Comparison of the Effects of Synthetic and Natural Zeolite on Laying Hen and Broiler Chicken Performance

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of zeolites on laying hens (Experiments 1 and 2) and broiler chickens (Experiment 3). Each experiment used corn and soybean meal-based practical diets. Experiment 1 was a 90-day trial and used 200 40-wk-old laying hens. The basal diet contained 2.75% calcium and .7% total phosphorus. The dietary treatments were the basal diet and the basal diet plus 1.5% synthetic zeolite (SZ; Ethacal). Experiment 2 was a 56-day trial and used 360 36-wk-old laying hens. The dietary treatments were .12, .22, .32, and .42% nonphytin phosphorus with and without 1.0% SZ and 1.0% natural zeolite (NZ; Zar-Min). All diets contained 3.5% calcium. Experiment 3 utilized 240 broiler cockerels from 1 to 16 days. The dietary treatments were two calcium levels (.65 and 1.0%) with and without 1.0% supplementary SZ and NZ. In Experiment 1, egg specific gravity was significantly increased with SZ supplementation. Egg weight and egg production were unaffected. Phytin phosphorus retention and plasma dialyzable phosphorus were significantly reduced by SZ. In Experiment 2, egg specific gravity was not affected by SZ or NZ. Egg weight, egg production, plasma dialyzable phosphorus, and the retention of phosphorus and phytin phosphorus were significantly reduced by SZ with the effect on egg weight and egg production being the most severe at the lower levels of dietary nonphytin phosphorus. Natural zeolite had no effect on egg weight, egg production, plasma calcium, plasma phosphorus, or on the retention of calcium, phosphorus, and phytin phosphorus. In Experiment 3, weight gain and percentage tibia bone ash were significantly reduced by SZ. The SZ had no effect on the incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia. Weight gain, feed efficiency, and the incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia were significantly reduced and the percentage bone ash significantly increased by 1.0% calcium. Natural zeolite significantly improved feed efficiency and had no effect on any other parameter measured.

Effect of nanosilicon dioxide on growth performance, egg quality, liver histopathology and concentration of calcium, phosphorus and silicon in egg, liver and bone in laying quails

“…Carlisle (1976) showed that percent of bone ash was not affected by Si supplemented diet. Our results were in concordance with Elliot and Edwards (1991) who reported that dietary Si supplementation has no effect on improvement and development of skeleton in broiler chickens.…”

Effect of Feeding Transcarpathian Zeolite on Gastrointestinal Morphology and Function in Broiler Chickens

“…Numerous reports indicate that zeolite is harmless as a component of mixed feed. It is tolerated well by the animals and improves the production characteristics of broilers (Elliot & Edwards, 1991, Trckova et al, 2004, Incharoen et al, 2010a. In our experiments, supplementation with zeolite has had significant (p>0.05) effects on productive parameters compared to the control (data unpublished).…”

Efficacy of Supplemental Natural Zeolite in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Dietary Calcium Deficiency

“…Among many properties attributed to zeolites, most typically related to their effectiveness in animal nutrition is their ability to selectively exchange a variety of cations without much major changes in their structure (Waldroup et al, 1984;Elliot and Edwards, 1991;Shariatmadari, 2008). Beneficial effects may also be attributed to the silicon (Si), aluminum (Al) or sodium (Na) content of zeolites because it has been established that these minerals can influence calcium (Ca)-metabolism, thus improving Ca and phosphorus (P) utilisation (Leach et al, 1990;Watkins and Southern, 1991).…”