Natural zeolites as feed for growing and finishing pigs

Ammonia is a colorless gas that has a very strong smell and its presence in high concentrations in swine facilities is associated with health risks to animals and workers. Zeolites are aluminosilicates that have negative charges in their structure, in addition to micropores, increasing its capacity of cation exchange and adsorption of molecules, allowing the adsorption of ions such as ammonium ion and ammonia gas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) as feed for growing and finishing pigs on the concentration of ammonia in plants, pH of the waste, animal performance and carcass quality. Treatments consisted of two diets of same nutritional compositions, one without zeolite (control), and another, with the inclusion of 0.5 % zeolite. 240 Immunocastrated males were used, with an initial weight of about 22 kg, for 90 days, spread over two buildings with pens (plots) of 10.88 m², consisting of semi-slatted floor (62.5 % with slatted floor and 37.5 % with compact floor). At each treatment was prepared with 12 repetitions of 10 animals. At the end of the housing, 184 animals were slaughtered to evaluate carcass quality. There was no difference (P>0.05) in ammonia concentration on different floors, compact and slatted floor. There was a reduction (P0.05) the growth performance and carcass quality of the animals during the growing and finishing phases. The inclusion of 0.5 % of natural zeolite in the diet of growing-finishing pigs decreases the concentration of ammonia in plants, increases the pH of the waste and does not affect the animal production performance and carcass qualityA amônia é um gás incolor que possui odor extremamente forte e sua presença em concentrações elevadas nas instalações para suínos estão associadas a riscos à saúde dos animais e trabalhadores. As zeólitas são aluminossilicatos que possuem em sua estrutura cargas negativas, além de microporos, aumentando sua capacidade de troca de cátions e adsorção de moléculas, permitindo a adsorção de íons, como o íon amônio e o gás amônia. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de zeólitas naturais (clinoptilolita) na alimentação de suínos em crescimento e terminação sobre a concentração de amônia nas instalações, pH dos dejetos, desempenho zootécnico e qualidade de carcaça. Os tratamentos consistiram de duas dietas isonutritivas, sendo uma, isenta de zeólita (controle) e, outra, com inclusão de 0,5 % de zeólita. Foram utilizados 240 machos imunocastrados, com peso inicial de aproximadamente 22 kg, durante 90 dias, distribuídos em duas instalações de alvenaria com baias (parcelas experimentais) de 10,88 m², constituídas de piso semi-ripado (62,5 % da baia com piso ripado e 37,5 % com piso compacto). Em cada instalação foi disposto um tratamento, com 12 repetições de 10 animais. Ao final do período de alojamento, 184 animais foram abatidos para a avaliação da qualidade de carcaça. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) nas concentrações de amônia sobre os diferentes pisos, compacto e ripado. Ocorreu redução (P0,05) o desempenho zootécnico e qualidade de carcaça dos animais nas fases de crescimento e terminação. A inclusão de 0,5 % de zeólitas naturais na dieta de suínos em crescimento e terminação diminui a concentração de amônia nas instalações, aumenta o pH dos dejetos e não afeta o desempenho zootécnico e de qualidade de carcaça dos animai

Zeolites in poultry and swine production

ABSTRACT: Zeolites are minerals that have intriguing properties such as water absorption, ion adsorption and cation exchange capacity. There are approximately 80 species of natural zeolites recognized and hundreds of artificial zeolites, which have been researched in several fields. Due to their chemical characteristics, zeolites have great potential for use in animal production, especially in poultry and swine farms, as food additives, litter amendment and treatment of residues, with direct and indirect effects on performance, yield and quality of carcass, ambience of farm sheds and reduction of environmental pollution