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Clinoptilolite is a zeolite and an aluminosilicate that can be fed to swine in order to reduce nutrients being excreted because of their molecular sieving properties, high cation exchange capacities, and a high affinity for the ammonium ion (NH4+). Preliminary research has been carried out on utilizing zeolite's unique characteristics for dietary supplementation for livestock, however much of this research is limited and is still in its infancy. / The results from this study show that the zeolite with a particle size distribution either >250 mum or mixed (50% particles greater and smaller than 250 mum) adsorbed the most NH4+. Macro mineral and heavy metal release was similar among all particle size distributions tested, but varied between sources of zeolite. Handling properties of zeolite were not affected by moisture content or particle size. The feed trial indicated that zeolite supplementation, combined with a low crude protein and energy diet and at an inclusion level of 4%, showed potential as a feed additive in swine diets for the purposes of nutrient reduction. Nevertheless, zeolite seemed to have a greater impact on energy ingestion, as compared to crude protein. Even at 6% zeolite inclusion in the feed, hog muscle, kidney and liver tissues showed no significant increase in heavy metal contents, as compared to those fed any zeolite.

The rapid growth of Canadian pork industry has been challenged by its negative impact on the environment. To find an economical and promising solution to the environmental problems, 4% zeolite (90%+ clinoptilolite) were supplemented to a regular (100% crude protein (CP) and energy) or low CP and energy (90% CP and 90% energy or 90% CP and 85% energy) grower pig diets. Twenty male and twenty-four female grower pigs were used in two feeding experiments respectively, followed by a metabolic test with three batches of animals repeated to determine the metabolic effects of zeolite supplementation. Pig performance (body weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio), and metabolic parameters (manure mass, feed intake, protein and energy conversion, as well as dry feed and organic matter retention) were evaluated. Zeolite supplementation at 4% to a regular diet for grower pigs had a positive but not significant (P > 0.05) effect on all pig performance and metabolic parameters, compared to the regular diet without zeolite. Among 4 rations, pigs on a regular diet with 4% zeolite performed consistently best throughout the entire trail, with decreased average daily consumption and reduced amount of feces, increased feed and organic matter retention in the gastrointestinal tract, improved feed as well as protein and energy conversion, and enhanced body weight gain. Moreover, zeolite supplementation at 4%, with 90% CP and 90% energy in grower pig diets, improved feed and protein and energy conversion rate, and increased body weight gain, when compared to those of pigs fed a regular diet without zeolite. However, a diet of 90% of CP and 85% of energy with 4% zeolite significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed consumption and the amount of feces produced, and decreased feed and organic matter retention in the gastrointestinal tract, thus reducing feed conversion rate. Therefore, 4% zeolite supplementation to the regular or low CP and energy (90% C / Key words. Clinoptilolite, Pig, Pig Performance, Metabolic Parameter.

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Supplementation with graded levels of threonine to an all barley-lysine diet (0.75% total lysine) improved the daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs. An addition of 0.10% threonine produced the optimum growth response in the experimental animals. No additional improvement was obtained with higher levels of threonine or threonine plus methionine supplementation of the diet. The 0.10% level of threonine supplementation gave performance criteria which were comparable to those obtained with the barley-soybean control diet, except the former diet resulted in significantly higher backfat measurements. Threonine added at levels of 0.15% resulted in higher nitrogen retention than the other barley-lysine-threonine diets. Nitrogen retention on this diet did not differ significantly from the control diet. Barley-amino acid diets resulted in better protein ultilization than barley-soybean control diets. Feeding trials and metabolism trials indicated that methionine was not limiting in barley and that threonine was the second limiting amino acid. Growth trials with weanling rats confirmed the results obtained in the pig nutritional experiments. Rat experiments indicated that no additional beneficial effects were obtained when lysine levels were increased from 0.75% to 0.90% even when supplemented with additional threonine. Results indicated that supplementation with lysine to a total level of 0.75% and threonine at a level of 0.10% resulted in a highly balanced amino acid ratio for rats, and gave growth rates which approached those obtained on the control diet. Supplementation of the barley-lysine diet with 0.20% threonine and all other essential amino acids resulted in growth rates and nitrogen retentions which resembled the results obtained with the control diet. The replacement of the essential amino acid mixture with glycine on an equal nitrogen basis did not result in adequate nitrogen retention or growth rates. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

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Five studies were conducted to elucidate a possible mode of action of dietary organic acids in weanling pigs (n=536). The effect of feeding 1.5% fumaric or citric acid on growth performance, intestinal digesta pH, chloride ion concentration (Cl-), VFA profile and microflora populations was studied. In study 1, feeding citric acid improved ADG and feed conversion (F:G), whereas fumaric acid only numerically improved ADG and F:G. No significant dietary effect on intestinal pH, Cl- or VFA profile was observed. In study 2, feeding organic acids with and without a microbial supplement (Lactobacillus acidophilus) resulted in no interactive effects, but fumaric acid and the microbial supplement each improved ADG and F:G. In study 3, pigs fed organic acids were killed at -2, 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 d postweaning. Organic acids had no significant effect on intestinal pH, Cl-, VFA profile or microflora populations. Postweaning age affected intestinal digesta measurements in these ways: pH decreased; VFA concentrations increased; lactobacillus decreased to d 3 postweaning; E. coli increased to d 7 postweaning; and clostridia decreased to d 21 postweaning. In study 4, pigs were fed organic acids and orally challenged with 10¹⁰ enterotoxigenic E. coli (0157:K88) (ETEC) at d 3, 7 and 14 postweaning. Organic acids had no measurable effect on intestinal pH, Cl- or VFA profile. ETEC challenge increased jejunum lactic acid concentration, lower colon VFA concentration and severity of scouring. Postweaning age affected these intestinal digesta measurements: cecum pH decreased; jejunum Cl- increased; jejunum lactobacillus count decreased; lower colon lactobacillus count increased; and E. coli count decreased in all intestinal sections. In study 5, pigs were fed organic acids and challenge with ETEC on d 3 postweaning. Organic acids had no significant effect on severity of scouring or protection against reduced growth performance from the ETEC challenge. The ETEC challenge resulted in an increased severity of scouring and a reduction in ADG of 20% and F:G of 19%. In summary, feeding organic acids generally improved weanling pig growth performance and had little effect on intestinal digesta measurements. Postweaning age did have an effect on intestinal digesta measurements. The primary mechanism of action of dietary organic acids does not seem to be the lowering of intestinal pH or modifications to the intestinal microflora, but may act as an additional energy source. / Ph. D.

To assess the biotin needs of developing gilts and sows, female swine were fed corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with 0 (NB) or 220 ug (SB) d-biotin/kg diet in three growing-finishing trials and corn (C) or wheat-based (W) diets supplemented with 0 (NB) or 440 (SB) ug d-biotin/kg in a four-parity sow study. During the growing-finishing trials, feedlot performance, hair and soundness scores were unaffected by dietary treatment, however, SB elevated (P<.001) plasma biotin (PB) and reduced the number and frequency of various toe lesions. Conception rate and the weaning to estrus interval were improved (P<.05) with SB. No significant responses were noted in farrowing and lactation performance. There was a trend for SB to improve litter size in multiparous females. Feeding SB diets elevated (P<.001) the biotin content of sow plasma, liver and milk, while sow hepatic pyruvate carboxylase activity was unchanged. Fetal plasma biotin levels were high in pigs from NB females and were increased four-fold when dams received SB diets. Farrowing performance was reduced in W females; however, level of biotin x type of grain interactions were not present. The frequency (%) of females with heel cracks, heel-horn junction cracks and side-wall horn cracks was reduced (P<.01) when females were fed SB diets. Females fed SB diets had fewer (P<.001) total toe lesions, heel cracks, heel-horn junction cracks, side-wall horn cracks and white-line horn cracks (P<.03) compared with NB females. Level of biotin x age interactions (P<.05) indicated that SB was more effective in reducing toe lesions in multiparous females with most reductions occurring following the first parity. Supplemental biotin did not alter soundness scores (P>.10) but increased (P<.001) the number of hairs/cm² and improved (P<.001) hair scores. Toe location influenced toe size and lesion development with outside toes being larger and containing more lesions. Toe lesions and toe size were not correlated (P>.10) to soundness. The results of this study suggest that the development of toe lesions in swine can be reduced with biotin supplementation and improvements in reproductive performance may be attainable. / Doctor of Philosophy