April 6, 2012

Brazil alters poultry feed's mineral inclusion levels

Brazil, the world's second major poultry producer, has changed regulations indicating minimum and maximum levels of mineral inclusion for poultry and swine nutrition.

According to the decision published in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU), a journal published by the Brazil Union Government on February 23, 2012, the level of inclusion of minerals supplied to poultry and swine is now flexible to allow for higher absorption rates of organic minerals.

This change occurred on the back of various scientific studies that showed that the level of inclusion of organic minerals could be lower than levels, based on minerals supplemented in an inorganic form, that were initially proposed by the Brazilian Ministério da Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture). Minerals in the form of proteinates and yeast enriched with selenium are known internationally as organic minerals.

It has been satisfactorily shown that they are more bioavailable and for this reason can be administered as supplements, premixes, concentrates and feeds at levels lower than inorganic minerals (such as oxides, sulphates, etc.). In addition, due to increased bioavailability, better absorption and utilisation of organic minerals in the animal, the levels of minerals eliminated through faeces are also considerably less, reducing the adverse effects of contamination in the environment.