Zeolite was used as a feed additive (addition of 5% zeolite) and its effect was verified on swine manure odours and hogs growth performances improvements in an experiment realized on 54 grower hogs. Zeolite is a tektosilicate and was obtained from southern Alberta. This compound is found in volcanic deposits and exhibits a cation retention capacity (CEC) of 400 meq /100g. The group of 54 weaners (average 18.6 kg) was separated equally in two and placed in different rooms, with a control group fed a 16% crude protein pelleted standard feed and the other group fed the same diet supplemented with 5% zeolite. The animals’ weight was measured regularly and the given feed was weighed daily. NH3, CO2 and H2S levels were measured regularly in both rooms and manure samples were taken for nitrogen content analysis. The results are given for the first 4 weeks for the hogs performances: the hogs fed the zeolite diet didn’t significantly grow at a faster rate but showed a significant improvement in the feed conversion compared to the control group (2.2 kg feed/ kg body weight vs. 2.75 kg/kg). In both rooms, the H2S concentrations were not high enough to be measured. The NH3 levels measured were lower in the room were the zeolite fed hogs were for the 5 first weeks of experiment. This experiment was continued until hogs had reach market weight.

The title suggest that this experiment evaluated the odours to compared the air in the rooms of the hogs fed zeolite supplemented feed and the control group fed standard diet. However, testing were done on only 3 gases and 2 of them being odours components therefore comments can be made on the difference on those gases concentrations but not on the odour. The results presented only the 4 and 5 first week which give and idea on the zeolite possibilities but could not be considered for the whole growing and finishing periods as the hogs’ nutritional needs change.