In feed trials the supplementation of zeolite resulted in a reduction in the amount of feed consumed per kilogram of weight gain. A reduction of about 10% was recorded

Urea Rich Diets in Rumens
The benefit of adding urea to the diet is that it is less expensive than feeding protein nitrogen. One kilogram of urea contains as much nitrogen as five kilograms of high protein feed such as soybean oil meal. However high feed rates of urea result in the generation of large amounts of ammonia that are adsorbed into the blood and create a change in the pH of the blood. This creates the following toxic symptoms:

• Excess Ammonia Bloat
• Laboured Breathing as the animal tries to correct the blood pH by altering its carbon dioxide levels.
•  Lack of Coordination as the brain is effected.
  
  The Role of Zeolite in the Diet
  When zeolite is fed to the animal it adsorbs much of the excess ammonia and acts like a buffer slowly releases the nitrogen at a rate the animal can convert it to amino acids and protein.

During rumination and mastication saliva, which contains sodium, replaces the ammonium ions in the zeolite resulting in the slow release of the un-reacted ammonia for conversion.

Zeolite also provides a reduction of dicalcium phosphate by up to 50% therefore providing a health benefit and pollution prevention. Presently, the most common approach to cutting dicalcium phoshate is to feed ‘phytase’.

Reported Experimental Results
Studies have shown that clinoptilolite added to the feed of young calves improved their growth rate by stimulating their appetites and decreasing the incidence of scours and diarrhea.

Five-percent zeolite was added to a normal grass and hay diet of 10 and 184 day old heifer calves over a 180 day period. The animals on the zeolite supplemented diets gained 20% more weight on average than those in the control diet. Although the test calves consumed more feed, the feeding costs per kilogram weight gained were significantly less than the control group. The test animals’ manure contained less water and fewer particles of undigested solids. The overall health of the test animals was also notably better than the control group.

Another study was done using 2% clinoptilolite, 72% digestible nutrients and 11% crude protein over a 329 day period. This study showed the final weights between the experimental test group (using zeolite) and control group were similar, however, the experimental test group steers showed larger body dimensions and reportedly dressed out to give higher quality meat. These differences were reflected in higher prices obtained for the test animals and a 20% greater profit.

Using Zeolite instead of Sodium Bicarbonate
The use of zeolite as a replacement for sodium bicarbonate as a rumen buffer has been known for years. Some producers of zeolite have also included up to 50% by weight of dolomite (calcium-magnesium carbonate) with the zeolite. The advantages of using zeolite over sodium bicarbonate include better economics, odour control, increased feed efficiency, better retention of the nitrogen in the fertilizer, less sodium delivered to the pasture, less scours, and possible mico-toxin binding.

The introduction of zeolite in feed is the most effective means of odour control in poultry operations. Many farms have eliminated most of their odour and realized greater animal health, welfare, and production by feeding zeolite between ½ to 2% of the total ration (by weight).

A thin layer of zeolite should be applied to the bedding area or to the predominant manure field.

Benefits
Increased solubility of phosphate in birds. The zeolite exchanges the calcium from dicalcium phosphate and makes the phosphate more soluble and better utilized for bones. The dicalcium phosphate in the feed may be reduced by 50% after testing

Increased number of gradable eggs
Inceased shell thickness
Increase egg production
Reduced foot pad burns from phosphorus
Lowered mortality
Increased nitrogen content of manure and compost.
Egg wash water can be recycled after filtration in zeolite

Using zeolite found that Leghorn chickens required less food and water and still gained as much weight in a 2-week trial as birds receiving a control diet. Feed efficiency values (FEV) were markedly higher at all levels of zeolite substitution. Feedstuffs containing zeolite gave rise to efficiencies more than 20 percent greater than those of normal rations (Table 1). The droppings of groups receiving zeolite diets contained up to 25 percent less moisture than those of control groups.

In addition to a feed-efficiency increase, the presence of zeolite in the diet appears to have had a favorable effect on the mortality of the birds.

Tests were carried out on 48-day-old Leghorns over a 14-day period, 30 birds/group. Normal rations consisted of 16.5% crude Protein and 66% digestible nutrients.

Aflatoxin Control in Poultry
A research study reveals zeolite to be effective and more than offsets the detrimental effects of feeding aflatoxin contaminated feed. Broilers fed 20 pounds of zeolite per ton (1%) of finished feed containing 115 ppm of aflatoxin showed improved feed conversion by 5.8 points and the body weight by 5.3 points versus the 115 ppm afatoxin control feed. Broilers fed the zeolite rations containing 115 ppm afltoxin had a lower feed conversion by 1.1 points and higher body weight by 3.7 points than the broilers fed rations containing no zeolite and no aflatoxin.

Horse Stable Ground Cover
Well ventilated horse stables can be draughty, enclosed ones can be a little strong on the nose. We have a combination of granulated and powder product to be mixed into the ground cover to adsorb urea keeping the smell out of the air. Focus on the corners and areas where the horses prefer to urinate.

This product physically removes the urea, locking it up and preventing it from evaporating into the air. The powder can be removed along with soiled ground cover and burried or ploughed in. It makes a great fertilizer.

Training Pool Filter
To keep the water in the training pool clean you need one of the best filtration systems available. Traditional systems designed for domestic swimming pools are just not able to cope with the enormous dirt loads placed upon them by the horses. You need a superior filter media and "ZEOSAND" has done and can do the job. Use a traditional sand filter sized for your body of water, perhaps go up a size or two, and use "ZEOSAND" inplace of the usual quartz sand. Ensure the pump flowrate is adequate and run the pump overnight to keep the water clean.