June 18, 2008

Alltech presents solution to selenium deficiency in EU livestock

Leading selenium specialists present in Alltech's European Selenium Conference noted that livestock across the EU typically fall short of the optimal dietary intake of the nutrient selenium.

To address the prevalent selenium deficiency, Alltech presented Sel-Plex, which is an organic selenium supplementation in the diets of pigs, poultry and ruminants.

The speakers explained inorganic selenium salts do not solve the problem due to their low 'bioavailabilty' and sustainability in the body.

Research comparing organic selenium supplementation or Sel-Plex to selenite supplementation indicated key advantages of the product.

Compared to selenite, Sel-Plex resulted in an extra 4.5 chicks per hen. In breeders, Sel-Plex resulted in more uniform chick weights and length. Over 36 trials in breeders, replacing selenite with Sel-Plex gave an average of 35 gramme/bird more and FCR (Feed Conversion Rate) was reduced by 6 points, Peter Spring from the Swiss College of Agriculture said.

Furthermore, Irish consultant Wallace Henry, found similar results in pig diets. Henry said that changing from selenite to Sel-Plex in sow diets gives between 0.57 - 0.72 extra weaned pigs per annum or 645 pigs per 1000 sows. Pigs from sows fed Sel-Plex are also heavier at weaning by 0.5 kilogrammes.

Cows fed Sel-Plex tend to produce a much greater amount of seleno-protein P. In beef, Sel-Plex increases the GSH-Px in the tissue that enhances oxidative stability, Darren Juniper of Reading University in UK, said.

Alltech, headquartered in the US, is one of the industry leaders in the animal feed industry. The company has a European Bioscience Centre in Ireland and has developed a strong regional presence in North America, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.