Nitrogen Mass Balance and Cattle Performance of Steers Fed Clinoptilolite Zeolite Clay

Authors

Dawn M. Sherwood, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 2006

Comments

Published in 2006 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A winter and a summer nitrogen mass balance experiment were conducted to analyze effects of feeding clinoptilolite zeolite clay to steers. No differences were found in steer ADG, F/G or carcass characteristics. Nitrogen mass balance and volatilization were not affected by a 1.2% addition of clinoptilolite in feedlot diets. These experiments indicate clinoptilolite zeolite clay does not have a large enough cation exchange potential to be effective in reducing N volatilization in open feedlot pens.