Cattle Feed Enzymes

Many feed ingredients are not fully digested by livestock. However, by adding enzymes to feed, the digestibility of the components can be enhanced. Enzymes are now a well-proven and successful tool that allows feed producers to extend the range of raw materials used in feed, and also to improve the efficiency of existing formulations. Enzymes are added to the feed either directly or as a premix together with vitamins, minerals and other feed additives. In premixes, the coating of the enzyme granulate protects the enzyme from deactivation by other feed additives such as choline chloride. The coating has another function in the feed mill - to protect the enzyme from the heat treatments sometimes used to destroy Salmonella and other unwanted microorganisms in feed. Coating of enzymes can be replaced by thermostable enzymes can be derived from thermophobic micro -organisms. Liquid enzymes are used in those cases where the degree of heat treatment (conditioning) for feed is high enough to cause an unacceptable loss of activity in the enzyme. Liquid enzymes are added after conditioning and liquid dosing systems have been developed for accurate addition of these enzymes. Addition of enzymes can be done during the palletisation of feed or liquid enzymes can be fed directly to the animals through water line, specially in poultry cases. A wide range of enzyme products for animal feed are now available to degrade substances such as phytate can be degraded by phytase, glucan can be degraded by beta glucanase, starch can be hydrolysed by amylase, protein can be degraded by proteinases, pectin-like polysaccharides by pectin methyl esterases, xylan by xylanases, raffinose and stachyose by blends of mannanase and pullulanase. Hemicellulose and cellulose can also be degraded by blends / like of whole cellulases. As revealed by the many feed trials carried out to date, the main benefits of supplementing feed with enzymes are faster growth of the animal, better feed utilisation (feed conversion ratio), more uniform production, better health status.

Microorganisms are naturally present in the digestive system of the animals. Some microbes aid digestion, others can potentially cause pathogenesis. The implication of gut ecology for nutrition, feed conversion and disease control, the microbial ecology of the gut merits greater attention. Use of antibiotics disturbs the microbiological balance of gut flora eliminating most of the beneficial flora. On stopping the antibiotic treatment, pathogens begin to reestablish themselves in the intestine. Overgrowth of these organisms and subsequent invasion of the system by pathogenic organisms cause inflammatory, immunological, neurological and endocrinological problems. Using probiotics can help build up the beneficial bacteria in the intestine and competitively exclude the pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria also release enzymes, which help in the digestion of feed.

In cattle there was no supplemental probiotic given since the ruminant animals employ microbial fermentation to digest the food. By the use of genetic engineering one could alter rumen microorganisms and populations to provide more efficient feed conversion, improved milk composition and removal of toxins. The usage of probiotics has been a subject of intense research all over the world and was been accepted as an alternative for antibiotics.

AETL is the first company to do successful research and has launched enzymes and probiotics based products for cattle segment. Products like BoviSEB to enhance milk yields and digestibility, Bovipar to boost up immune system and CombiSEB Vet for anorexia, diahorea and acidosis are gaining popularity. These products are also capable to reduce and replace dose of drugs and antibiotics and has zero side effects.