The rumen is a very efficient organ, producing microbial amino acids and making them available to the animal. However, rumen fermentation also brings some disadvantages such as methane production. Together with the nitrogen losses due to inefficient utilisation of dietary protein, this brings a great risk to the environment. To find new solutions to this problem, a large European project was set up to explore new plant extracts with methane inhibiting characteristics and animal health promoti...

New-generation phytase products have an increasingly vital role to play in helping poultry producers stay ahead of tightening economic pressures and environmental standards by reducing feed costs and minimising phosphorus waste. However, to maximise the potential benefits, nutritionists must fully appreciate and account for the greater efficacy over traditional phytases when formulating poultry diets.

Ammonia emission is one of the critical environmental gases that French farmers have to reduce. In an experiment under French conditions the use of benzoic acid was tested to see if it could reduce ammonia emission in pigs.

Based on workshops held at the 8th Symposium on Digestive Physiology in Pigs, held at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, June 2000.