Use of clinoptilolite in piglet diets as a substitute for Colistine

The effects of adding 2% of natural zeolite, containing a high percentage of clinoptilolite, to the diet of piglets was evaluated by monitoring growing performance and plasma parameters. The diet was also deprived of Colistine, an antibiotic usually added to piglet diets at subtherapeutic levels to prevent gastrointestinal pathology. Sixty-four piglets, weaned at 7.9 kg live weight, were divided in 2 groups of 32 each. The control group was given commercial piglet feedstuffs; for the treated group, 98% of the same feed, deprived of Colistine, was used, with the addition of 2% of a natural zeolite. The trial lasted 36 days. The piglets fed the control diet exhibited greater weight in the first three weeks, after which the differences were not significant. The average daily weight gain in the first week was higher in the control group (+37%; P<0.01) whereas at the end of the trial no differences were found. The feed intake did not show significant differences between groups and, as a result, the Feed Efficiency at the end of the trial was higher in the control group (532 vs. 491, P< 0.05). The plasmatic nitrogen parameters did not show significant differences between groups. Only in the first three weeks post-weaning the group fed the diet containing Colistine showed better ADG, subsequently it can be eliminated and clinoptilolite could favour growth.