December 14, 2022

ADM launches new sweeteners for weanling pig feed

ADM has launched two products under its SUCRAM range, an in-feed sweetening solution for livestock species.

Developed by ADM's global feed additives business, Pancosma, SUCRAM M'I Sweet and SUCRAM Specifeek are sweeteners designed to improve the palatability of feed for young animals – particularly, weanling pigs.

"Significant diversity exists between the sweet taste receptors among different species, impacting the perception of sweetness," said Fabio Catunda, ADM's global swine commercial director. "What is sweet for one species may not be perceived as sweet in another species due to these inter-species differences. This is critical to understand when developing effective sweetening products such as SUCRAM."

An ongoing collaboration between ADM's nutrition experts and molecular physiology and biochemistry scientists at the University of Liverpool is expanding industry knowledge of the function of sweet taste receptors in animals. These new additions to ADM's SUCRAM range were specifically developed to activate the swine sweet taste receptors, with a focus on piglets at weaning.

In-feed sweeteners have demonstrated to be an effective attractant to encourage feed intake at the weaning stage, as piglets make the transition from liquid to solid feed.

Both SUCRAM M'I Sweet and Specifeek are saccharin-free and, as part of the product development process, were tested in an in-vitro swine sweet taste receptor model. After years of research, these products also may have functional benefits in encouraging feed intake during a stressful period, optimising nutrient absorption and supporting gut health and maturation to promote ongoing growth and performance in pigs.

SUCRAM products are available in more than 45 countries. Specifeek and M'I Sweet will initially be launched in Europe.

- ADM