N AND ENERGY-BALANCE IN PIGS FED SUGAR-CANE MOLASSES DIETS AND NATURAL ZEOLITES FROM DIFFERENT DEPOSITS

An amount of 60 g of zeolite from four deposits were included in each kg of a control diet (A) based on molasses a and torula yeast (69.2:28 .5 dry basis) to study N balance and energy in pigs of 30 kg LW. The d esign used was a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The level of daily consump tion was 3% of the animal's LW. The deposits were: Tasajeras (B), San Andres, (C), La Pita (D) and Piojillo (E). The mineral aits extracted in 1992 and no previous treatment was applied. There was no treatment effect on N digestibility, but N retention was higher (P < 0.10) in al l treatments with zeolite and with no difference between deposits (A, 78.4 and 41.0, a, 74.1 and 43.8, C, 82.7 and 51.6, D, 77.1 and 55.3, E , 71.3 and 50.4%, respectively). No treatment effect was encountered o n energy digestibility (average 91.8%), however, energy retention was higher as consumption percentage (P<0.10) and digestion (P<0.01) with no difference between deposits (A, 83.6 and 92.6, a, 86.8 and 95.3, C, 87.8 and 95.5, D, 88.6 and 96.2 and E, 90.1 and 96.7, respectively). Daily faecal now of short chain fatty acids and NH3 was higher (P < 0. 10) in pigs fed zeolite diets. Certain advantages am found on includin g Cuban natural zeolites in the digestive and metabolism pattern of pi gs fed molasses The zeolites from either deposit were equally effectiv e when adding to molasses diets for pig feeding.