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The aim of this study was to evaluate some pelleting characteristics of beef cattle concentrate with added sepiolite and potassium humate alone or combined. For this purpose, one control group (basal concentrate) with no additive and five treatment groups with 1% sepiolite (S), 0.25% potassium humate (H-25), 0.50% potassium humate (H-50), 1% sepiolite + 0.25% potassium humate (SH-25) and 1% sepiolite + 0.50% potassium humate (SH-50) added as top-dressed into mixer were used. For each experimental group, a total of 36 tons of pellet concentrates were produced in six batches with 6 tons per batch. The basal pelleted concentrate included 90.29% dry matter, 14.51% crude protein, 11.76% crude fibre and 3.14% ether extract. Results showed that adding sepiolite up to 1% in beef cattle concentrate as top-dressed in mixer reduced moisture losses and improved the durability of pelleted feed. Sepiolite addition also lowered pellet water activity during storage. Adding potassium humate alone up to 0.50% was not enough to improve the pellet quality in terms of durability or water activity. Potassium humate supplementation alone or with sepiolite presented with lower moisture losses than control, and it was more evident during storage. In conclusion, the use of sepiolite in beef cattle concentrates as pellet binder seemed to be providing more durable feed pellets with lower water activity. Promising results were obtained from both the supplements in limiting the moisture losses post- pelleting and storage. Regarding the role of potassium humate as pellet binder in animal feed industry further research is needed.

Waste management is the protection of the environment and the health of the population. Paper waste sludge is produced during paper production and sepiolite is a natural clay mineral. The aim of the study was to investigate the usability of sepiolite-added paper waste sludge as a bedding material in the broiler production. Two hundred eighty-eight 1-day old male broiler chicks were divided into the 6 bedding material groups (wood shavings (control), paper waste sludge, sepiolite, mix of 25% paper waste sludge and 75% sepiolite, mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite, and mix of 75% paper waste sludge and 25% sepiolite) with 6 replicate pens per group. Litter quality, performance, and some welfare parameters of broilers were assessed during the 6 weeks' period. Body weight at 42 days of age and body weight gain from 0 to 42 days of broilers reared on the wood shavings and mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite were found higher than those of the sepiolite and paper waste sludge groups. Feed consumption and feed to gain ratio from 0 to 42 days, yields of carcass and carcass parts, percentages of organs and abdominal fat, IgG, percentage of bursa Fabricius, burns of foot pad and breast, litter pH and meat properties of broilers reared on the wood shavings, paper waste sludge, and sepiolite litter groups were not found to be statistically different. Litter moisture was found higher in the paper waste sludge group than that in the sepiolite group at the 42 days of rearing. As a conclusion, usage of mix of 50% paper waste sludge and 50% sepiolite as a litter does not have any negative effects on performance, welfare, and litter quality. This result is important in terms of utilizing a waste product.