Zar-Min Research with Ruminant Animals

Years of successful field testing have been completed. Since 1983, companies worldwide have included Zar-Min in their feeding programs.

Zar-Min feed additive improved weight of heifer calves.In the study below (Kondo, et al., 1969), heifer calves, 20- and 184-day-old, were studied for 180 days. Their rations included 5% by volume supplements of clino natural zeolites. Growth for all animals was improved by the decreased incidence of diarrhea and soft feces, and by the stimulation of appetite. The animals on the zeolite-supplemented feeding programs gained 20% more weight versus control, because they consumed more feed. However, the feed costs per kg. of weight gained were significantly less versus control. No side effects were detected, and the feces of the zeolite-fed animals contained less water and fewer particles of undigested food in the

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 +5% Zeolite	Hay Fed +5% Zeolite	Control Group 6 calves	Grass Fed +5% Zeolite	Hay Fed +5% Zeolite	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
154–184	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total (calf days)	1	1	13	16	5	51
– © ZEO, Inc. Swine Research Trial with Zar-Min Feed Additive

Test Results of Diets Supplemented with Natural Zeolites

• Improved feed intake
• Improved feed efficiency
• Reduced diarrhea
• Reduced soft feces

Bartko, et al. reported that natural zeolites reduced the incidence and severity of diarrhea in calves. The control groups had an incidence of diarrhea of 68.7% and mortality of 4.7%, while the natural zeolite groups had 18.0% and 1.3% respectively.

(Bartko, P., Seidel, H. and Kovac, G. (1995) Natural Zeolites ‘93 Occurrence, Properties, Use. D. W. Ming and F. A. Mumpton, eds., International Committee on Natural Zeolites, Brockport, New York.)

Occurrence of Diarrhea and Soft Feces among Calves on Diets Supplemented with 5% Clinoptilolite
Farm	Natural Zeolites					Control
	No. of calves	Deaths		Diarrhea		No. of calves	Deaths		Diarrhea
		No.	(%)	No.	(%)		No.	(%)	No.	(%)
1	737	11	1.5	182	24.7	729	37	5.1	679	93.1
2	84	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	59	13.8	464	26	5.6	423	91.2
Total	2,223	29	1.3	341	18.0	2,059	98	4.7	1,414	68.7
– © ZEO, Inc. Swine Research Trial with Zar-Min Feed Additive

Test Results of Diets Supplemented with Natural Zeolites

• Reduced deaths by 3.4%
• Reduced diarrhea by 50.7%