Chr. Hansen is ready to launch probiotic feed additive that can prevent Necrotic enteritis in commercial poultry production.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a serious condition where chickens loose the ability to digest nutrients from the feed with the risk of a painful death within only few days. The condition causes much suffering for the chicken and represents a serious loss to the producers. Recent European surveys estimate the economic impact of NE on global poultry producers to $2 billion annually.

"Our new, probiotic bacteria, Bacillus, is an all natural method to prevent NE from occurring. It makes treatment with antibiotics superfluous and frees the producers of the extra management and costs of retention time before slaughtering. And last but not least, it severely raises the level of animal welfare in the production, " says Inge Knap, Director, Development and Application, Animal Health & Nutrition, Chr. Hansen.

Large market potential

The market for Bacillus is large, as the European poultry production alone amounts to 5.5 billion chickens annually (FAOSTAT). Globally, the production reaches 42 billion chickens equalling an annual production of 59 million ton chicken meat (USDAFAS, 2005)

"We see a huge potential for our new Bacillus, and look forward to going to market first in North and South America and then hopefully Europe. This new product fits perfectly in our portfolio of documented microbial products for the feed industry, which already today provides solutions for the swine, poultry and livestock industries," says Jan Kuhlmann, Vice President, Animal Health & Nutrition, Chr. Hansen.

Probiotics are live bacteria that benefit its host. Probiotics in form of feed additives improve nutrient digestion, the intestinal microflora as well as the general health of the animals.