Zeolite (clinoptilolite) as feed additive to reduce manure mineral content

Effect of orange pulp with or without zeolite on productive performance, nitrogen utilization, and antioxidative status of growing rabbits

The current study was designed to investigate the effect of dried orange pulp inclusion (OP diet), natural zeolite addition (Z diet), or both (OPZ diet) compared to control (CON diet) on digestibility, growth performance, nitrogen utilization, blood biochemical, antioxidative status, and cecum microbiota of growing rabbits. Seventy-two V-line male rabbits (6 weeks old) were divided into 4 balanced experimental groups. Results showed that administration of dried orange pulp or zeolite especially the OPZ diet significantly improved nutrient digestibility and nutritive values. Rabbits fed the experimental diets (OP, Z, or OPZ) recorded significantly higher values of average daily gain, N-retention, and N-balance compared with those fed the CON diet. Data on blood biochemical, showed non-significant differences in globulin concentrations, and significant decreases in levels of cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoproteins), triglycerides, and MDA (malondialdehyde) as an antioxidant biomarker with OP, Z, or OPZ diets. Moreover, the incorporation of orange pulp or zeolite in diets significantly decreased the cecal count of E. coli, with no significant difference in total bacterial count among the experimental groups. It could be concluded that a combination between dried orange pulp and natural zeolite in the diet can enhance the growth performance, antioxidant and health status of rabbits.

Feeding or pen surface application of clinoptilolite with different particle sizes: impact on nitrogen utilization and manure ammonia emissions in feedlot cattle

This study investigated the effects of feeding clinoptilolite (CLN; 2.5% of diet dry matter) with a particle size of either 30- or 400-µm on ruminal fermentation characteristics, measures of nitrogen (N) utilization, and manure ammonia-N (NH3) emissions in feedlot cattle. The impact of directly applying 30- or 400-µm CLN to the pen surface (2,250 kg/ha) on manure NH3-N emissions was also evaluated. Six beef heifers were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Dietary treatments were 1) finishing ration with no supplement (CON), 2) CON + 30-µm CLN (CLN-30), and 3) CON + 400-µm CL (CLN-400). Intake was measured daily. To evaluate fermentation characteristics, ruminal fluid was collected on day 19. Indwelling pH loggers were used to measure ruminal pH from days 15 to 21. Blood was collected 3-h post-feeding on day 21 for metabolite analysis. Fecal grab and urine spot samples were also collected from days 19 to 21 to measure nutrient digestibility, route of N excretion, and in vitro NH3 emissions. There was no diet effect (P ≥ 0.12) on nutrient intake and apparent total tract digestibility, and ruminal short-chain fatty acid profile and pH. Ruminal NH3 concentration, which was lower (P = 0.04) for CLN-30 than CON heifers, did not differ between CON and CLN-400 heifers. Although there was no diet effect (P = 0.50) on plasma urea-N (PUN) concentration, proportion of urea-N excreted in urine was lower (P = 0.01) for CLN-30 than CON and CLN-400 heifers. Urinary NH3-N excretion, which was greater (P ≤ 0.04) for CLN-400 than CON heifers, did not differ between CLN-30 and CLN-400 heifers. Feeding CLN also increased (P ≤ 0.02) fecal excretion of potassium (K) and iron (Fe) and reduced (P = 0.01) urinary excretion of calcium (Ca). There was a treatment × time interaction (P = 0.01) for NH3 emission rate, which was greatest within the first 36 h of incubation and was lower for manure from CLN-400 compared to CON and CLN-30 heifers and pen surface application treatments. Cumulative NH3 emissions were lower (P < 0.01) for manure from CLN-400 compared to CON and CLN-30 heifers and the pen surface application treatments. Although surface application was ineffective, feeding 400-µm CLN to finishing cattle could result in a beneficial decrease in manure NH3 emissions. However, changes in fecal and urine excretion of minerals like K and Ca, which suggest a decrease in bioavailability, need to be considered when feeding CLN in finishing cattle diets.

Sustainable Soil Management: Effects of Clinoptilolite and Organic Compost Soil Application on Eco-Physiology, Quercitin, and Hydroxylated, Methoxylated Anthocyanins on Vitis vinifera

Climate change and compostinS1g methods have an important junction on the phenological and ripening grapevine phases. Moreover, the optimization of these composting methods in closed-loop corporate chains can skillfully address the waste problem (pomace, stalks, and pruning residues) in viticultural areas. Owing to the ongoing global warming, in many wine-growing regions, there has been unbalanced ripening, with tricky harvests. Excessive temperatures in fact impoverish the anthocyanin amount of the must while the serious water deficits do not allow a correct development of the berry, stopping its growth processes. This experiment was created to improve the soil management and the quality of the grapes, through the application of a new land conditioner (Zeowine) to the soil, derived from the compost processes of industrial wine, waste, and zeolite. Three treatments on a Sangiovese vineyard were conducted: Zeowine (ZW) (30 tons per ha), Zeolite (Z) (10 tons per ha), and Compost (C) (20 tons per ha). During the two seasons (2021-2022), measurements were made of single-leaf gas exchange and leaf midday water potential, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence. In addition, the parameters of plant yield, yeast assimilable nitrogen, technological maturity, fractionation of anthocyanins (Cyanidin-3-glucoside, Delphinidin-3-glucoside, Malvidin-3-acetylglucoside, Malvidin-3-cumarylglucoside, Malvidin-3-glucoside, Peonidin-3-acetylglucoside, Peonidin-3-cumarylglucoside, Peonidin-3-glucoside, and Petunidin-3-glucoside), Caffeic Acid, Coumaric Acid, Gallic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, Quercetin-3-O-glucoside, Quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and Quercetin-3-O-glucuronide were analyzed. The Zeowine and zeolite showed less negative water potential, higher photosynthesis, and lower leaf temperature. Furthermore, they showed higher levels of anthocyanin accumulation and a lower level of quercetin. Finally, the interaction of the beneficial results of Zeowine (soil and grapevines) was evidenced by the embellishment of the nutritional and water efficiency, the minimizing of the need for fertilizers, the closure of the production cycle of waste material from the supply chain, and the improvement of the quality of the wines.

Effects of supplemental different clay minerals in broiler chickens under cyclic heat stress

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of supplementing clay minerals and organic chromium in feed on broiler chicken under heat stress (HS). A total of 90 one-day-old broiler chicken (Arbor Acres) with an initial body weight of 45.0 ± 0.2 g were assigned to five treatment groups (six replications, three birds each cage): 1) NC group, basal diet under room temperature environment; 2) PC group, basal diet under high temperature (HT) environment; 3) ILT group, basal diet + 1% illite + HT; 4) ZLT group, basal diet + 1% zeolite + HT; 5) OC group, basal diet + 400 ppb/kg organic chromium + HT. The ILT and ZLT groups had significantly higher body weight than the PC group in 4 weeks. Apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy was increased in the ILT, ZLT, and OC groups compared to the PC group. The NC group had lower foot-pad dermatitis score than other groups. Escherichia coli population in the cecum and feces was decreased in the ZLT group than in the PC group. Lactobacillus in cecum and feces was significantly increased in the ZLT group than in the PC group. Regarding blood profiles, blood cortisol was decreased in the NC and ILT groups compared to the PC group. Water holding capacity and pH were increased in the ZLT group than the PC group. In conclusion, according to the results of growth performance, nutrients digestibility, bacteria counts, and meat characteristics, supplementation of the ZLT in broiler diet can alleviate HS.

Nutrient intake, digestibility, growth performance, and carcass of sheep fed urea-based diet supplemented with natural clinoptilolite

Forty-five male Barki lambs (30.62 ± 4.54 kg BW) were allocated into three treatments designed to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal nitrogen with urea supplemented with natural clinoptilolite on performance and carcass characteristics. Lambs were randomly assigned to nine pens blocked according to age and initial BW into three blocks of three pens each assigned to one of three treatments: Control diet: animals received only a basal diet ad libitum, UR diet: urea replaced 68% of SBM nitrogen in the control diet or UR-Z diet: UR diet supplemented with 20-g zeolite for 141 days. Lambs fed on UR-Z diet increased (p < 0.05) total intakes of DM, crude protein digestibility, ADG, FCR, blood glucose and cholesterol concentration. Lambs fed on UR-Z diet decreased (p < 0.05) ruminal NH3 -N concentration compared to the UR diet. Carcasses from lambs fed on UR diet had greater (p < 0.05) ether extract content, fat thickness, meat yellowness and saturation attributes than those fed on UR-Z and control diets. Sheep fed on UR-Z diet made higher economic profit than UR and control diets. Partial replacement of soybean meal with urea supplemented with zeolite seemed to be economically efficient, with comparable performance and carcass attributes in growing lambs diet.

Zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite improves tissue zinc accumulation in laying hens by enhancing zinc transporter gene mRNA abundance

A study was conducted to investigate effects of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (ZnCP), as an alternative for zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), on laying performance, tissue Zn accumulation and Zn transporter genes expression in laying hens. Hy-Line Brown laying hens were allocated to three treatments, each of which had six replicates with 15 hens per replicate, receiving basal diet supplemented with ZnSO4 (control, 80 mg Zn/kg diet), 0.23% ZnCP (40.25 mg Zn/kg diet) and 0.46% ZnCP (80.50 mg Zn/kg diet) for 8 weeks, respectively. Compared with control, hens fed diet containing 0.23% ZnCP had similar Zn content in measured tissues (P > 0.05). A higher ZnCP inclusion (0.46%) enhanced Zn accumulation in liver (P < 0.05) and pancreas (P < 0.05). In addition, ZnCP inclusion increased blood iron (Fe) content (P < 0.05). ZnCP supplementation enhanced jejunal metallothionein-4 (MT-4) messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance (P < 0.05). ZnCP inclusion at a higher level (0.46%) increased mRNA expression of MT-4 in pancreas (P < 0.05) and zinc transporter-1 (ZnT-1) in jejunum (P < 0.05). The highest ZnT-2 mRNA abundance in jejunum was found in hens fed 0.23% ZnCP inclusion diet (P < 0.05). The results indicated that ZnCP reached a higher bioavailability as compared with ZnSO4 as evidenced by enhanced tissue Zn accumulation and Zn transporter genes expression.

Effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite on growth performance, nutrient retention, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal function of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (Zn-ZCP) on performance, growth performance, nutrient retention, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal function in broiler chickens. A total of 180 1-day-old Arbor Acres chickens were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates of ten birds for a 21-day feeding period. Birds were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (29.1 mg of Zn per kilogram of diet) without supplemental zinc (control) or the same diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg zinc from ZnSO4 or Zn-ZCP. Zn-ZCP and ZnSO4 treatments had lower feed: gain ratio than that of control group (P < 0.05). Addition of Zn-ZCP increased (P < 0.05) the apparent retention of organic matter and ether extract during 14-17 days, and increased (P < 0.05) pancreatic lipase activity at 14 and 21 days as well as amylase activity at 21 days. Addition of Zn-ZCP increased the villus heights and villus height to crypt depth ratio at the duodenal (P < 0.05) and jejunal (P < 0.05) of broilers at 14 days. Broilers fed the diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP had higher villus heights and villus height to crypt depth ratio of duodenum (P < 0.05) and jejunum (P < 0.05) than those fed with control diet on day 21. Zn-ZCP treatment increased (P < 0.05) IgG and sIgA concentrations in jejunum at 21 days. The results indicated that Zn-ZCP supplementation which might have modified the release of Zn further down in the intestinal tract with the controlled-release characteristic, modulated digestive enzyme activities and intestinal structure and function, increased nutrient retention, and improved feed efficiency.

Palladium nanoparticles supported on natural nanozeolite clinoptilolite as a catalyst for ligand and copper-free C–C and C–O cross coupling reactions in aqueous medium

Pd⁰-nanoparticles supported on natural nanozeolite were synthesized and applied as a catalyst for the Sonogashira and Ullmann condensation coupling reactions.