clinoptilolite and Weight-Gain

In recent years, the use of both natural and synthetic zeolites in animal nutrition has increased, mainly to improve their performance, health, and to protect against mycotoxins intoxication. Thirty calves were used in the present study for the determination of the effects of clinoptilolite supplementation on hematology, serum proteins, performance, and health. The animals were divided equally into three groups (control, test 1 and test 2). The three groups of calves were homogeneous for parity of dams, sex, and month of birth. For test 1 group, clinoptilolite in the concentration of 2% of each colostrum meal was added for 48h and for test 2 group, clinoptilolite in the concentration of 2% was added to each colostrum and milk meal for 14 days. Blood samples were taken from all calves 12h after birth and at the end of the first, second, third, forth, fifth and sixth weeks of life (end of the experiment: 42 days of life) and analyzed for hematology, plasma fibrinogen and for total protein, albumin, beta and gamma globulin measurement. Performance and health of calves were also recorded during the experiment. For statistical analysis of data a repeated measures approach using ANOVA with Mixed linear models, and chi-test was used. Clinoptilolite supplementation had significant effect on the values of hematocrit (HCT), red cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), monocyte (Mono), and albumin (Alb). The values of most above parameters were significantly higher in test group 2, except MCV that was significantly lower in test group 1 than other trial groups (p<0.05). No significant difference was seen for other measured parameters, performance, and health between trial groups.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blood Cell Count; Blood Cells; Blood Proteins; Cattle; Colostrum; Dairying; Diet; Health; Milk; Weight Gain; Zeolites

This study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary use of a clinoptilolite-rich tuff (Cp) on health status and performance of weaned, growing and finishing pigs and its compatibility during simultaneous oral administration of antimicrobials (AM) such as enrofloxacin (E) or salinomycin (S). Weaners (720) were assigned in 2 experimental groups and 4 subgroups based on the inclusion or not of Cp and AM in their feed (subgroups: NC, ES, Cp, Cp+ES) in order to evaluate their health status, under PWDS prevailing herd conditions. A second part of the trial aimed to the evaluation of piglet performance under conditions with minimized PWDS herd risks. For this purpose, a second set of 264 weaners were assigned in 2 groups and 4 subgroups, in a respective manner. All piglets remained on-trial until slaughtering age; Cp was incorporated in their feed at a rate of 2% from the day of weaning until slaughtering. The health status evaluation consisted in monitoring piglets for adverse effects related to Cp consumption, average daily diarrhoea scoring during weaning and mortality rate calculations throughout. Performance evaluation included individual weighing at the end of weaning, growing and fattening periods and feed consumption assessments. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ration (FCR) on a pen basis were further calculated. Cp ingestion was well tolerated by the piglets. Simultaneous administration of Cp and AM in feed, resulted in less severe forms of PWDS, which had a shorter clinical course (P<0.05). Mortality decreased (P<0.05) during the weaning period due to AM administration. Concerning mean pig body weight at the end of each production phase, both Cp and AM had favorable effects (P<0.05). ADG estimated for the whole observation period was improved (P<0.05) by Cp-use along with AM. FCR improvements (P<0.05) were noticed during the different stages of growth due to AM or Cp administration, while Cp/AM interaction was noticed only at weaning (P<0.05).

Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Diarrhea; Diet; Energy Intake; Enrofloxacin; Fluoroquinolones; Pyrans; Quinolones; Swine; Swine Diseases; Weaning; Weight Gain; Zeolites

1. The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding 2 concentrations of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite). Clinoptilolite (CLI), incorporated into the diet at 15 and 25 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.5 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 76.40% AFB1, 16.12% AFB2, 6.01% AFG1 and 1.47% AFG in diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 360 broiler chicks were divided into 6 treatment groups (6 replicates of 10 broilers each): control, AF, CLI (15 g/kg), AF plus CLI (15 g/kg), CLI (25 g/kg), and AF plus CLI (25 g/kg). 2. Compared to controls, the treatment had significantly decreased body weight gain from week 1 onwards. The adverse effect of AF on food consumption (8.0%) and food conversion ratio (8.3%) was also shown over the entire 21-d feeding period. 3. The addition of CLI (15 g/kg) to an AF-containing diet significantly reduced the deleterious effects of AF on food consumption and body weight gain. Food conversion ratio was also slightly improved by adding CLI (15 g/kg) to AF-containing diets. Food consumption, body weight gain and food conversion ratio values were rendered numerically intermediate between AF and control groups by the addition of CLI (25 g/kg) to the AF-containing diet. 4. The addition of CLI (both 15 and 25 g/kg) to the AF-free diet did not produce any significant changes compared with the controls, except for decreased total food consumption in the CLI (25 g/kg)-alone group. 5. These results suggest that CLI (15 g/kg) addition effectively diminished the detrimental effects of AF on the values investigated. Also, the lower dietary concentration of CLI (15 g/kg) was more effective than the greater concentration against the adverse effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.

Topics: Aflatoxins; Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Chickens; Female; Male; Random Allocation; Weight Gain; Zeolites

Clinoptilolite (CLI, a natural zeolite), incorporated into the diet at 50 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the deleterious effects of 2.0 mg total aflatoxin (AF;83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1 and 1.12% AFG2)/kg diet on growing Japanese quail chicks from 10 to 45 d of age. A total of 40 Japanese quail chicks were divided into 4 treatment groups (control, AF, CLI, AF plus CLI) each consisting of 10 chicks. The performance of the birds was evaluated. The AF treatment significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain from the 3rd week onwards. The adverse effect of AF on food conversion ratio was also significant from week 4 of the experiment. The addition of CLI to an AF-containing diet significantly reduced the deleterious effects of AF on food consumption, body weight gain and food conversion ratio. Food consumption was reduced by 14% in quail chicks consuming the AF diet without CLI, but by only 6% for quail chicks consuming the AF plus CLI diet. Similarly, overall body weight gain was reduced by 27% in birds consuming the AF diet without CLI, but by only 8% for birds consuming the AF plus CLI diet. The addition of CLI to the AF-free diet significantly decreased food consumption and body weight gain during week 4, but these parameters were similar to the controls in week 5. No mortality was observed in any of the groups. These results suggest that CLI effectively diminished the detrimental effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.

Topics: Aflatoxins; Animal Feed; Animals; Coturnix; Dietary Supplements; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Female; Male; Mycotoxicosis; Poultry Diseases; Weight Gain; Zeolites