Product News: Feed Acidifiers White Paper, Expanded Disinfectant Availability
Benzoic Acid Shows Consistency, Improved Performance in Swine
DSM Animal Nutrition and Health has released a white paper focused on the use of feed acidifiers in commercial swine operations. The white paper, Diet acidification and the merits of benzoic acid for swine nutrition and sustainable pork production, is authored by Jon Bergstrom, Ph.D., DSM senior technical support manager, and highlights trials and research surrounding the use of organic acids, according to a release from the company.
In the white paper, Bergstrom writes, “Organic acids and diet acidification are among the most viable avenues that are being considered to help maintain or improve the nutrition for pigs, both now and into the future.”
As organic acids have gained acceptance in recent years — whether because of antimicrobial resistance concerns, changing regulations or increasing consumer demand — experts are able to better evaluate the long-term use in feeding programs, the release says. Various acids have been used to acidify diets but understanding the differences among the acids and their more specific benefits has been difficult. However, one acid has shown more reliable and favorable results.
“Unlike other acids, benzoic acid has shown more consistency in pig performance. Benzoic acid helps maintain performance with reduced dietary pH,” writes Bergstrom in the paper. “The versatility of benzoic acid in swine feeds has been demonstrated, and it’s been effective in diets containing phytogenic compounds or flavorings, enzymes, and even other acids.”
Trials completed recently in North America have shown improvements in post-weaning pig performance with .5% benzoic acid used for feed acidification. A 2019 research report showed average daily gain and average daily feed intake were increased in pigs fed diets with benzoic acid from day 0 to day 21 post-weaning, even when diets contained high levels of zinc oxide. Feed conversion was also improved with .5% benzoic acid in diets with low zinc oxide, the release says.
A 2020 post-weaning study found that diets with .5% benzoic acid improved average daily gain and ending body weight during days 0 to 13 and 13 to 20 post-weaning. Feed efficiency was also improved from day 0 to 13, and there was a tendency for pigs fed diets containing any of the acids to have greater ADFI from day 13 to 20, the release says.
Benzoic acid also showed benefits during the growing and finishing phases in some trials, in addition to the nursery period.
Novālent Biotech launches disinfectants in Australia and New Zealand
Novālent Biotech, a US biotechnology engineering firm, is launching its surface disinfectant products in Australia and New Zealand, according to a release from the company.
The product protects against bacteria and viruses on surfaces for up to 90 days, and can be applied to surfaces by wiping, spraying, or fogging. Once dry, the surface remains protected even if touched or recontaminated multiple times, the release says.
Routine disinfecting does not hamper Novālent’s protective properties, the company says. The technology is based on a patented non-toxic monomolecular layer that provides up to 90 days of antimicrobial protection. Novālent products have applications across industries including buildings and facilities, food service, hospitality, fitness, healthcare, transport, and textiles and apparel, the release notes.
“We’ve seen a rapid adoption of our technology in the US from market leaders including PepsiCo, Hanes brands, and Pilgrim’s,” said Kevin Parrish, CEO of Novālent. “We are now bringing this technology to the Australia and New Zealand market to provide customers with a truly revolutionary product based on more than two decades of research by our R&D engineering team in the US.”
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has registered Novālent technology as an effective commercial-grade surface disinfectant against coronaviruses including the virus that causes COVID-19, the release concludes.
