Use RFCs to positively influence animal health

The refined functional carbohydrates (RFC) found in Celmanax feature technology that can help provide a healthy foundation for livestock and poultry while delivering valuable nutrition to increase growth and productivity. RFCs can help maintain overall animal health – directly and indirectly.

Healthier Gut

For example, RFCs help negate the detrimental effects of mycotoxins that sometimes occur in feed and negatively affect all animal species to some level. Just as with pathogens, RFCs bind to these toxins – like aflatoxin – and prevent gut damage and help maintain feed intake, growth and feed efficiency.

In vitro studies show that RFCs can agglutinate as well as prevent adherence of several species of Salmonella very efficiently. Because of the inability to adhere to the intestinal epithelium, the bacteria are prevented from colonising the gastrointestinal tract. Ultimately, RFCs prevent Salmonella from colonising and prepare the host’s immune system to combat the infection more efficiently.

Furthermore, because of the multifunctional nature of RFCs (reducing the effects of harmful pathogens, as well as toxins in feed), less energy is needed for fighting infections and supporting the immune system, and more energy is available for growth, synergistically helping animal performance. This synergy allows RFCs to consistently improve performance in normal and challenged conditions, leading to improved profit for poultry and livestock producers.

Animal Benefits

Research found that RFCs can significantly reduce Salmonella in poultry production. Results show that breeder hens fed a diet including RFCs had 0% prevalence of caecal Salmonella. Caecal Salmonella prevalence for breeder hens fed the control diet (which did not contain any RFCs) was 71.4%.

Data shows dairy cows supplemented with RFCs produced more milk, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk and higher milk protein percentage than non-supplemented cows. Fat, protein and solids non-fat yields were higher for RFC-supplemented cows compared to control. Somatic cell count was numerically lower for cows supplemented with RFCs.

New beef cattle research conducted by Oregon State University shows that RFCs reduce incidence of BRD (see Table 1). In addition, supplementing RFCs during receiving improves average daily gain (P=0.07) and gain-to-feed ratio. (P=0.08). Multiple studies show the health benefit of RFCs in beef calves by reducing prevalence of BRD, which leads to heavier and more efficient calves entering the feedlot.

As Table 2 shows, pigs benefit from diets including RFCs, as well. Keep in mind that health and production challenges can occur at any time. Adding RFCs to an animal’s diet from an early age can help improve its immune function – indirectly by preparing it for challenges, and directly by providing a defence mechanism against pathogenic bacteria. Consider RFCs as a nutritional means to support animals and provide numerous benefits to health, enhanced performance and increased productivity – and helps you get your jobs done every day.

Author: Dr Sangita Jalukar, Product Development and Research Coordinator, Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition

For more information, visit AHanimalnutrition.com.

References available on request