ZEOLITE

Zeolite in the production of mixed fodders and premixes

Natural zeolite is used in the production of mixed fodders and premixes due to its unique properties.

In recent years the lost positions on the development of progressive non-traditional technologies and feed zeolite-containing additives in animal husbandry and poultry farming are recovering at an accelerating rate.

Natural zeolite contains up to 40 macro- and microelements, each of which is vitally important for farm animals and birds because they are usually not enough in feed. In nature animals and birds find and consume zeolites in the quantities necessary for them by themselves. It has been established that the zeolite needs for preventing gastrointestinal diseases, cleanse the body from toxins and from accumulated by-products of metabolism per year:

• for cattle up to 95 kg,
• for pigs up to 24 kg,
• for poultry up to 1.8 kg (per head), which on average is 3-5% of the amount of total feed consumed.

The recommended amount of zeolites as a mineral additive contributes to increasing in the daily average weight gain, increasing in egg production, a reduction in fodder consumption per unit of production, a reduction in the young animals waste, and the prolongation and enhancement of the reproductive functions of animals and birds. All this turned out to be possible due to the sorption and cation exchange properties of the zeolite, consisting in removing ammonia nitrogen, heavy metals, toxins from the body, and assimilating the necessary elements by the body.

During developing the formulation of mineral-vitamin premixes, the choice of the filler is given special attention, since the effectiveness of the premix itself depends on it. The filler base should be compatible with micro-ingrients, have good flowability, small size, which in other turn should not form dust, have a rough surface that is capable of retaining micro-ingridients, and the resulting composition should be well mixed with fodder and feed mixtures under production conditions.

Zeolite meets all submitted to the filler premix requirements in full. Zeolite has adsorbing, ion-exchange and prolonging properties, which qualitatively distinguishes it from bran and allows to improve the quality parameters of the products.

In nature, there are about 50 types of zeolite-containing rocks, but not all of them are equally useful for use in the production of mixed fodders, premixes and in the feeding of farm animals and poultry.

The main parameter determining the possibility of using zeolites in the production of mixed fodders and premixes is the content of clinoptilolite — the main zeolite mineral and the increased content of sodium, potassium and calcium.

In the production of mixed fodders and premixes the use of zeolite with a content of clinoptilolite of more than 60% ensures:

• Much better ion-exchange, molecular sieve and catalytic properties for the assimilation of nitrogen and other elements by the organism of the animal, which is reflected by a mass of positive effects, such as an increase in the daily average weight gain, an increase in egg production, a reduction in feed unit cost, an prolongation and an increase in the productive functions of animals and birds etc.;
• Large sorption activity - more effectively neutralize toxins of different nature, in particular mycotoxins, preventing the occurrence of toxidrome in all species of animals and poultry. Thus, they can be used not only as additives in the production of mixed fodders and premixes, but also as a curative and prophylactic agent;
• High quality - over 92% of production corresponds to the declared fractionality, which in turn significantly reduces product losses in the production of mixed fodders and premixes, as well as when used as a mineral supplement in animal and poultry rations;
• Exceptionally uniform mixing in the production of mixed fodders and premixes, exclusion of the separation of ingredients during transportation, packaging and distribution, stability of the composition of compound feeds with high preservation of vitamins and trace elements, including even such as selenium, which is highly volatile and rapidly lost in standard premixes.

Zeolite is also actively used in the production of feed for pets, birds and fish. One of the world leaders in the industry - the company "ROYAL CANIN" actively uses zeolite in its recipes.