Zeolite supplementation modulates ruminal ammonia and methane production without compromising animal performance: A meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies.
5 affiliations
- 1Graduate Study Program of Nutrition and Feed Science, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia.
- 2Research Collaborative Center for Next-Generation Feed Additives for Sustainable Livestock Systems (PKR NEXUS), BRIN-IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia.
- 3Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Bogor, 16911, Indonesia.
- 4Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, 11115, Sudan.
- 5Department of Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia.
Abstract
Zeolite has potential to improve nitrogen utilization and modulate rumen fermentation through its ion-exchange and adsorption properties; however, reported responses in ruminants remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis quantified the effects of dietary zeolite supplementation on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, productive performance, milk characteristics, and blood metabolites. Data were obtained from 34 eligible articles identified through Scopus, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar. Effect size was calculated as natural logarithm of response ratio using a random-effects model and converted to relative mean difference (RMD). Zeolite supplementation reduced ruminal NH₃-N concentration under both in vitro (RMD = -11.13%; P < 0.001) and in vivo conditions (RMD = -11.40%; P = 0.009). Methane production was also reduced in vitro (RMD = -14.53%; P = 0.035) and in vivo (RMD = -9.70%; P = 0.001). Both in vitro and in vivo, zeolite increased total VFA (mmol/L), acetate (%), propionate (%), while decreasing butyrate concentration, the acetate-to-propionate ratio. In vivo, zeolite improved the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, total digestible nutrients, neutral detergent fiber, and hemicellulose. Dry matter intake, average daily gain, milk yield, and milk composition were affected, whereas growth (RMD = 12.52%; P = 0.011) and milk efficiency (RMD = 13.66; P = 0.05) increased. Zeolite reduced blood urea nitrogen (RMD = -7.96%; P = 0.003), although aspartate aminotransferase activity increased modestly. Meta-regression indicated a dose-dependent reduction in ruminal NH₃-N, while subgroup responses varied according to zeolite type and animal species. In conclusion, Zeolite supplementation at inclusion levels of 0.1-5% showed beneficial effects on ruminal fermentation, including reductions in ruminal NH₃-N and methane production, improved nutrient digestibility, and maintained or improved animal productive performance, with responses in fermentability being more evident in small ruminants. However, an optimum inclusion level could not be definitively established, and further studies are needed to clarify the underlying microbial, enzymatic, and post-ruminal mechanisms, which were insufficiently addressed in the available literature.
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BibTeX
@article{muzadi2026zeolite,
title = {{Zeolite supplementation modulates ruminal ammonia and methane production without compromising animal performance: A meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies.}},
author = {Akbar Dicky Muzadi and Farisha Rachma Azzahra and Mohammed Abdelbagi and Roni Ridwan and Nahrowi Nahrowi and Anuraga Jayanegara},
journal = {Veterinary and animal science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.vas.2026.100886},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42926997},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Zeolite supplementation modulates ruminal ammonia and methane production without compromising animal performance: A meta-analysis of in vitro and in vivo studies.
AU - Akbar Dicky Muzadi
AU - Farisha Rachma Azzahra
AU - Mohammed Abdelbagi
AU - Roni Ridwan
AU - Nahrowi Nahrowi
AU - Anuraga Jayanegara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Veterinary and animal science
DO - 10.1016/j.vas.2026.100886
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42926997
AB - Zeolite has potential to improve nitrogen utilization and modulate rumen fermentation through its ion-exchange and adsorption properties; however, reported responses in ruminants remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis quantified the effects of dietary zeolite supplementation on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, productive performance, milk characteristics, and blood metabolites. Data were obtained from 34 eligible articles identified through Scopus, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar. Effect size was calculated as natural logarithm of response ratio using a random-effects model and converted to relative mean difference (RMD). Zeolite supplementation reduced ruminal NH₃-N concentration under both in vitro (RMD = -11.13%; P < 0.001) and in vivo conditions (RMD = -11.40%; P = 0.009). Methane production was also reduced in vitro (RMD = -14.53%; P = 0.035) and in vivo (RMD = -9.70%; P = 0.001). Both in vitro and in vivo, zeolite increased total VFA (mmol/L), acetate (%), propionate (%), while decreasing butyrate concentration, the acetate-to-propionate ratio. In vivo, zeolite improved the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, total digestible nutrients, neutral detergent fiber, and hemicellulose. Dry matter intake, average daily gain, milk yield, and milk composition were affected, whereas growth (RMD = 12.52%; P = 0.011) and milk efficiency (RMD = 13.66; P = 0.05) increased. Zeolite reduced blood urea nitrogen (RMD = -7.96%; P = 0.003), although aspartate aminotransferase activity increased modestly. Meta-regression indicated a dose-dependent reduction in ruminal NH₃-N, while subgroup responses varied according to zeolite type and animal species. In conclusion, Zeolite supplementation at inclusion levels of 0.1-5% showed beneficial effects on ruminal fermentation, including reductions in ruminal NH₃-N and methane production, improved nutrient digestibility, and maintained or improved animal productive performance, with responses in fermentability being more evident in small ruminants. However, an optimum inclusion level could not be definitively established, and further studies are needed to clarify the underlying microbial, enzymatic, and post-ruminal mechanisms, which were insufficiently addressed in the available literature.
SN - 2451-943X
ER -