Special Issue • Swine
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A magazine of
Got Nerd Money? Profitable Piglets
Mycotoxins in US Corn
Making Space in Feed Formulation
Annual Survey Results
Editorial Nerd Money in Swine Production At BIOMIN, we don’t just like science: we love it. Back in 1983, BIOMIN founder Erich Erber adopted a new way to support animal nutrition that privileges natural and innovative solutions that benefit animals, producers and the environment. For over 30 years, we have harnessed the power of science to support animal health and performance in the swine industry. Nerd money is the additional performance and profitability gains you can expect from application of the cutting-edge feed additives designed and produced by BIOMIN. It’s your benefit from our robust R&D commitment and the support from our technical professionals across the country. It’s part of the value proposition that translates into stress-free delivery and analytical service support using the most advanced scientific tools available. In this issue of Science & Solutions we look at how to make room for a number of feed additives in swine diets in pursuit of several health and performance goals. Addressing the health and performance challenges that mycotoxins pose is essential for the swine industry, particularly when it comes to protecting profits. Drawing upon the latest annual BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey —the longest running and most comprehensive of its kind— we detail the occurrence of the major mycotoxins in US corn. The new Biofi x® PROcheck service launched at the 2016 World Pork Expo offers you a fully tailored mycotoxin solution for your operation in order to protect your profitability.
Simon WALLEY President, BIOMIN North America
Science & Solutions • Special Issue
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Contents
Name, title position
Making Room for Feed Additives in Piglet Diets
Reducing the organic acid component in feed formulation to create space and generate further economic benefits.
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By Attila Kovács DVM MV Sc
Mycotoxins in US Corn The latest full year U.S. results from the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey, the longest running and most comprehensive survey of its kind.
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By Dr. Raj Murugesan and Dr. Timothy Jenkins
Science & Solutions is a monthly publication of BIOMIN Holding GmbH, distributed free-of-charge to our customers and partners. Each issue of Science & Solutions presents topics on the most current scientific insights in animal nutrition and health with a focus on one species (aquaculture, poultry, swine or ruminant) per issue. ISSN: 2309-5954 For a digital copy and details, visit: http://magazine.biomin.net For article reprints or to subscribe to Science & Solutions, please contact us: magazine@biomin.net Editor: Contributors: Marketing: Graphics: Research: Publisher:
Ryan Hines Timothy Jenkins, Attila Kovács, Raj Murugesan, Simon Walley Herbert Kneissl, Karin Nährer Reinhold Gallbrunner, Michaela Hössinger Franz Waxenecker, Ursula Hofstetter, Paolo Doncecchi BIOMIN Holding GmbH Erber Campus 1, 3131 Getzersdorf, Austria Tel: +43 2782 8030 www.biomin.net
Printed on eco-friendly paper: Austrian Ecolabel (Österreichisches Umweltzeichen) ©Copyright 2016, BIOMIN Holding GmbH All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form for commercial purposes without the written permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998. All photos herein are the property of BIOMIN Holding GmbH or used with license.
A magazine of BIOMIN
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Science & Solutions • Special Issue
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Making room for feed additives in piglet diets Organic acid use in piglet diets can be considered routine nowadays. Yet, high levels of organic acids in feed formulation take up a lot of otherwise useful space in the feed. Replacing a portion of organic acids with a more powerful additive can create room to further enhance feed formulation or add more economical raw materials at no additional cost. By Attila
Kovács, Global Product Line Manager – Acidifiers
S
wine producers apply organic acids to feed mainly to combat microbial and fungal contamination that causes the deterioration of feed and to decrease the pH in animals' stomachs. Constant treatment with organic acids has the added benefit of preventing recontamination of feed, whereas methods such as heat treatment do not. A number of factors support the rationale for dietary acidification for juvenile animals, especially weaning pigs. At weaning, piglets often register limited digestive and absorption capacity, typically due to insufficient hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes secretion. Add on top of this, stress associated with the weaning process, sudden feed consistency and environmental changes – all of which can have a negative effect on the digestion, feed absorption and intestinal microflora of the piglets. E. coli inhibition and beneficial bacteria promotion Various studies show that acidification of piglet diets at reported pH levels ranging from 4.36 to 5.79 can reduce the coliform and E. coli counts along the
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Photo: luismmolina
Making room for feed additives in piglet diets
Organic acids positively influence the growth of Lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract, which may competitively inhibit the proliferation of E. coli
Table 1. Change in the bacterial flora of the intestinal tract using Biotonic® Top3. Control
Positive control
Biotronic® Top3
E. coli
6.302a
5.970b
5.873b
Coliforms
8.277a
7.977b
8.151b
Salmonella typhimurium
8.220a
7.941b
8.053ab
Lactobacillus
6.295a
6.172a
6.515b
Bifidobacteria
6.891a
6.878a
7.130b
Log cfu/g Ileum
a,b
Means with different superscripts differ significantly; P<0.05 Positive control: Colistin 100g/t + CTC 100g/t Source: BIOMIN
intestinal tract, decreasing scouring and mortality of piglets (Table 1). Organic acids positively influence the growth of Lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract, which may competitively inhibit the proliferation of E. coli and produces lactic acid and other metabolites which lower the pH or have an antimicrobial effect and inhibit E. coli even more. Inclusion levels To decrease the buffer capacity and feed pH levels, organic acids are typically used in the feed manufacturing process. These typically include formic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid and acetic acid. Dietary acidification by a mixture of organic acids decreases the pH value of swine diets by 0.15 to 0.98 pH units, depending on the inclusion levels (varying from 0.5% to 3.0%) and diet composition. The inclusion level of the organic acids varies considerably in every feed manufacturing plant, depending also on the type of organic acids, the carrier and if the acids are added alone or blended. Replacement of single acids in the diet The feed formulation is a delicate process that must balance the nutrient requirements of animals at each production stage, the nutritional value of various feed raw materials, premixes, vitamins and minerals along
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with price and availability considerations. Space can be an issue, because trying to include all ingredients at an optimum level is not easy. Piglet diets that also contain organic acids pose an additional challenge. One approach is to replace part of the single acids with a more powerful feed additive, thereby making space in the feed formulation in a cost effective way. Biotronic® Top line combines the unique Biomin® Permeabilizing Complex, a phytochemical, a selected blend of organic acids and their salts, fully utilizing a unique synergism in their mode of action. The Biomin® Permeabilizing Complex boosts the activity of the active ingredients and facilitates their entry in the cytoplasm by permeabilizing the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Replacing 2 to 3 kg of a single acid with 1 kg of Biotronic® Top3 boosts the antimicrobial effect of the acid blend, reducing the bacterial load and improving animal growth performance. When looking to create space in feed formulation, it is generally recommended to use this 2:1 ratio to replace a single acid with Biotronic® Top line products. Maximizing space in the practice Several field and scientific trials have been conducted to replace benzoic acid and formic acid in different commercial formulations in piglet diets. In one recent case, a producer in Germany wanted to reduce the space taken up by the acids in the formulation by entirely replacing 6 kg per ton of a product based on formic acid salt (ACID) with Biotronic® Top3, provided that it could be done with no additional cost. For that trial, we doubled the recommended replacement ratio to 4:1, substituting the acid in question by Biotronic® Top3. The feed formulation also contained other acids that were not changed in either the initial or replacement diets (Table 2). The acid component of the replacement diet using Biotronic® Top3 cost 19% less than the initial diet using the product based on formic acid salt (ACID); a savings of $4.06 per ton. After evaluating the growth performance in a field trial using 380 weaning piglets (Figure 1) it was clear that the replacement of the 0.60%
Science & Solutions • Special Issue
Attila Kovács Global Product Line Manager – Acidifiers
Photo: harneshkp
Organic acids are essential in the piglet feed, especially in the weaning period, but at the same time they can be a limiting factor for the feed formulation.
Table 2. Acid content and price in the weaner pig’s diets. Component
Inclusion (%)
Inclusion (%)
0
0.15
ACID
0.60
0
Calcium Formiate
0.43
0.43
Fumaric acid
0.12
0.12
Citric acid
0.12
0.12
$21.65
$17.59
Biotronic®
Top3
Price of acids $ per ton of feed*
Figure 1. Body weight (kg) of the animals. 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
10.90
of ACID with 0.15% of Biotronic® Top3 caused no change in growth performance, though it did generate an extra profit of $0.5 per piglet. The Biotronic® group had higher feed intake and lower FCR (Figures 2 and 3). Room for more performance The extra space that is spared in the feed formulation can be used to include other feed additives that can further enhance growth performance or support animal health. A mycotoxin deactivator or phytogenic feed additive figure among the most common ones paired with organic acids. Having extra space also allows for greater flexibility regarding the inclusion level of the raw materials to optimize the energy or vitamin/mineral levels, or costs. Conclusion Organic acids are essential in the piglet feed, especially in the weaning period, but at the same time they can be a limiting factor for the feed formulation. Biotronic® Top line products can replace part of the organic acids in the formulation with additional economical benefits for the farmer. The modulation of the bacterial load in the intestinal tract together with a more efficient usage of the feed by the animal will not only cover the costs of the product, but bring also an added benefit.
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6.26
6.06
Starting weight
Final body weight (kg)
n Acid n Biotronic®
*prices originate from the German market Source: BIOMIN
11.51
Source: BIOMIN
Figure 2. Average daily feed intake (g) in the trial groups after 24 days of trial. 298 296 294 292 290 288 286 284 282 280 278
296
285
Average daily feed intake (g) n Acid n Biotronic® Source: BIOMIN
Figure 3. FCR in the trial groups after 24 days of trial. 1.43
1.43
1.42 1.41 1.40 1.40 1.39
FCR n Acid n Biotronic®
Source: BIOMIN
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US Corn Harvest: Latest BIOMIN Mycotoxin Sur By Dr. Raj
Murugesan, Technical & Marketing Director of BIOMIN America, and Dr. Timothy Jenkins, Mycotoxin Risk Management Product Manager
Iowa DON 11% ZEN 9% Max T-2 200 ppb
Wisconsin DON 22% ZEN 17%
Illinois DON 8% ZEN 14%
Indiana DON 12% ZEN 6%
New York DON 5% ZEN 12% FUM 23% Ohio DON 20% ZEN 7% Virginia FUM 100% (1 sample) North Carolina DON 5% ZEN 41% FUM 23%
Georgia DON 20% ZEN 7% Max Afla 108 ppb
Nebraska DON 10% ZEN 10% Oklahoma DON 23% ZEN 3% Max Afla 10,000 ppb Max OTA 200 ppb
Missouri DON 5% ZEN 12% FUM 23%
Figure 1. The threat of mycotoxin-related risks to livestock for six of the most common mycotoxins based upon threshold levels according to FDA and EU regulatory and guidance values. States in red had at least one mycotoxin type with samples above the regulatory or guidance levels. States in orange had samples tested and still have some risk.
Florida DON 5% ZEN 9% Max T-2 200 ppb
Mississippi ZEN 20% FUM 13% Max Afla 6000 ppb
n States without samples tested n Samples tested n Samples with mycotoxin levels recorded above risk threshold (percentage of samples above are shown for DON, ZEN and FUM - ppb levels shown for Afla, T-2 and OTA)
Source: BIOMIN
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Science & Solutions â&#x20AC;¢ Special Issue
Mycotoxins —fungal compounds toxic to animals—are present in most feeds, often at levels that impact on the
vey Results
health and productivity of livestock. The most recent data available indicates that mycotoxin occurrence in the latest US corn harvest raises concerns for the swine industry.
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n total, 455 corn samples including stored feed were sourced between August 2015 and April 2016 from 20 different states and analyzed in three different labs (Romer Labs Inc., USA; Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University, USA; Activation Laboratories, Canada). Since 2007, the BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey –the most longstanding and comprehensive of its kind— has included analysis of livestock feed and raw commodity samples sourced from the United States. The survey results, which now covers 75 countries, provide an insight on the incidence of six major mycotoxins: aflatoxins (Afla), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisins (FUM), T-2 toxin (T-2), and ochratoxin A (OTA). 14 out of 20 states had samples with at least one mycotoxin that exceeded regulatory or guidance levels (see risk threshold level in Table 1). Occurrence Almost all samples (93%) contained at least one of the six major mycotoxins tested, up from 87% the previous year. DON was the most prevalent at 78% (versus 62% in 2014). The mean average of positive samples
was 754 ppb which was around half the level of last year. Still, nearly 60% of samples were above a risk threshold for pigs. The average concentration of FUM, detected in 62% of samples, was around 2,500 ppb compared to 4,500 ppb in 2014. ZEN was above the risk threshold for pigs in 14% of samples. The other three mycotoxins, Afla, T-2, and OTA, were much less prevalent but levels were still sometimes high. Aflatoxins, while not common in US corn, can sporadically cause significant issues. Afla was found in just 8 samples (1.8%) but three of those samples were above the risk threshold and two of them were extremely high at 6,000 and 10,000 ppb. Two samples had T-2 levels at 200 ppb, double the risk threshold level for this potent mycotoxin. For ochratoxin A, known to damage kidneys and cause porcine pulmonary edema, four samples exceeded the risk threshold of 10 ppb. Evaluating the Risk by State Figure 1 demonstrates the threat of mycotoxin-related risks to livestock for six of the most common mycotoxins based upon threshold levels according to FDA and
Table 1. Mycotoxin Occurrence and Levels. Afla
ZEN
DON
T-2
FUM
OTA
Detected (%)
1.8%
14.3%
78.5%
0.4%
61.8%
1.8%
Above (%)
0.7%
10.3%
12.5%
0.4%
7.3%
0.4%
Mean Average of Positive (ppb)
2,018
567
754
200
2,552
151
11
200
400
200
900
52
10,000
6,400
20,000
200
64,700
500
0.9
37
346
0.9
513
0.4
20
100
900
100
5,000
100
Median of Positive (ppb) Maximum (ppb) Calculated Average (ppb)* Risk Threshold Level
(ppb)**
*
Calculated average shows the expected value of a random sample (based on the percentage of samples contaminated together with the levels reported – with a log transformation correction for the skewed distribution).
**
Based on FDA and European EFSA regulatory and guidance levels. Lower levels than these thresholds can still impact on immunity and gut health and can be a concern if some mycotoxins are present together. Note dairy animals should not receive more than 5 ppb aflatoxin in the feed.
Source: BIOMIN
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Raj Murugesan, Technical & Marketing Director of BIOMIN America Timothy Jenkins, Mycotoxin Risk Management Product Manager
14 out of 20 states had samples with at least one mycotoxin that exceeded regulatory or guidance levels
had a high prevalence of FUM with levels just below the threshold of 5000 ppb and, in 19% of samples, the synergistic mycotoxins FUM and DON were detected as co-contaminants. In most states DON was a common mycotoxin found and even at 200 ppb (4.5 times lower than the guidance level) it may have an effect on animal performance.
Percentage of Samples
Figure 2. Co-occurrence of mycotoxins in US corn. 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
42.9%
39.6%
11.0% 6.6% Mycotoxins per sample n0
n1
n2
n 3 or more
Source: BIOMIN
EU regulatory and guidance values. Origin states with samples tested above these limits are illustrated in red. Due to their common co-occurrence, the contamination of samples with DON above 900 ppb and ZEN above 100 ppb was observed in 14 and 13 states, respectively. FUM levels exceeding 5,000 ppb were detected in samples from 6 states. The occurrence of Afla above 20 ppb, and T-2 or OTA at levels above 100 ppb were found to be sporadic and not contained within any Naturally specific region. Note that in each occurring of the orange colored states, there is still a metabolites in mycotoxin risk due feed ingredients to the effects of mycotoxins at low levels reduce the on such aspects as intestinal condition and performance immune suppression, of animals by as well as the effects of interactions of two or compromising more mycotoxins. For example, Texan samples their health.
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Co-contamination The presence of two or more mycotoxins at once is more the rule rather than the exception. The presence of more than one toxin may intensify the negative effects on the animalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;known as a synergistic effect. As illustrated in Figure 2, 40% of all US corn samples were contaminated with one mycotoxin while 54% contained two or more mycotoxins, an increase from 37% in 2014. One important combination to be aware of is DON and ZEN, detected together in 12.5% of samples, which even at low levels can increase the effect of DON on the immune system and intestinal tract and the effect of ZEN on fertility. Almost half of the samples (47.7%) had co-contamination of DON and FUM which also display synergism, increasing the effects of each mycotoxin. Summary Overall, DON presents the highest threats in the US corn harvest samples due to its high prevalence commonly above FDA recommended level. Even below that level, DON may still have an impact particularly given the common co-contamination with either FUM or ZEN. FUM contamination was also frequently detected and commonly above guidance levels. ZEN was not so frequent but in most positive samples it was above the guidance level. Afla, T-2 and OTA were sporadic in appearance but were at concerning levels in a few samples each. In light of this data, it is recommended that swine producers take precautions to mitigate the negative consequences of mycotoxins stemming from contamination of feedstuffs.
Science & Solutions â&#x20AC;˘ Special Issue
Biotronic Top3 ®
the breakthrough in pathogen control
The Biomin® Permeabilizing Complex in Biotronic® Top3 contributes to the reduction of Gram-negative bacteria and boosts the synergistic effect of its components, the organic acids and the phytochemical.
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