Effects of long term feeding dairy cows on a diet supplemented with clinoptilolite on certain haematological parameters

Abstract

The effect of the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite on the haematological parameters of dairy cows has not been studied yet; however in mice, prolonged zeolite administration causes disturbances in the adaptation of erythropoiesis in periods of increased demands. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the long term supplementation of two levels (1.25 and 2.5%) of clinoptilolite in the concentrate feed of dairy cows has any effect on their haematological parameters. Fifty-two clinically healthy Holsteincows were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to their age and parity. The first group (group A, n = 17) was offered a concentrate feed supplemented with 1.25% clinoptilolite. The second group (group B, n = 17) was offered a concentrate feed supplemented with 2.5% clinoptilolite. The third group (group C, n = 18), which served as control, was offered the same concentrate feed without clinoptilolite supplementation. The experiment started 30 days before the expected parturition and lasted up to the end of lactation. Blood samples from individual animals were collected just before the start of experiment, at the day of calving and, thereafter, at monthly intervals. All samples were tested for packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) and leukocyte count (WBC) values. The results showed that the 1.25 and 2.5% supplementation of clinoptilolite had no adverse effect on the haematological parameters tested.