Poultry producers know feed is the most important and costly input in their operation. In fact, feed accounts for up to 70 per cent of their total production cost. Novus International has made it a priority to provide solutions that:

• allow flexibility in formulation and increased control over feed inputs
• reduce feed oxidation/degradation, and
• minimise excess protein in the diet

to assist poultry producers in increasing productivity and profitability.

Dr Scott Carter, global poultry market manager for Novus, explained: "We are continually working to offer producers new options to gain more control over their feed costs. Our portfolio of solutions addresses protein, energy and phosphorus digestion as well as protecting the feed and its nutrients from degradation with no sacrifice in performance."

Most recently, Novus introduced CIBENZA^TM DP100, a new dietary enzyme. The use of enzymes in feed rations is not new. In fact they have become a widely accepted and increasingly popular element of many poultry diets. Previously, though, most enzymes focused on optimizing energy or phosphorus components of feed rations. CIBENZA DP100 is different in that it allows producers to optimise the protein component of poultry diets.

With soybean and other protein meal prices remaining at high level, the cost of including proteins/amino acids in feed ingredients remains high. Dietary proteins are not completely utilised by the animal.

Dr Carter continued: "There is potential to improve amino acid utilisation by supplementing animal diets with proteolytic enzymes that have appropriate properties such as activity and stability, and that are cost effective for feed applications. Formulations of these enzymes incorporate a wider variety of cost-effective proteins while maintaining performance levels associated with more expensive feed ingredients. Poultry operations increase margins by saving money on feed costs without losing production."

Another element of optimising feed costs is protecting the value of the feed-and the nutrients that feed contains-from degradation. Left alone, feed will naturally oxidise. Oxidation begins decreasing the value of the unprotected ingredients immediately after they are produced and continues over time. This continued oxidation results in a decline in the effectiveness of the feed.

Dr Drew Giesen, technical manager, poultry, said: "In order to counteract the effects of feed degradation, we recommend producers consider SANTOQUIN®. The feed preservatives in SANTOQIN provide unsurpassed protection from oxidative rancidity, which ultimately prolongs nutritional shelf life in complete feed."

Finally, Novus is committed to providing producers with a solution to minimise excess dietary protein. Novus' feed supplement, ALIMET®, provides a source of methionine to reduce the need to formulate with excess proteins, which, in turn, is shown to reduce nitrogen excretions and allow better performance during heat stress.

Dr Carter concluded: "Increasing production efficiency and getting more value out of the ingredients the producer formulates results in a healthier profit margin. By producing more with less, the industry is meeting the need for sustainable production and managing consumer expectations for environmentally compatible practices."