Published
2010-05-07

How to Cite

Collazos García, H. (2010). Zeolite application in poultry production: Review. Revista De Investigación Agraria Y Ambiental, 1(1), 17-23. https://doi.org/10.22490/21456453.904
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Zeolite application in poultry production: Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22490/21456453.904
Section
Artículos de Investigación
Hernán Collazos García Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia UNAD Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente CEAD José Celestino Mutis, Bogotá D.C. Colombia

The aim of this review is to study and discuss the use of Zeolite in poultry production. Zeolites are crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicates of alkali and alkaline cations which have infinite, three-dimensional structure. Zeolites can lose and gain water reversibly and they are capable of selectively exchange a variety of cations with no major structural changes. These characteristics make them suitable for animal nutrition. However the effect of Zeolites on food intake amounts, weight gain, growth rate, egg production, egg weight, shell thickness and internal egg quality are still under discussion. While some sort of experiments report beneficial effects due to inclusion of Zeolite in the diet of birds, other experiments show no changes and yet there are results that indicate some negative effects. Reasons such as level of usage, type of Zeolite (natural or synthetics) and the levels of impurities in natural Zeolites, are thought to be responsible for reported discrepancies.