment and found to be healthy. The animals were divided into three equally sized, homogeneous groups (groups A, B and C). Group C served as the control group, whilst groups A and B consisted of calves whose feed hadclinoptilolite added to it. The three experimental groups were as follows: Group A: This group comprised 28 newborn calves which were initially fed colostrum and subsequently milk replacer, clinoptilolite at a dose of 1 g\/kg body weight per 24 hours. Group B: This group comprised 28 newborn calves that were initially fed colostrum and subsequently milk replacer, clinoptilolite at a dose of 2 g\/kg body weight per 24 hours. Group C: This control group comprised 28 newborn calves that were initially fed colostrum, and milk replacer until the end of the experiment, without the addition of clinoptilolite.<\/p>\n
The results of the study show that the addition of clinoptilolite in amounts of both 1 and 2 g\/kg body weight to colostrum and the milk of suckling calves significantly improves (P \u2264 0.05) the absorption of E. coli-specific antibodies and significantly reduces the incidence of colibacillary diarrhoea (P \u2264 0.05), whilst not significantly affecting (P > 0.05) the concentrations of Ca, P, K, Na, Zn, Cu and Fe<\/p>\n