Clay minerals in animal nutrition

Clay minerals are important in many facets of our society. Their properties such as structure and chemical composition, type of exchangeable ion and particle size determine their various uses. The healing powers of clay were known for centuries and are now being rediscovered. The practice of eating clay by animals in the wild for the detoxification of the body and alleviation of gastrointestinal infections was well documented. Initially, clays were introduced to farm animal nutrition as binding agents for feeding pellets and then used as feed additives to promote growth and health of the animals. The actual use of clay and clay minerals are directed towards the production of selective sorbents applicable to both human and veterinary medicine. Clay minerals were modified against gastrointestinal disorders. Thus, the application of clay minerals for preventing gastrointestinal upsets in animals is described in this review.

Research Highlights
► Geophagy by wild animals.
► The role of clays in the nutrition of farm animals.
► Effects of kaolin and smectites on the gastrointestinal disorders.