Inclusion of Zeolites(clinoptilolite) in Finishing Ration of Feedlot Beef Cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of zeolites(clinoptilolite) on performance of feedlot steers fed a high concentrate, steam flaked corn-based finishing diet for 138 d. It was hypothesized that the ion exchange capacities of zeolites may serve as a buffering agent within the rumen and improve performance in a dose dependent fashion. Cross-bred steers (n = 320, initial BW 412 ± 3.2 kg) were evenly distributed in a completely randomized block design with four treatments. Steers were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to one of the four experimental treatments (8 pens per treatment; 10 hd per pen) with pen as the experimental unit. Treatments consisted of zeolite included at 0, 0.5, 1 or 2% of the diet DM. Steers were individually weighed on days 0, 21, 49, 77, 105 and 138. Initial pen BW was used as a covariate in the statistical analysis and significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05 and tendency level determined at P ≤ 0.15. Final BW (P > 0.68) and feed efficiency (P > 0.58) were similar across all treatments. Dry matter intake (P= 0.14) and average daily gain (P=0.10) tended to be greater for steers fed zeolites at 1% of the dietary DM. There were no differences (P=0.40) in mortality and morbidity between treatments. These data indicate, that under the conditions of this experiment, the addition of zeolites to steam flaked corn-based finishing diets does not impact final body weight or feed efficiency and tended to improve DMI and ADG of feedlot cattle when zeolites were included at 1% of diet DM.