Kaolin, bentonite, and zeolites as feed supplements for animals: health advantages and risks

Feeding kaolin as a supplement to pigs for prevention of diarrheal diseases has been introduced into some farms in the CzechRepublic. Peat was used in the 1990s for a similar purpose; however, most farmers ceased feeding peat as a supplement because of its frequent contamination with conditionally p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinární medicína 2004-10, Vol.49 (10), p.389-399
Main Authors: Trckova, M., Matlova, L., Dvorska, L., Pavlik, I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal species
Animals
Anthropogenic factors
Bentonite
Contamination
Detoxification
Diarrhea
Diet
Dietary supplements
Farms
feed safety
Feed supplements
Feeding
geophagy
Health risks
Kaolin
kaolinite
Literature reviews
parasites
Peat
phyllosilicate
pigs tuberculosis
Prevention
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Soil contamination
Soil water
Surface water
toxic compounds
Toxicity
tuberculosis
Zeolites
zoonoses
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Summary:Feeding kaolin as a supplement to pigs for prevention of diarrheal diseases has been introduced into some farms in the CzechRepublic. Peat was used in the 1990s for a similar purpose; however, most farmers ceased feeding peat as a supplement because of its frequent contamination with conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria, esp. with Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis. The aim of the present paper is to review available literature from the standpoint of the advantages and disadvantages related to feeding kaolin as a supplement to animals. Its positive effects exerted through the diet primarily consist in its adsorbent capability which may be useful for detoxification of the organism and for prevention of diarrheal diseases in pigs. Because the mechanism of action of kaolin fed as a supplement is unknown, a risk related to its potential interactions with other nutrient compounds of the diet exists. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness and safety of feeding kaolin in detail with regard to the health status and performance of each farm animal species. The disadvantage of kaolin use is its potential toxicity, provided it has been mined from the environment with natural or anthropogenic occurrence of toxic compounds. Another risk factor is a potential contamination of originally sterile kaolin with conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria from surface water, dust, soil, and other constituents of the environment in the mines during kaolin extraction, processing and storage.
ISSN:0375-8427
1805-9392
DOI:10.17221/5728-VETMED