This study was conducted to evaluate levels of inclusion of zeolite in diets for pigs on performance, carcass characteristics, blood and liver histopathological parameters of these animals in their growing-finishing phases. Eighty-four barrows from commercial hybrids of high genetic potential for meat deposition, with initial weight of 30.34±1.14 kg were distributed in randomized blocks design, with seven levels of adsorbent (0.0-0.0; 1.0-0.5; 1.0-1.0; 2.0-1.0; 2.0-2.0; 3.0-1.5; 3.0-3.0, respectively, on growing and finishing phases), six replicates with two animals per pen, which was considered the experimental unit. Sorghum was used as naturally contaminated source of mycotoxins. The different levels of adsorbent in the diets were obtained by the supplementation of zeolite in the basal diet. The inclusion of zeolite in the diet did not affect the daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion or the carcass characteristics of the pigs. In the same way blood parameters, liver histopathological examination and the bone concentration neither calcium nor phosphorus were affected by the different levels of zeolita. Due to the good performance and carcass characteristics, as well as the normality of the other parameters of the animals fed diets without adsorbents analyzed, it can be inferred that the diets had low levels of mycotoxin contamination. The levels of zeolite do not affect the performance, carcass characteristics, blood parameters or liver histopathological examination in growing-finishing pigs fed diets with low level of contamination by mycotoxin.
adsorbent; fungi; mycotoxins; nutrition
