Ars scientists Mullaney and Ullah at the southern regional research centre (SRRC) have rebuilt the enzyme phytase to make it more effective, especially in the unique environment where it needs to perform, like cold temperatures or extreme acidity. If livestock and poultry could retain more of the phosphorus in their plant based feed by using this newly shaped enzyme, less would be excreted. This means less potential nutrient waste and pollution. By Erin k.

Research continues to show increasing benefits of feeding yeast culture products to beef and dairy cattle, swine, poultry and horses, as well as fish and shrimp. As the restrictions on antibiotics get tighter, producers are looking for ways to manage animal health and resistance through yeast products. Which yeasts are on the market, and what effect does pelleting have on these products?

Ruminal acidosis can be prevented by controlling the ph in the rumen of cows. Meal frequency appears to be an important factor in regulating rumen ph. A recent study showed that supplementation of live yeast significantly increases the frequency of feed consumption and therefore helps in preventing acidosis.

As the use of organic acids is becoming more widely accepted by feed Manufacturers, animal producers and the public, there is a developing interest in using them as substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters. However, the mode of action of organic acids and salts is not always completely understood. In this article we delve into the mechanisms of organic acids and salts to gain a better insight into what they are and how they work.

Between November 2005 and January 2006, over 700 nutritionists from 12 countries across Europe, including EU and noneu countries, participated in a telephone survey, assessing their attitudes to the implementation of the new EU regulations and the AGP ban. This was one of the largest attitudinal survey of its type. Feed mix examines the findings.

Methionine should be added to cow diets to restore amino acid balance and optimise lactation performance. However, it must be supplied in a form which protects it from the micro organisms in the rumen. A new chemical derivative of methionine has been developed, which provides bioavailable methionine and activates fermentation by the rumen at the same time.

Adding undigestible sugars such as inulin and oligofructose has been shown to be very beneficial in human diets. Animals can also profit from this authentic ingredient and over the years more evidence has been gained on using inulin as a prebiotic in animal diets. Feed Mix went to Beglium to visit one of the major inulin producers to find out more.

Supplementing acidotic diets with the live yeast SC 47 strengthens the rumen’s reducing power by improving its O2 scavenging ability. This new concept presented by Jean-Philippe Marden and Corine Bayourthe, applies thermodynamic laws to finally allow better understanding live yeast’s mode of action in ruminants and clarifies the optimal conditions for its use.

Aromas, flavours and sweeteners are commonly used to improve palatability. In ruminant nutrition however, their efficacy remains generally unclear. It is time to focus the use of palatants into specific applications.

What should an effective feed additive do? Establishing the goals of new additives should be the first step in their development. Then it's a case of filling in the gaps. But is this easier said than done? Sarah Mellor went to Noordwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands in search of some expert opinion.