January 16, 2006
Biomin obtains EU authorisation for its Biomin IMB 52
Press release
Biomin recently announced that its Biomin IMB 52, a microbial feed additive based on a single strain of Enterococcus faecium DSM 3530, has gained EU registration for chicken.
Michaela Mohnl, Biomin's product manager for Synbiotics said, "Our Biomin IMB 52 has been assessed for its safety for broiler chickens, the consumer, the user of the product and the environment and its efficacy by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)."
The results of three growth trials provided evidence that the inclusion of Enterococcus faecium Biomin IMB 52 in complete feed improves weight gain of chickens. Also, the FEEDAP Panel considered Biomin IMB 52 safe for the target animals, the consumer, user and the environment.
MIC values for the tested antibiotics were below FEEDAP breakpoints, indicating the absence of resistance against antibiotics of human and veterinary importance. The E. faecium DSM 3530 was shown to be free from known virulent determinants.
Different experiments contributed to demonstrate the additive efficacy in chickens:
A 42-day feeding trial was performed with 500 day-old chicks (Ross 308) which were randomly allocated to five groups: a control group (CG) without additive and four treated groups with different inclusion levels of Biomin IMB 52.
Results showed that the live weight of birds which received Biomin IMB 52 with an inclusion rate of 2.5 x 108 cfu kg-1 feed (TG A) and 5 x 108 cfu kg-1 feed (TG B) could be significantly improved (P ¡Ü 0.05) by 4.9 to 5.1 percent when compared to the control animals.
Mortality could be reduced in all trial groups (CG: 9.26 percent, TG A: 4.95 percent, TG B: 3.92 percent). Through the addition of Enterococcus faecium BIOMIN IMB 52, efficiency of fattening was improved which resulted in an increased EPEF (European Production Efficiency Factor) in the treatment groups. The results are presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Productivity index and live weight of chickens for fattening fed with Biomin IMB 52 in
comparison with control animals (42 days)
Another 42-day feeding trial was performed using 400 day-old chicks. The animals were divided into two groups of 200 birds (Control group and Biomin IMB 52-treated group). Results indicated a significantly higher body weight for Biomin IMB 52- treated animals when compared with control animals (2418 vs. 2321 g, P ¡Ü 0.05).
A third 42-day feeding trial was performed using 400 day-old chicks. The animals were divided into two groups of 200 birds (Control group and Biomin IMB 52-treated group). Results indicated a significantly higher body weight and average weight gain for Biomin IMB 52-treated animals when compared with control animals (2576 vs. 2540 g, P ¡Ü 0.05). Mortality was found to be at a lower level in the treated group (1.5 vs. 5.5 percent).
Improved livability, weight gain and FCR resulted in a remarkably increased value regarding efficiency of fattening. Birds in the trial group showed a EPEF value of 353 compared with 319 in the control group. The results are presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Performance data of chickens for fattening fed with Biomin IMB 52 in comparison
with control animals (42 days)
|
¡¡ |
Control |
Biomin IMB 52 |
|
Live weight (g) |
2540a |
2576b |
|
Daily weight gain (g) |
59.48a |
60.29b |
|
Feed consumption (g) |
4453 |
4321 |
|
FCR |
1.79 |
1.71 |
|
Mortality (percent) |
5.5 |
1.5 |
|
EPEF* |
319 |
353 |
|
a, b: Means not sharing a common superscript are significantly different (P<0.05) | ||
|
* EPEF (European Production Efficiency Factor) = (Livability [percent] x live weight [kg])/(age [d] x FCR) x 100 | ||
In addition, a digestibility experiment was conducted following the methodology of Schiemann (1981) with ten chickens (21 days old) divided into two groups: control group and a group supplemented with Biomin IMB 52 feed.
The birds were individually kept in cages with individual watering systems. Compared with the control group, Enterococcus faecium Biomin IMB52 increased digestibility of feed nutrients like organic matter (+2.62 percent), crude fat (+1.64 percent), crude protein (+1.8 percent) and crude fiber (+3.3 percent). Furthermore, the ammonia concentration in blind bags was reduced by 8 percent compared with the control group. The results are presented in Table 2 and Figure 2.
Table 2: Digestibility of feed nutrients of chickens for fattening fed with Biomin IMB 52 in comparison with control animals (42 days)
|
Coefficient of digestibility (percent) |
Control group |
Biomin IMB 52 |
|
Organic matter |
72.8 |
75.42 |
|
Crude fat |
76.72 |
78.36 |
|
Crude protein |
81.24 b |
83.04 a |
|
Crude fiber |
9.28 |
12.58 |
| a, b: Means not sharing a common superscript are significantly different (P<0.05) | ||
Figure 2: Amount of ammonia in blind bags, [mg percentage] of chickens for fattening fed with
Biomin IMB 52 in comparison with control animals (42 days)
The probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium Biomin IMB 52 is part of Biomin probiotic products Biomin C-EX and Biomin IMBO.
The probiotic product line is based on natural raw materials combining the beneficial effects of probiotics, prebiotics and immune-stimulating substances, and is used particularly in the diets of young animals to help establish a healthy gut and support the unspecific immune system.
Biomin IMB 52 helps to establish and stabilise a beneficial gut microflora, and to prevent pathogen colonisation due to fast proliferation, colonisation and acidification in the gut.
The immune-stimulating components enhance the innate immune system and hence improve resistance to infections. Beneficial gut microflora is additionally supported by the prebiotic component in the products. Young animals will be more resistant against invading pathogenic bacteria and hence to enteric disease.
