The use of natural sorbents in the diet of pigs as a method for reducing gaseous pollutants and manure nutrients from livestock housing

Three groups of pigs (2 exptl. and 1 control) were fed with fodder supplemented with 1.5% mixt. of bentonite and montmorillonite or zeolite and clinoptilolite. The redn. of NH3, CH4 and CO2 emission, total and respirable dust concn. in the piggery, K, P, N content in animal faeces, as well as sorption capacity of sorbent mixts. in relation to NH3 were detd. The results were compared with the anal. performed for pigs fed without additives. A significant redn. in CH4 (20.44 and 29.37%) and NH3 (8.82 and 11.91%) emissions was found. The research suggests that natural sorbents based on bentonite and zeolite may be safe additives that can significantly reduce the negative impact of intensive pig farming on the environment.