Upcoming EU ban fuels interest in probiotic feed market
EU - With the upcoming EU ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed, companies such as Medipharm and Chr. Hansen are rushing to provide farmers with natural alternatives.Chr. Hansen, based in Denmark, announced yesterday (18 May 2005) it has become the first company to receive EU approval for the use of its BioPlus 2B probiotic as a feed additive for turkeys within the bloc.
The EU approved BioPlus 2B for use in pig feed last year. The additive contains naturally occurring probiotic bacteria and is intended to help increase weight gain. It was the first microbial feed additive to obtain approval by the EU for any animal feed, Chr. Hansen says.
Tests indicate pig mortality is reduced to about seven per cent from the average 12 per cent when sows are fed rations with BioPlus 2B, the company says.
Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements meant to beneficially affect the host animal by preventing other micro-organisms from infecting animals. Reacting to safety concerns the EU has banned the use of all antibiotic growth promoters from 1 January 2006.
The ban has fuelled an increased demand for natural pro-nutrients within the bloc. EU feed additives regulation No 1831/2003 phases out the use antibiotics, other than coccidiostats and histomonostats, from 1 January 2006. Coccidiostats and histomonostats will be banned as feed additives by 2009.
Source: MeatProcess
20 May 2005
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