March 11, 2008

Ayurvet launches herbal methionine and choline

Ayurvet has launched two new products that supplement herbal methionine and choline in poultry feed to replace the increasingly expensive synthetic methionine, and to improve poultry health and efficacy. 

Methionine and choline are important essential nutrients in poultry diets. A deficiency in these nutrients could lead to stunted growth and various health complications in poultry. However, these nutrients have become increasingly expensive, which can cause additional financial burden on poultry producers. Ayurvet has now launched Methiorep and Repchol, herbal supplements that could possibly solve the feed cost problem while increasing poultry profitability.

Methiorep, the methionine supplement, contains herbal ingredients rich in methionine in free form and as conjugated form. It also contains S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAM) and phosphatidyl choline, substances that convert homocysteine to methionine.

Repchol, the choline and biotin supplement, is bioavailable, non-toxic, resistant to pelleting heat and is non-hygroscopic. It works like original synthetic products in the body, and helps to transform neutral fat to phospholipids in the liver, thus improving liver performance. 

A six-week long study was conducted to compare efficacy of herbal methionine supplements and synthetic methionine on the performance of commercial broilers. A similar but five-week long study was also performed for choline.

Results showed that Methiorep could increase body weights, feed efficiency and faster growth in chickens. It is also observed that the supplement results in higher dressing percentage, edible meat yield and better performance efficiency that will enhance profitability.

For the choline experiment, chickens fed with Repchol are indicated to have lower serum cholesterol levels than those that are fed with synthetic choline.

The experiments have showed that the supplements are capable of replacing synthesized methionine and choline, and with both products at a cheaper price, it could also help producers to reduce feed cost.

In addition, 1 kg per tone of Methiorep in feed is able to replace the same amount of synthetic methionine, whereas 500 grams per tone of Repchol could replace 1 kg or 60 percent of synthetic choline, and 600 grams per tone of Repchol could fully replace synthetic choline as well as 150 mg of biotin.