Sodium Bentonite in Swine Diets

Abstract

Summary Sodium bentonite replaced corn in cornsoybean meal starter, grower and finisher diets at 0, 2 and 3% levels. Dietary bentonite increased rate and efficiency of gain in the starter period but not in the growing and finishing periods. Neither feed intake nor carcass measurements were significantly affected by dietary sodium bentonite level. In a five replicate, 2 x 2 factorial study of sodium bentonite (0 vs 2.5%) and lincomycin (0 vs 44 ppm) in starter diets, lincomycin improved rate and efficiency of gain. Sodium bentonite did not influence rate of gain but tended to improve feed efficiency. The efficiency effects of the two appeared to be additive. Dry matter, acid detergent fiber, energy, nitrogen and mineral balances were conducted on starter, grower and finisher diets with the three levels of bentonite of trial 1. Dry matter digestibility was not significantly affected by dietary bentonite with the exception of a slight depression in meal-fed starter pigs. Acid detergent fiber digestibility was depressed by dietary sodium bentonite. Nitrogen digestibility of starter diets was de