MENU

Harvesting fresh knowledge

New perspectives on the power of Multi-Carbohydrase and innovative new yeast-based options:

A 2017 shifts ahead, livestock producers have more opportunities than ever before to improve profitability, raise healthy and well cared for animals, and meet the new expectations of the marketplace.

The source of much of this potential is new science that is generating more and better options for getting stronger benefits from nutritional and feed technology innovations.

“Today we are learning so much more about feed ingredients and how we can get more value from those ingredients in ways that are a good fit with the demands and expectations of modern swine production,” says novel feed ingredients researcher Dr. Anna Rogiewicz of the University of Manitoba.

As production approaches increasingly shift toward natural, bio-based approaches to support animal performance and production benefits, there is a stronger focus on feed as an area where producers can make improvements. The science advances and the industry demands are coming together at the same time, which is good news for livestock producers.

For example, options such as multi-carbohydrase enzymes, nucleotides and novel yeast-based options are coming a long way in sophistication and power to benefit livestock operations, she says. Here is a look behind the curtain at several of the key areas of science progress that livestock operations can increasingly benefit from in 2017 and beyond:

Capturing the power of multi-carbohydrase

This concept of using multi-carbohydrase enzymes recognizes that, in a typical livestock diet, there is not just one but in fact several different types of fibre that are indigestible without the aid of the right enzymes to help break down each one into usable added energy.

While in the past many commonly used enzyme products would address only one or two of these fibre components, today advances in multi-carbohydrase enzyme technology allow livestock operations to address most if not all of these components, to achieve as much ‘total breakdown’ as possible. This results in benefits such as much higher feed to gain ratio and reduced waste.

"With multi-carbohydrase technology you are addressing more components so you are getting more breakdown and more benefits," says Rogiewicz. "You are getting the most value possible from the feed source.”

Recent studies by the University of Manitoba indicate leading multi-carbohydrase options for pigs and poultry can enable the breakdown of 80-90 percent or more of hard-to-digest components compared to the typical 30-40 percent or less with single source supplements or more rudimentary forms of multiples.

New advances in nucleotides and yeasts

Nucleotides are conditionally essential nutrients that research shows help promote optimal growth, alleviate stress and improve immune status in poultry, pigs and ruminants. Feed additive formulations with beneficial yeast-based components rich in nucleotides have been shown to support a full range of productivity benefits while supporting gut health.

In addition, advances with a yeast-cell wall additive have been shown to stimulate tissue growth, while another, a comination of yeast technologies, has shown a prebiotic effect as well as benefits for tissue recovery.

“We are learning more every year and there is a lot to be optimistic about,” says Rogiewicz.