Abstract: The paper presents the results of a research on the impact of products based on natural zeolite on the production results of fattening lambs. The experiment involved two groups of lambs (the control -C and experimental -E groups), each consisting of 15 heads, for a period of 90 days. The meal was made from sheep milk, feed mixtures for fattening lambs and meadow hay. The test group lambs, unlike the ones from the control group, were given mixtures based on natural zeolite. Min-a-Zel S mixture (in the form of 25% composite) was fed to lambs from birth till their 14th day of life, directly into the mouth, once a day (before the morning feed), in the amount of 10 ml. Min-a-Zel Plus was given to them from their 15th day of life, together with the feed mixture (0.5%). Feeding was at will. The average weight of lambs at the end of the experiment, in accordance with the sequence of treatments (C:E) was 24.40:26.94 kg (P &lt;0.01). Daily weight gain of lambs, during the experiment, was 229:256 g and in the experimental group it was by 27g or 11.79% higher (P &lt;0.01). The test group lambs had a better utilization of dry matter, protein and energy, which justifies the use of products based on natural zeolite in fattening lambs

B Ristanović

J Stojković

M P Petrović

S Ćirić

V Caro Petrović

V Kurčubić

Z Ilić

CiteSeerX

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 28 (3), p 545-552 , 2012                                ISSN 1450-9156 
Publisher: Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun                                  UDC 636.087.7 
DOI: 10.2298/BAH1203545S 
 
 
EFFICENCY OF ZEOLITE BASIS PREPARATION IN 
FATTENING LAMBS DIET 
 
J. Stojković1, Z. Ilić1, S. Ćirić1, B. Ristanović1, M. P. Petrović2, V. Caro 
Petrović2, V. Kurčubić3 
 
1 University of Pristina, Faculty of Agriculture, Kopaonicka bb, 38219 Lesak, Serbia  
2Institute for Animal Husbandry, P. O. Box 23, 11081 Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia. 
3Faculty of Agronomy, Cara Dusana 34, 32000 Cacak, Serbia, University of Kragujevac 
Corresponding author: jovanips@gmail.com 
Original scientific paper 
      Abstract: The paper presents the results of a research on the impact of 
products based on natural zeolite on the production results of fattening lambs. The 
experiment involved two groups of lambs (the control - C and experimental – E 
groups), each consisting of 15 heads, for a period of 90 days. The meal was made 
from sheep milk, feed mixtures for fattening lambs and meadow hay. The test 
group lambs, unlike the ones from the control group, were given mixtures based on 
natural zeolite. Min-a-Zel S mixture (in the form of 25% composite) was fed to 
lambs from birth till their 14th day of life, directly into the mouth, once a day 
(before the morning feed), in the amount of 10 ml. Min-a-Zel Plus was given to 
them from their 15th day of life, together with the feed mixture (0.5%). Feeding 
was at will. The average weight of lambs at the end of the experiment, in 
accordance with the sequence of treatments (C:E) was 24.40:26.94 kg (P <0.01). 
Daily weight gain of lambs, during the experiment, was 229:256 g and in the 
experimental group it was by 27g or 11.79% higher (P <0.01). The test group 
lambs had a better utilization of dry matter, protein and energy, which justifies the 
use of products based on natural zeolite in fattening lambs. 
      Key words: lambs, zeolite, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion 
Introduction 
      Modern-day livestock production requires constantly finding new 
opportunities to improve the production results and preserve the health of domestic 
animals. In the last decade several researches have been done on the possibilities of 
implementing natural zeolite in livestock production (Masic et al. 1999, Nikkhah et 
al. 2001, Ilic et al. 2005, Pesev et al. 2005, Ilic et al. 2007, Shariatmandari F. 
2008)  Because of its great ability to absorb various harmful substances in the body 
of animals and the environment (mycotoxins, radionuclides, heavy metals, 
J. Stojković et al. 
 
 
 
546
ammonia, carbon monoxide, pesticides and herbicides), it helps to achieve better 
production results and maintain the health and reproductive performance of 
domestic animals (Adamovic et al. 2001, Dakovic et al. 2003, Medakovic and Zaric 
2005). Stojković (2006), have astablished that the newborn lambs, that were fed the 
product based on natural zeolite through colostrum (Min-a-Zel S in the amount of 5 
g/l of colostrum), had more than 50 percent higher concentration of 
immunoglobulin (IgG) after the period of six hours. Later, 24 and 48 hours after 
the birth, the values of IgG also increased, indicating the contribution of these 
drugs in strengthening the immune system of lambs in their first days of life.  
      The aim of this study was to determine the influence of products based on 
natural zeolite (Min-a-Zel S and Min-a-Zel Plus) on major production performance 
of fattening lambs. Min-a-Zel S is a 25% composite of a processed zeolite 
concentrate, containing 90% of clinoptilolite. Min-a-Zel Plus represents a new 
generation of mineral mycotoxin adsorbent, obtained by an organic modification of 
a zeolite mineral clinoptilolite with a long-chain quaternary amine. 
 
Material and methods 
 
      The experiment involved two groups (the control - C and the experimental-
E groups), each consisting of 15 lambs, and it was organized on a Mramor farm, 
near Niš. The experiment was realized in January-March 2011, in a period of 90 
days. Lambs were fed a meal consisting of sheep's milk, feed mixtures for fattening 
lambs and meadow hay. Lambs were reviewed when they were 60 days old. The 
experimental group lambs, unlike the control group ones, received the products 
based on natural zeolite. Min-a-Zel S mixture was fed to the lambs from birth to 
their 14th day of life, directly in the mouth once a day (before the morning feed) in 
the amount of 10 ml. They were given Min-a-Zel Plus from their 15th day of life, 
together with the feed mixture (0.5%). Lamb feeding was at will. Standard 
chemical analysis was conducted on the feed samples used (milk, feed mixtures 
and hay) at the beginning of experiment (Table 1). 
 
Table 1. Chemical composition of used feedstuffs (calculated to % of DM) 
 
Parameter Concentrate mixture Meadow hay Sheep milk 
Dry matter 88.55 89.50 18.10 
Proteins 15.10 11.20 6.05 
Ash 5.64 7.15 0.66 
Fat 2.70 2.05 7.30 
Cellulose 9.90 27.36 0.00 
NFE 54.90 41.70 4.20 
ME, MJ/kg 7.10 0.56 2.50 
Ca (g) 0.74 0.70 0.20 
P (g) 0.55 0.51 0.14 
Efficency of zeolite basis ... 
 
 
 
547 
 
      Body weight of lambs was measured at birth and then at 30, 60 and 90 
days of the age. Food consumption was monitored daily. Statistical analysis was 
done by the Statistica program, Version 6, StatSoft. Inc. (2003).  
 
Results and Discussion 
 
      The results of the achieved lamb weight (Table 2) indicate that the lambs 
which received Min-a-Zel S and Min-a-Zel Plus were more advanced. At 60 days 
old, lamb body weight, in accordance with the sequence of treatments C:E was 
17.79:18.91 kg, and the noticeable differences were statistically significant (P 
<0.05). At the end of the experiment (90 days old) lamb body weight was 
24,48:26,94 kg, and the noticeable differences were statistically highly significant 
(P <0.01). 
 
Table 2. Body weight of lambs , kg 
 
 
Control group 
 
Experimental group 
 
Age, day 
x Sd x Sd 
Index 
Control=100 
0 3.85 0.41 3.91 0.34 101.56 
30 11.93 1.55 12.20 1.42 102.26 
60 17.79 1.31 18.91* 1.43 106.29 
90 24.48 2.52 26.94** 1.79 110.05 
*P<0.05; **P<0.01 
      The average daily gain of lambs (Table 3) in their first month (C:E) was 
269:276 grams. In the experimental group it was 7 g or 2.60% higher (P> 0.05). In 
their second month, average daily gain was 195:224 grams,  with the established 
differences in favor of the experimental group, where the gain was higher than in 
the first month (29 g, or 14.87%), but it was not statistically significant (P> 0,05). 
Daily gain of lambs between their 61st and 90th day was 223:268 grams. The 
established differences of 45 g, or 20.18% were in favor of the experimental group 
and were statistically significant (P <0.05).  
Table 3. Daily gain og lambs, g 
 
 
Control group 
 
Experimental group 
 
Age, day 
x Sd x Sd 
Index 
Control=100 
0-30 269 3.50 276 4.06 102.60 
31-60 195 2.69 224 4.74 114.87 
61-90 223 5.50 268* 3.11 120.18 
0-90 229 2.68 256** 2.26 11.79 
*P<0.05; **P<0.01 
J. Stojković et al. 
 
 
 
548
      Throughout the experiment (0-90 days), the achieved gain was 229:256 
grams, and the  established differences of 27 g or 11.79% were in favor of the 
experimental group and  were statistically highly significant (P <0.01). Larger 
differences in growth rates, in favor of the experimental group, were created in the 
second and the third month after their birth, when the lambs acquired most of the 
nutrients from the concentrate feed that included Min-a-Zel Plus. 
     This was achieved through the features of this product of the new 
generation which allow it to bind a number of harmful substances (mycotoxins, 
radionuclides, heavy metals, ammonia, etc.) that enter the body through food, 
thereby preventing their negative impact. Some other authors have also determined 
the positive effects of zeolite, but with some minor differences in weight gain. 
Stojkovic et al. (2005) have added clinoptilolite to feed mixtures for lambs, thus 
achieving a daily gain of 167 to 196 grams. By using the same product (Min-a-Zel 
Plus) in fattening lambs,  in the amount of 0.2 percent and 0.5 percent of the feed 
mixtures, (Jašović et al. 2009,) have achieved the daily weight gain of 209 g and 
179g, where increasing the dosage of the product did not further affect the body 
weight gain. However, increasing the dosage of Min-a-Zel Plus, in this study, 
resulted in the elimination of zearalenone residues in the liver, kidneys and 
muscles, which is the real significance of these test results. By adding 0.2%, or 0.5 
percent of zeolite-based product, of the older generation, to the feed mixture for 
lambs, (Nikkhaha et al.  2001) found a slight increase in body weight of lambs 
(2%) and daily gain (3%), which is significantly less than the  determined growth 
increase of this particular study. Adamović et al. (2002)  have also determined that 
lambs, that were fed a diet supplemented with clinoptilolite, did achieve better 
results. Stojković et al. (1999) did not get positive results by adding zeolite to the 
feed mixtures for lambs, which is  probably the consequence of differences in the 
type of zeolite used.  
      Somewhat larger differences in weight gain in this experiment probably 
resulted from the combined effect of two zeolite-based products operating at 
different stages of lamb’s life. The effects of Min-a-Zel S mixture (used for the 
first 14 days) contributed to the achievement of better results in the first weeks of 
lambs’ lives, when the consumption of the mixture was insignificant. The positive 
influence of the Min-a-Zel Plus product was achieved between the 30th and the 
90th day, at a time when the lambs were accustomed to a greater intake of mixture 
which was supplemented by this product. 
      It was noticed that there was a slightly larger consumption of dry matter, 
protein and energy (Table 4) in the first 60 days in lambs of the experimental 
group, that were fed products based on zeolites. In the period from the 60th to the 
90th day, there was a difference found in the control group that amounted to a 
higher consumption of dry matter, protein and energy, which was not accompanied 
by an adequate increase of weight gain in lambs, that is, it did not contribute to the 
manifestation of the effects of compensatory growth. The efficiency of the 
Efficency of zeolite basis ... 
 
 
 
549 
utilization of dry matter, protein and energy during the experiment (0-90 day) was, 
except for the first month, noticeably better in lambs in the experimental group 
(Table 5). 
 
Table 4. Nutrient intake 
 
Nutrient Experimental 
period, days 
Control group Experimental 
group 
Index 
Control=100 
0-30 0.11 0.12 109.09 
31-60 0.49 0.51 104.06 
61-90 0.80 0.56 93.75 
 
 
Dry matter, kg 
0.90 0.49 0.48 97.96 
0-30 39 40 100.56 
31-60 90 94 104.40 
61-90 137 128 93.43 
 
 
Protein, g 
0-90 91 91 100,00 
0-30 1,60 1.62 101.25 
31-60 3,99 4.12 103.26 
61-90 6,15 5.79 94.15 
 
 
ME, MJ/kg 
0-90 4,09 4.09 100.00 
      The consumption of dry matter per kilogram of gain in the experimental 
group compared to the control group was reduced by 12.21 percent, and the 
consumption of protein and energy by 10.58 percent, which confirms that the 
mixtures used (Min-a-Zel S and Min-a-Zel Plus) had a positive influence on food 
utilization efficiency. In the control group, of lambs 15 to 20 days old, five of the 
lambs developed a diarrhea, which occurred again at 60 to 68 days of life. In the 
experimental group of lambs there was no noticeable form of diarrhea, which is 
likely due to the mixtures being previously tested.  
Table 5. Nutrient utilization 
 
Nutrient Experimental 
period, days 
Control group Experimental 
group 
Index 
Control=100 
0-30 0.41 0.43 104.88 
31-6 2.51 2.28 90.84 
61-90 3.58 2.80 78.21 
 
 
Dry matter, kg 
0-90 2.13 1.87 87.79 
0-30 145 145 100.00 
31-60 461 420 91.11 
61-90 614 478 77.85 
 
 
Protein, g 
0-90 397 369 89.42 
0-30 5.95 5.87 98.65 
31-60 20.46 18.39 89.88 
61-90 27.58 21.60 78.32 
 
 
ME, MJ/kg 
0-90 17.87 15.98 89.42 
J. Stojković et al. 
 
 
 
550
Conclusion 
Utilization of zeolite-based products (Min-a-Zel S and Min-a-Zel Plus) had 
a positive effect on growth, utilization and utilization efficiency of dry matter, 
protein and energy. Average daily gain was higher in the experimental group, by 
27 g or 11.79 percent. The consumption of dry matter per kilogram of gain, in the 
same group, was reduced by 12.21 percent, and of protein and energy by 10.58 
percent. Lower incidence of diarrhea was observed in the experimental group.  
Acknowledgements 
This study is part of the projects TR 31001 "An environmental approach 
and implementation of modern biotechnologies as a basis for the improvement of 
ruminant breeding technology", and  TR 31053 "Modern biotechnology solutions 
in the breeding and feeding of cattle sheep and goats for the production of valuable 
and safety food" financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and 
Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. 
 
Efikasnost primene preparata na bazi zeolita u obrocima 
jagnjadi u tovu 
 
J. Stojković, Z. Ilić, Slavica Ćirić, B. Ristanović, M. P. Petrović, Violeta 
Caro Petrović, V. Kurćubić 
 
Rezime 
 
 U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja o uticaju preparata na bazi 
prirodnog zeolita na proizvodne rezultate jagnjadi u tovu. Ogled je izveden na dve 
grupe jagnjadi (kontrolna – K i ogledna – O), po 20 jagnjadi u trajanju od 90 dana. 
Obrok se sastojao od ovčjeg mleka, krmne smeše za tov jagnjadi i livadskog sena. 
Iskorišćavanje preparata na bazi zeolita (Min-a-Zel S i Min-a-Zel Plus) pozitivno je 
uticalo na prirast, iskorišćavanje i efikasnost iskorišćavanja suve materije, proteina 
i energije. Prosečan dnevni prirast bio je veći kod jagnjadi ogledne grupe za 27 g ili 
11,79 posto. Utrošak suve materije za kilogram prirasta u istoj gupi, bio je manji za 
12,21 posto a proteina i energije za 10,58 posto. Manja učestalost javljanja proliva 
bila je kod jagnjadi ogledne gupe. 
 
  
Efficency of zeolite basis ... 
 
 
 
551 
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EFFICENCY OF ZEOLITE BASIS PREPARATION IN FATTENING LAMBS DIET

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EFFICENCY OF ZEOLITE BASIS PREPARATION IN FATTENING LAMBS DIET

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