Precision nutrition: Optimising performance, welfare and profit

Robust, cutting-edge research is a key feature that differentiates organisations from one another. Kemin is committed to high-quality scientific research not only in the development of new solutions, but also in the ongoing support of existing feed additives to ensure the value offering optimally meets the needs of the livestock industry. Scientific symposia are essential forums that provide a unique opportunity to highlight the main findings of recently conducted studies and share these with feed and animal producers.

Raising efficiency of nutrient uptake

Lysoforte Extend (LEX) is a unique nutrient absorption enhancer (NAE) which combines the benefits of 3 specifically selected active ingredients, lysophospholipids, monoglycerides and a synthetic emulsifier, in a well- defined, synergistic ratio. It is designed to get more potential from your feed, through increasing the uptake of dietary nutrients via improving the whole digestive process of the fat matrix: the emulsification, the hydrolysis and ultimate absorption of fatty acids through the intestinal wall. Although primarily active on dietary lipids, supplementation of LEX has also consistently shown to improve the digestibility of other valuable lipophilic nutrients such as crude protein, various amino acids, and fibre. Whilst this is still to be fully elucidated, this suggests that because of optimising lipid digestion, the encapsulating effect of fats is removed, facilitating better access to nutrients for both endogenous and exogenous gastric enzymes.

Numerous in vivo studies show that this concept translates into improved animal performance at significantly less feed costs thanks to tailormade diet reformulation. LEX can be applied with a flexible matrix providing substantial ROI benefits regardless of diet or fat type or inclusion level used.

One scientific study that will be highlighted during the ESPN, compared the benefit of using a dry form of LEX with its liquid counterpart. Liquid application not only offers a more cost efficient, sustainable, and more environmental and user-friendly solution for the feed mill, recent data show it also results in a higher animal performance as well. At the same time, the study assessed the effect of LEX in either a normal or low energy diet, following a growing market trend of using of low energy diets to help reduce feed costs. The study was conducted at a research institute in the UK involving 1248 Ross 308 broiler chicks, divided into 6 treatments (Table 1).

Broilers were fed in 3 phases over 42 days, with a corn, wheat soy diet. Performance, dry matter content of the litter, foot pad lesions and breast scalds were assessed.

Precision nutrition for thriving economics

The results of the study revealed that the use of LEX, as well in a normal or low energy diet, significantly improved cumulative body weight gain and feed efficiency, with the LEX liquid offering an additional benefit over the dry version. Furthermore, it was found that the use of LEX significantly reduced litter moisture with a resulting significant lower incidence and severity of footpad lesions and breast burns compared to non-supplemented birds, therefore offering extensive welfare benefits.

Analysing the economic impact of using a NAE, it was found that both forms of LEX delivered substantially more profit compared to the control, with the highest result when LEX liquid was used in the low-energy diets (Table 2). More research details will be presented in a poster at the upcoming ESPN so join us at the event for more insights!

Table 2- Economic implications of supplementing Lysoforte Extend (LEX) Dry or Liquid to normal or low energy diets for broilers.