Dietary Effect of Artificial Zeolite on Performance, Immunity, Faecal Microflora Concentration and Noxious Gas Emissions in Pigs

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredients and chemical compositions of experimental diet.

	Grower, day 1 to 60	Finisher, day 60 to 90
Ingredients, % fed basis
Yellow corn	45.15	45.15
Wheat	23.00	25.00
Wheat bran	4.00	4.00
Soybean meal	18.00	16.00
Limestone	0.98	0.78
Calcium phosphate	1.10	1.10
Salt	0.25	0.25
Vit-min. premix^°	0.55	0.55
Animal fat	2.50	2.50
Molasses	4.30	4.50
L-Lysine	0.17	0.17
Chemical composition^#
ME, kcal/kg	3265.00	3265.00
Crude protein, % DM	18.00	16.00
Calcium, % DM	0.70	0.50
Available phosphorus, % DM	0.55	0.45
Lysine, % DM	0.95	0.80
Methionine, % DM	0.30	0.27

ME, metabolizable energy; DM, dry matter.

°Premix provided the following nutrients per kg of diet: vitamin A, 9,000,000 U; vitamin D₃, 2,100,000 U; vitamin E, 15,000 U; vitamin K, 2000 mg; vitamin B₁, 1500 mg; vitamin B₂, 4000 mg; vitamin B₆, 3000 mg; vitamin B₁₂, 15 mg; calcium pantothenate, 8500 mg; niacin, 20,000 mg; biotin, 110 mg; folic acid, 600 mg; Co, 300 mg; Cu, 3500 mg; Mn, 55,000 mg; Zn, 40,000 mg; I, 600 mg; Se, 130 mg.

^#Calculated values, based on National Research Council (1998) tabular values.

Table 2. Effect of artificial zeolite on growth performance of growing to finishing pigs over 90 days.

	Treatment		Pooled SE	P
	Control	Zeolite 0.5%
ADG, kg
Months 0-1	1.00	0.96	0.22	0.90
Months 1-2	0.96	0.96	0.04	0.95
Months 2-3	0.66	0.74	0.07	0.45
Months 0-3	0.88	0.89	0.01	0.42
ADFI, kg DM
Months 0-1	2.05	2.05	0.11	0.98
Months 1-2	3.00	3.07	0.11	0.66
Months 2-3	3.18	3.10	0.07	0.49
Months 0-3	2.74	2.74	0.04	1.00
Gain:feed, kg gain/kg DMI
Months 0-1	0.50	0.45	0.11	0.78
Months 1-2	0.32	0.32	0.01	1.00
Months 2-3	0.21	0.24	0.03	0.41
Months 0-3	0.32	0.32	0.01	0.72

ADG, average daily gain; ADFI, average daily feed intake; DM, dry matter; DMI, dry matter intake. Data are the mean values of four replicate groups with six pigs per replication (n=24). Significant difference (P<0.05); tendency (P<0.10).

Table 3. Effect of artificial zeolite on serum immunoglobulin level of growing to finishing pigs.

	Pigs	Treatment		Pooled SE	P
		Control	Zeolite 0.5%
IgM, mg/mL	Growing	11.94	13.27	1.43	0.550
Finishing	32.54	33.77	1.84	0.661
IgG, mg/mL	Growing	88.05	101.00	1.57	0.004
Finishing	143.74	152.26	2.04	0.042
IgA, mg/mL	Growing	6.22	6.42	0.98	0.894
Finishing	7.83	8.42	1.13	0.730

IgM, immunoglobulin M; IgG, immunoglobulin G; IgA, immunoglobulin A. Data are the mean values of four replicate groups with three pigs per replication (n=12). Significant difference, P<0.05; tendency, P<0.10.

Table 4. Effect of artificial zeolite on carcass quality, muscle composition (g per 100 g) and cholesterol content (mg per 100 g) of growing to finishing pigs.

	Treatments		Pooled SE	P
	Control	Zeolite 0.5%
Carcass quality
Carcass quality grade^°	1.95	2.00	0.06	0.614
Conformation grade^#	2.48	2.52	0.08	0.750
Muscle composition
Moisture	71.32	70.23	2.49	0.770
Crude protein	24.82	26.06	1.98	0.680
Crude fat	2.68	2.55	0.09	0.390
Crude ash	1.18	1.16	0.06	0.800
Cholesterol	81.57	85.17	1.94	0.260

°Grade 1+=3; grade 1=2; grade 2=1 (according to KAPE, 2010)

^#grade A=3; grade B=2; grade C=1. Data are the means of four replicate groups with three samples per replication (n=12). Significant difference, P<0.05; tendency, P<0.10.

Table 5. Effect of artificial zeolite on faecal microflora concentration of growing-finishing pigs (Log10 cfu/g).

	Pigs	Treatment		Pooled SE	P
		Control	Zeolite 0.5%
Yeast	Growing	7.10	6.68	0.73	0.710
Finishing	5.77	5.71	0.75	0.957
Lactobacillus spp.	Growing	8.14	9.06	0.68	0.394
Finishing	8.49	8.97	1.22	0.798
Bacillus spp.	Growing	6.80	4.99	0.45	0.045
Finishing	6.25	6.30	0.80	0.965
E. coli	Growing	5.27	4.25	0.18	0.022
Finishing	5.87	4.18	0.16	0.002

Data are the means of four replicate groups with three samples per replication (n=12). Significant difference, P<0.05; tendency, P<0.10.

Table 6. Effect of artificial zeolite on faecal noxious gas emission (ppm) of growing to finishing pigs.

	Treatment		Pooled SE	P
	Control	Zeolite 0.5%
NH3	61.00	20.67	3.61	0.002
SO2	0.46	0.33	0.02	0.009
H2S	4.50	2.88	0.30	0.020

Data are the means of four replicate groups with three samples per replication (n=12). Significant difference, P<0.05; tendency, P<0.10.

National Research Council, 1998. Nutrient requirement of pigs, 10th ed. National Research Council Academy Press. Washington, DC, USA.

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KAPE, 2010. The pork carcass grading. Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation, Gunposi, Gyungki-do, South Korea. Available from: http://www.ekape.or.kr/view/eng/system/pork.asp

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