Z-Olite Cow Z-Olite Logo™
 address: 148 N 100 E
Smithfield UT 84335
phone: 435.563.8118
web: www.z-oliteinc.com


Z-Olite: Cattle Feed
DESCRIPTION

APPLICATIONS

FEED This is the most effective point of addition. Many farms have eliminated most of their odor and realized greater animal health, welfare, and production by feeding between ˝ to 2% Z-Olite of the total ration on a weight basis. A 14 x 40 or -40 mesh product should be fed in mash or a -100 mesh should be used to pelletize supplements.

BEDDING AREA A thin layer should be applied to the bedding area or to the area that receives the manure each time it is cleaned out.

COMPOST OR DRY STACKED MANURE The compost or dry stacked manure should be "top dressed" with a thin layer of Z-Olite after it is turned or after the addition of a new layer of manure is added. Alternatively, a layer of Z-Olite should be placed in the area of the barn receiving the fresh manure. Composting is an important process that:

  1. converts organically bound nitrogen that is not plant accessible to ammonium hydroxide, ammonium nitrate, and ammonia that are plant accessible,
  2. kills the pathogens,
  3. reduces or eliminates the odor,
  4. dries the manure,
  5. reduces the flies, and
  6. kills weed seeds.

Composting should be conducted "in vessel" to prevent groundwater and air pollution. Wash down operations are no longer environmentally acceptable due to groundwater pollution of nitrates, nitrites, and hydrogen sulfide.

BENEFITS

  • INCREASED NPN FOR RUMINANTS
    • Many animals such as hogs and poultry need preformed protein from plants and animals. Ruminant animals such as dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, etc have microorganisms in their first stomach (rumen) that make protein from simple nitrogen compounds. They convert the non-protein nitrogen (NPN) to ammonia and then converts the ammonia to amino acids, which are then converted to proteins.

    The benefit of adding NPN (primarily urea) is that it is less expensive than feeding protein nitrogen. One pound of urea contains as much nitrogen as five pounds of high protein feed such as soybean oil meal. High feed rates of NPN result in the generation of large amounts of ammonia that are adsorbed into the blood and create a change in the acid-base balance of the blood. This creates the following toxic symptoms:

  • "Bloat" from excess ammonia.
  • "Labored Breathing" This occurs when the animal tries to correct the acid-base imbalance by adjusting blood carbon dioxide levels.
  • "Lack of Coordination" When the electrolyte imbalance effects the brain of the animal.

    • When Z-Olite is fed to the animal it adsorbs much of the ammonia generated from the NPN. It acts as a reservoir and slow release mechanism for the nitrogen. This can allow the feeding of up to 4 to 6 times more NPN.

    During rumination, a portion of the contents of the first stomach is returned to the mouth for additional chewing and saliva additions. Saliva introduced during mastication contains sodium which replaces the ammonium. This results in the slow release of the un-reacted ammonia which is then converted to protein amino acids by the microorganisms.

  • Z-Olite ADDS VALUE TO MANURE AND COMPOST
    • The introduction of Z-Olite with the manure, compost, or lagoon water to the soil has the added benefit of increasing water retention, holding the nitrogen and other micro-nutrients in the growth zone, providing a medium for the future capture of nitrogen, increasing the ion exchange capacity of the soil, provides potassium and calcium, and enhancing infiltration and aeration of the soil. Z-Olite is a value added soil amendment that should be advertised.

  • INCREASED ANIMAL WELFARE
    • Greater animal health creates better animal welfare, better products, greater production, and lessens the usage of antibiotics and medicines that may have lasting adverse effects to the human population.

  • GROUNDWATER POLLUTION CONTROL
    • Fixing the nitrogen and various heavy metals reduces the pollution of the groundwater.

  • ODOR CONTROL
    • Increasing legislation is mandating the control of odor. The most effective way to control odor is to feed Z-Olite in quantities of ˝% to 2% of the total ration. The Z-Olite exchanges the ammonium cation in the alimentary track before it gases to ammonia and creates odor.

  • MYCOTOXIN BINDING
    • The use of Z-Olite and other zeolites as myco-toxin binders is not recognized by the USDA in the United States. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of zeolites as myco-toxin binders is recognized in many other countries. Literature and studies are pervasive in the United States.

  • REDUCED SCOURS
    • Zeolites have been widely used for the control of scours. The belief is that the zeolites absorb excess moisture in the digestive tract. However, there is current thinking that an additional mechanism is that trace transition metals in the zeolite may act as effective biocides that kill the bacteria causing the scours.

  • REDUCED MORTALITY
    • Continuous feeding of zeolite often results in greater animal longevity.

  • IMPROVED FEED CONVERSION AND PRODUCTIVITY
    • Feeding zeolite typically results in greater feed conversion. Animals gain faster. Dairy cows provide more milk. Improved indexing (meat quality) has been reported with beef cattle. This may result from better ammonia management.

  • BETTER PHOSPHATE UTILIZATION
    • Feeding zeolite exchanges the calcium in dicalcium phosphate and other phosphates which increases the solubility and utilization of phosphate in the animals bones. It may allow up to a 50% reduction in the feed ration of dicalcium phosphate.

  • FLOW AGENT/ANTI CAKING AGENT
    • Z-Olite is a flow agent and anti-caking agent in urea and other oil feed ingredients.

  • INCREASED PELLET DURABILITY FOR FEED PELLETS
    • Z-Olite allows the operation of pellet mills at higher temperatures that reduces friction and increases production. The higher temperature results in better gelatinization and a more durable pellet.

  • REDUCED NECESSITY FOR ANTIBIOTICS
    • The use of zeolite in animal feed increases gain and production and reduces or eliminates the need for antibiotics. In Europe where zeolite is commonly fed, antibiotics are not used.

  • ACTS AS A BUFFER IN THE RUMEN
    • Reduces acidosis especially when pellets are fed where the fiber has been partially destroyed.

  • INCREASED PRODUCTION FROM HEALTHIER COWS
    • Less ammonia gas in the barn decreases respiratory problems, results in less diarrhea, could be effective as a myco-toxin binder (not recommended in the United States and Canada), results in lower mortality rates, lower food conversion rates, and less foot rot. It results in healthier cows that produce more milk when they are young and for a longer time when they are older.

  • INCREASED NITROGEN CONTENT OF MANURE AND COMPOST
    • Z-Olite increases and fixes the nitrogen in the manure and compost so that it is plant accessible but not water-soluble. Many of the fields that have been repeatedly fertilized with cow manure now have phosphate problems. This is a result of not enough nitrogen to balance the plant uptake of the phosphate. The problem can be solved by increasing the nitrogen content of the manure, compost, or lagoon water.


    USE OF ZEOLITES IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN SLOVAKIA: A REVIEW
    P. BARTKO, H. SEIDEL, and G. KOVAČ
    University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice 04181, Slovakia

    Experimental:

    Calves: Natural zeolite was used in the therapy and prevention of diarrhea in calves on five farms. The zeolite (CEC = 0.82-0.85 meq/g, particle size = <0.315mm) was administered as follows: During weaning of calves: 5% zeolite in dry matter.

    Table 2. Results of preventive administration (calves).
    Farm Experimental Control

    No. of calves
    Losses No.  (%)
    Diarrhea No. (%)

    No. of calves
    Losses No.  (%)
    Diarrhea No. (%)

    1
    737
    11
    (1.5)
    182
    (24.7)
    729
    37
    (5.1)
    679
    (93.1)

    2
    840
    0
    (0.0)
    7
    (8.3)
    87
    2
    (2.3)
    35
    (40.2)

    3
    347
    3
    (0.9)
    132
    (38.0)
    286
    9
    (3.1)
    157
    (54.9)

    4
    627
    7
    (1.1)
    20
    (3.2)
    493
    24
    (4.9)
    120
    (24.3)

    5
    428
    8
    (1.9)
    50
    (13.8)
    464
    26
    (5.6
    423
    (91.2)

    Total
    2223
    29
    (1.3)
    341
    (18.0)
    2059
    98
    (4.7)
    1414
    (68.7)

     
    TESTING : Chapter VIII; Using Zeolites in Agriculture
    Frederick A. Mumpton, Department of the Earth Sciences, State University College, Brockport NY 14420

    In an attempt to reduce the toxic effects of high NH4+ content of ruminal fluids when nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) compounds, such as urea and diuret, are added to the diets of cattle, sheep, and goats, researchers introduced both natural and synthetic zeolites into the rumen of test animals (87). Ammonium ions formed by the enzyme decomposition of NPN were immediately ion exchanged into the zeolite structure and held there for several hours until released by the regenerative action of Na+ entering the rumen in saliva during the after-feeding fermentation period. Both in vivo and in vitro data showed that up to 15 percent of the NH4+ in the rumen could be taken up by the zeolite. Thus, the gradual release of NH4+ allowed rumen micro-organisms to synthesize cellular protein continuously for easy assimilation into the animals’ digestive systems. The zeolite's ability to act as a reservoir for NH4+ ". . . permits the addition of supplemental nitrogen to the animal feed while protecting the animal against the production of toxic levels of ammonia" in the rumen (87).

    Clinoptilolite added to the feed of young calves improved their growth rate by stimulating appetite and decreased the incidence of diarrhea and soft feces (38).

    Five percent zeolite was added to the normal grass and hay diets of 10-and 184-day-old heifer calves over a 180-day period. The animals on the zeolite-supplemented diets gained approximately 20 percent more weight than those in control groups, and although the test calves consumed more feed, the feeding costs per kilogram of weight gained were significantly less than for control animals. No deleterious effects were noted, and the feces of the test animals contained slightly less water and fewer particles of undigested solids. The incidence of diarrhea and soft-feces was markedly less in zeolite-fed calves than in control animals (table 12)

    Watanabe, et al. (86) raised six young bullocks for 329 days on a diet containing 2 percent clinoptilolite, along with 72 percent digestible nutrients and 11 percent crude protein. Although little difference in the final weights of test and control animals was noted, test steers showed slightly larger body dimensions and reportedly dressed out to give slightly higher quality meat. These differences were reflected in the overall higher prices obtained for the test animals and a 20 percent greater profit. In addition, diarrhea and other intestinal ailments were noticeably less prevalent in the animals on the zeolite diet, and the excrement from these animals was significantly less odoriferous, again testifying to the retentively of clinoptilolite for ammonia. It is unfortunate that a higher level of zeolite was not used in these experiments; earlier studies in the United States showed that as much as 40 percent clay could be added to animal rations without adverse effects (68),

    One study found increased protein digestion when 5 percent powdered clinoptilolite was added to a high-volubility protein diet of 18 Holstein steers and cows over a 118-day period; however, statistically significant weight increases were not noted, The addition of 2 percent zeolite to the rations of cows was effective in preventing diarrhea and in increasing milk production (20). These effects were apparently related to an increase in the albumin and a decrease in the urea-N content of the blood.

    Table 12.- Occurrence of Diarrhea and Soft-Feces among Calves on Diets Supplemented with 5% clinoptilolite

    Time (days)
    Incidence of diarrhea
    Incidence of soft-feces
    Grass-fed zeolite (2 calves) Hay-fed zeolite (2 calves) Control group (6 calves) Grass-fed zeolite (2 calves) Hay-fed zeolite (2 calves) Control group (6 calves)
    30
    0
    0
    4
    0
    0
    4
    36-60
    0
    1
    2
    9
    4
    13
    61-90
    0
    0
    2
    1
    1
    13
    91-120
    1
    0
    1
    2
    0
    13
    121-150
    0
    0
    4
    4
    0
    8
    151-184
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Total
    1
    1
    13
    16
    5
    51

     

    References
    20,
    Fukushima, Yoshinoto,
    "Effect of Zeolite Addition in Feed on the Physiological Condition of Cows,"
    Chikusan no Kenkyu 33, 1393-1395,
    1980.     		38.
    Kondo, Kanae; Fujishiro, Seiji; Suzuki, Fumio; Taga, Teiki; Morinaga, Hidea; Wagai, Bunsaku; and Kondo, Tonosuke,
    "Effect of Zeolites on Calf Growth,"
    Chikusan No Kenikyu 23, 987-988,
    1969.
    68.
    Ousterhout, L. E.,
    "Nutritional Effects of Clays in Feed,"
    Feedstuffs 42, 34-36,
    1970.     		86.
    Watanabe, S., Kanaka, Y., and Kuroda, A.,
    "Report on the Experimental Use of Zeolite-Tuff as Dietary Supplements for Cattle,"
    Rept, Okayama Prefecture Feder. Agricul, Coop, Assoc., April 1971.
    87.
    White, J. L., and Ohlroggi, A. J.,
    "Ion Exchange Materials to Increase Consumption of Non-Protein Nitrogen in Ruminants,"
    Canad, Patent 939,186,
    January 1974.    		  
     
    Contact:
    Z-Olite Logo™
    who: Casey and Mike Hatch
    address: 148 N 100 E
                 Smithfield UT 84335
    phone: 435.563.8118
               435.753.2075
    fax: 435.753.3631
    web: www.z-oliteinc.com


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    Updated: 06/16/06 22:16:53 MDT