EFFECT OF IN-FEED INCLUSION OF A NATURAL ZEOLITE (CLINOPTILOLITE) ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF PIGS

摘要

Zeolites are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicate natural clays, considered to be effective in promoting growth when they are used as a feed additive. Although the exact functions of zeolites are not yet well known, it seems that their absorbance capacity and the ability to bind noxious compounds during their transit through the gastrointestinal tract, are responsible for their positive effect (1,2). The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a supplemented natural clinoptilolite (CL1) on the biochemical and hematological indexes of pigs.