February 10, 2005
Unique analytical service maximises corn's nutritional and economic value
Danisco Animal Nutrition, a global leader in animal nutrition solutions, has launched Avicheck™ Corn, a unique service that enables feed manufacturers and broiler producers to determine the true value of their corn and optimise enzyme use. The service results in a range of benefits currently equivalent to as much as a US $12/tonne reduction in broiler feed costs.
Launching Avicheck Corn at the 2005 International Poultry Show in Atlanta, Dr Milan Hruby, the company's Technical Services Manager, commented: "Corn is the most commonly used grain in poultry diets and widely regarded as a model of consistency. In fact, corn can be extremely variable in terms of both its nutrient content and availability, and consequently its financial value to the feed producer."
The levels and digestibility of oil, fibre, starch, protein and amino acids in corn vary significantly from batch to batch due to varietal differences, variations in growing and harvesting conditions and post-harvest treatments. This has a particularly large influence on the amount of starch that is digested by the bird to fuel growth. Broiler feeds are often formulated using fixed nutrient values, which take no account of batch-to-batch variation and risk under-exploiting bird growth, feed conversion and profit.
While a number of options have been available to producers to assess corn quality, such as screening corn samples for nutrient content and estimating AME at the feed mill, these are generally considered too costly, time consuming and inaccurate. An optimum solution is one that estimates the nutritional value of corn relatively quickly, cheaply and accurately, together with the additional value of adding enzymes.
Representing a breakthrough in feed enzyme technology, Avicheck Corn comprises two elements.
Firstly, Danisco's laboratory analyses a sample of the corn submitted by the customer and accurately calculates how much Avizyme 1500, the company's multi-enzyme product, can improve its energy value (AME). After approximately 10 days the potential improvement in corn AME with Avizyme 1500 is reported to the producer as the "Energy Improvement Value" (EIV). Including Avizyme 1500 and the new higher energy corn into the producer's feed formulation provides opportunities to reduce feed costs. Typically the higher energy corn replaces some more expensive high-energy ingredients, for example fat or oil.
Secondly, computer software incorporating extensive information on corn-EIV values for different countries estimates the economic benefits of lower feed costs and improved broiler bodyweight uniformity attributed to Avizyme 1500. Typically, Avizyme 1500 increases the energy value of corn by approximately 3.5% - 5.0%. The crude protein of the total feed may also be reduced by up to 2.5%, while maintaining essential amino acid levels.
When developing Avicheck Corn, Danisco Animal Nutrition conducted a global corn quality survey to identify the factors responsible for variations in corn digestibility. After in vitro measurement of 60 random corn samples from around the world, scientists formulated 60 different batches of feed containing 55% corn, divided them equally and supplemented one half with Avizyme 1500. Both diets were then fed to broilers and ileal digestible energy (IDE), feed conversion ratio and weight gain measured. Avizyme 1500 improved IDE by an average of 3.1% and FCR by 3.5%, while reducing FCR variation by 30%.
Danisco's Global Avicheck Corn Harvest Report, which monitored 300 commercial corn samples from the 2003 harvest and a further 140 from the 2004 harvest, demonstrates a consistent response resulting from the use of Avizyme 1500 in terms of both the average and range of improvement in global corn energy value. During 2003, the average improvement was 4.4%, in a range from +3.8% to +5.7%, while in 2004 it was 4.5% (range +3.7% to +5.4%).
The Avicheck Corn Harvest Report also confirms that while the average and range of improvement with Avizyme 1500 varies from country to country, the product always delivers an improvement in the energy digestibility of the corn and a significant financial benefit.
Dr Milan Hruby comments: "In broiler productions systems, feed is the largest single cost and profitability depends on the relative cost and nutritive value of the ingredients available. Danisco's research demonstrates that the net benefit to US producers from using Avizyme 1500 is equivalent to an average of US $12.00/tonne of feed. This comprises a US $2.10/tonne reduction in feed costs and US $9.80/tonne from improved flock uniformity. For a broiler producer processing 1,000,000 birds per week that would be worth an additional US $2.2 million per year."
A division of a leading global food ingredient specialist, Danisco A/S (Denmark), Danisco Animal Nutrition pioneered the development and use of enzymes and betaine in animal nutrition and its products are now widely used by pig and poultry producers throughout the world. The company's mission is to provide sustainable animal nutrition solutions to meet consumers' demands for safe, high quality, affordable food, whilst helping to protect the environment.
ENDS:
For further information, please contact:
Andrea Barletta, Julian Cooksley,
Global Marketing Manager, Account Manager,
Danisco Animal Nutrition. Kendalls Communications.
Tel: +44 (0) 1672 517777 Tel: +44 (0) 1394 610022
Email: andrea.barletta@danisco.com Email: julian.cooksley@kendallscom.co.uk
