Novus: Leveraging methionine edge for its feed enzyme range
As a major global producer of HMTBa, a methionine precursor, Novus is capitalising on its R&D and technical expertise to diversify its product offerings, including its CIBENZA® feed enzyme product range, for sustainable animal production.
by Ngai Meng CHAN
Synthetic sources of methionine and feed enzymes are used to optimise crude protein content in feed, through different modes of action. They complement each other to serve the needs of livestock producers, who increasingly favour alternative protein sources to control ever-increasing feed costs.
Alternative sources of protein for animals can be more efficiently used and economical as well. This holds true for Novus products. Many users of HMTBa, a methionine precursor , Novus's flagship offering, also prefer the company's next-generation feed enzymes, Rodel P. Cueno, Regional Product Manager - Enzymes (APEC), tells eFeedLink during an interview at last month's VIV Asia in Bangkok.
"As many locally available alternative protein sources have relatively lower digestibility, feed enzymes are used to help increase their digestibility, and simultaneously, synthetic amino acid sources such as HMTBa are added to balance the diet," explains Rodel.
In view of the rising feed costs, feed efficiency is the buzzword in the feed and livestock industry. According to Rodel, livestock producers are striving to get more out of less to maintain their profit margins, and feed enzymes are helping to meet this need by breaking down anti-nutritional factors in feed to increase feed efficiency. In turn, the feed enzymes are playing a crucial role in managing the ingredient associated risks in the animal production business.
Meanwhile, as the feed industry makes use of various grain types and local by-products available in different world regions and individual countries, feed enzymes help to ensure consistency in nutrient availability and production performance of animals.
"More and more by-products are being used. And whenever you use by-products, there can be large variation in nutrient availability. Feed enzymes can help reduce that variation and therefore ensure more uniform animal performance," Rodel explains.
Adapting to a changing industry
"About a decade ago corn DDGS (Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles) was almost unheard of in the feed industry. Recent research created commercial interest for this by-product from ethanol production which then triggered it to be produced and marketed in the feed industry," Rodel says.
There is also increasing demand from customers for feed enzymes to provide tailored solutions, including meeting rising animal welfare and sustainability standards.
"As feed enzymes like protease increase protein digestibility, there is less undigested protein passed on into the hind gut for disease-causing bacteria to grow and thrive. This indeed improves gut health of the animal.
Enzymes such as phytases also decrease the amount of phosphorous being excreted into the environment. Phytase breaks down the anti-nutritional factor phytic acid present in feedstuffs, allowing the animal to absorb more phosphorus, thus reducing the amount of phosphorus excreted in the form of manure," Rodel explains.
He adds, "The competitive landscape is definitely changing. The life cycle of a feed enzyme product used to be about 15 years. Now it is only about five years. This is not helped by the fact that it takes about five to seven years to develop a good product, which requires good foresight from the supplier."
But Rodel is quick to stress that Novus is keeping up well with all the changes as reflected in the company's latest offerings in its CIBENZA feed enzymes range.
"CIBENZA PHYTAVERSE® is the latest addition to our product range. It is the next-generation phytase which is intrinsically heat-stable and efficiently increases the availability of phosphorus in poultry diets, even at low total phosphorus levels.
In addition, CIBENZA DP100 is the leading protease enzyme in the market, and is also inherently heat-stable," Rodel says.
The CIBENZA product range also serves as flexible platform to complement any existing enzyme programme, be it single-enzyme or compound-enzyme, which a Novus customer is using.
BENZA DP100 feed additive is an intrinsically heat stable, potent protease enzyme that optimises the digestibility of proteins in poultry and swine feed ingredients. This aids in the reduction of feed cost, improves production performance and provides better ingredient risk management.
CIBENZA PHYTAVERSE is a next-generation, intrinsically heat stable and fast-acting phytase that increases the availability of phosphorus in poultry diets.
CIBENZA DE200 is a mannanase enzyme that helps maintain or enhance feeding practices. It releases optimal dietary energy and improves nutrient utilisation, providing an energy replacement to minimise feed cost.
CIBENZA IND900 is a heat stable protease that improves the protein digestibility of feather meal and other animal protein by-products during the cooking and rendering process. It supports animal performance, while improving operational efficiency and profitability.
"The majority of our customers already have an existing enzyme programme and we can offer enzyme solutions which complement their existing one," Rodel explains.
"Furthermore, here in Asia Pacific we have one of the most experienced and well-trained technical team to offer support and services to our customers. We also offer programmes like Novus Nutrition Forum and Master Class for our customers," adds Rodel.
"Even the best enzymes in the market will not perform well if the formulation is inaccurate from the start. So the assistance from Novus to have accurate feed formulation will ensure that whenever our customers use our products, particularly feed enzymes, their expectations and objectives will be met," Rodel explains.
Future plans
Currently, Novus's feed enzyme product portfolio CIBENZA is among the top focussed portfolios, together with HMTBa and minerals, says Rodel.
