Effect of natural zeolite on the growth, productive performance and serum parameters of pigs

Bulmaro Méndez-Argüello, Santa Dolores Carreño-Ruíz, Rubén Monroy-Hernández, Israel Martínez-Cruz, Juan Carlos Torres-Ramírez, Froylan Rosales-Martínez

Abstract


Background: In recent years, intensive animal production has negatively contributed to environmental pollution, primarily through substantial emissions of greenhouse gases. Objective: To determine the effect of including 0, 3, and 6 % clinoptilolite zeolite in the diet on productive performance, blood parameters, and nitrogen reduction in the feces of pigs. Methodology: The trial was conducted using a completely randomized block design with three treatments (0, 3, and 6 % zeolite in the diet, respectively) and three replicates per treatment. The experimental unit was the pen containing six animals (three castrated males and three females), resulting in nine pens (3 blocks × 3 replicates) with a total of 54 pigs. Blocks were formed to group animals with homogeneous initial conditions (initial body weight (BW), age, and physical location). The experiment was carried out in three production phases: starter (11 ± 2 kg BW), grower (30 ± 2 kg BW), and finisher (60 ± 2 kg BW), concluding with final weights of 95.0 ± 5.0 kg. The study lasted 116 days, plus 15 days for adaptation to handling and diet. Diets differed in crude protein content according to each production stage. Results: No effects were observed on productive performance variables; however, clinoptilolite zeolite (ZC) affected blood concentrations of total proteins (p ≤ 0.01) and urea (p ≤ 0.01) during the grower and finisher phases. Additionally, fecal N concentration decreased in all production stages. Implications: ZC can improve protein metabolism and reduce nitrogen excretion without compromising productivity, providing environmental benefits. Conclusions: The inclusion of 3 and 6 % ZC did not influence the productive performance of the animals in any of the three evaluated phases. Nevertheless, its supplementation increased blood total protein concentration during the grower stage and reduced urea levels during the finisher phase. Moreover, ZC supplementation significantly decreased fecal nitrogen content across all production stages.

Keywords


Food; diets; protein metabolism; animal nutrition; environmental pollution.

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v29i1.63112

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6311

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