Studies of Montmorillonitic (Bentonite) Clay of Western Kazakhstan as a Therapeutic Mineral Feed Additive for Animals and Poultry

The paper presents the findings of a broad analytical review of the use of bentonite clays as a mineral feed additive in animal husbandry and poultry farming in order to increase productivity and prevent diseases. It has been shown that an important direction in improving the technology of veterinary preventive measures is the introduction of new methods for the prevention and treatment of diseases in animals and birds with the use of drugs with bioactive properties that can have a regulatory effect on the intensity of metabolic processes, enhance the functional activity of organs and body systems. The emphasis is placed on the unique properties of bentonite as high adsorption, catalytic, and ion-exchange activity. Due to these properties, bentonite clays adsorb alkaloids, paints, heavy metals, toxins, nitrates and nitrites, and other harmful substances. The identity of the chemical and mineralogical composition of the bentonite-like (montmorillonitic) clay of the Pogadaevskoe deposit in the West Kazakhstan region with bentonite clays of Kazakhstan and other countries has been established, which opens up a wide prospect for using them as a mineral feed additive in the composition of the diets of farm animals and birds in order to prevent diseases and increase animal productivity. According to the results of scientific and experimental research, it was established that the studied clay has a significant sorption activity. The first scientific experiments on the effect of bentonite-like (montmorillonite) clay on the preservation and egg production of quails showed its significant effectiveness.