Enzyme Management
Maximizing Feed Efficiency
One of the biggest challenges for the feed industry and animal nutrition as a whole is the rising cost of feed, which can account for up to 70% of total production expenses. Furthermore, around 25% of the available nutrients in feed ingredients cannot be fully utilized by the animal due to anti-nutritional factors.
Today, the greatest challenge for the feed industry — and especially for nutritionists — is to reduce this indigestible fraction and maximize feed efficiency based on nutritional and economic factors, which can often vary and may be unique to each production system.
Feed costs represent the biggest input for producers, often accounting for up to 70% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION COSTS.
Around 25% OF NUTRIENTS ARE LOST due to anti-nutritional factors in feed.
The Alltech Enzyme Management Allzyme Series
Join us in this Allzyme series to learn about the most efficient strategies for the inclusion of enzyme technologies and how you can protect your productivity and obtain long-term, sustainable results.
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How can we provide the growing world population with food while maximizing feed efficiency in a sustainable way?
Together, we can maximize feed efficiency. The Alltech® Enzyme Management program utilizes unique technologies backed by science that work in synergy with the animal’s digestive tract and target the complete diet to optimize the potential of the feed by reducing the anti-nutritional effects, improving nutrient release and feed digestibility. As a result, fewer nutrients are released into the environment, saving producers money while providing sustainable benefits for the animal and the planet.
Enzymes are protein-based molecules that speed up specific chemical reactions. They break down a larger molecule into one or more smaller molecules, or they combine smaller molecules into a large molecule. Either way, enzymes help convert a less digestible component of feed (e.g., fiber) into a more easily absorbed form for animals to utilize.
Enzyme mode of action:
The enzyme attracts substrates to its active site.
Enzyme and substrate bind. The combination formed by the enzyme and its substrates is called the enzyme–substrate complex.
The bond breaks during digestion, forming an enzyme-product complex.
Products/nutrients are released.
Main feed enzyme categories
Phytase, carbohydrase and protease are some of the most common feed enzymes typically considered in the animal feed industry. Each of these three feed enzyme categories has a specific role and function in the animal that results in benefits for producers. However, certain enzymes can only react with certain substrates.
- Carbohydrases break down fiber to improve the digestibility of carbohydrates in feed, thus increasing the amount of nutrients an animal can use for energy. Carbohydrases help to degrade anti-nutritional factors, such as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The primary types of carbohydrases used in animal nutrition include xylanase, which breaks down arabinoxylans; beta-glucanase, which breaks down glucans; and cellulase, which breaks down cellulose.
- Proteases increase the digestibility of proteins and amino acids. Protease enzymes are also capable of breaking apart proteins that bind starch within feed ingredients, thus making more of the energy found in starch available to the animal.
- Phytases increase the digestibility of phytate, which improves the overall availability of dietary phosphorus. The addition of phytase in feed results in a lower excretion of the phosphorous content in manure, contributing to a lower environmental impact of livestock farming.
What should you keep in mind when looking for the right enzyme?
Not all enzymes are created equal
Look for products that offer reliability
Enzymes must match the substrate in the diet
Target the complete diet
Look for valid nutrient values for feed formulation
Get the most out of the diet
Our feed enzyme technologies have implications beyond cost savings. Our range of feed enzymes helps improve gut health, animal welfare and the environment, allowing you to potentially triple your bottom line.
Profit
✔ Reduces feed costs
You can save up to $14* per ton of feed.
*Depending on the feed enzyme combination, the diet and the species.
✔ Greater feedstuff utilization
✔ Reduces variability
Performance
✔ Optimizes feed digestibility
✔ Promotes a healthy digestive system
✔ Reduces gut viscosity, enabling animals to digest and absorb more nutrients
Planet
✔ Reduces environmental impact
✔ Less soybean meal, oil and phosphates needed
✔ Lowers the manure output in terms of the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus
Feed enzyme production: A unique solid state fermentation (SSF) process
Backed by science since 1980
Alltech has pioneered the production of enzymes. Our years of research and collaboration make it possible for us to provide producers with the most unique SSF enzyme technologies in the animal feed industry.
A unique solid state fermentation (SSF) process
How does it work?
1.
Strain selection
SSF is a naturally occurring process, breaking down substrate by the production and release of specific enzymes. In a production system, specific fungal strains are selected.
2.
Liquid Fermentation
These fungal strains are then grown in a liquid media.
3.
Substrate ready for fermentation
This substrate enters Alltech’s state-of-the-art tray fermentation chamber, where it incubates for up to five days.
4.
Solid state fermentation process
During this time, the fungus grows rapidly and secretes enzymes to break down the substrate (solid media) to release nutrients required for continued growth.
5.
Substrate drying process
The substrate is then dried and standardized for enzyme activities and passed through quality control.
The result is ALLZYME®
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Frequently Asked Questions
What factors should be taken into consideration when formulating feed with enzymes?
Enzyme activity is not linear and does not fit well with a linear formulation program. Not all feed enzymes are created equal. So, understanding the undigestible dietary fractions present in feed ingredients and the complex interactions between enzymes, substrates and the gut can improve the digestibility of all nutrients.
What enzymes are used for animal feed?
Phytase, carbohydrase and protease are some of the most common feed enzymes typically considered in the animal feed industry. Each of these three feed enzyme categories has a specific role and function in the animal that results in different benefits for producers. However, certain enzymes can only fit into certain substrates.
What types of raw materials perform better with feed enzymes?
Enzymes work on different types of raw materials, including high fiber, which contains anti-nutritional factors commonly found in typical corn, soy and wheat diets.
How does formulating with enzymes work?
The formulation of enzymes into the diet is based on the nutrient value “uplifts” and on maintaining equal or better performance at a lower diet cost. The matrix is calculated from the "uplift" in nutrient values determined by research and enzyme use rate.
What role do enzymes play in sustainability?
Adding enzymes to animal nutrition reduces the amount of soybean meal, oil and phosphates needed, enhances the use of alternative raw materials and helps increase the production yield for limited arable land. Enzymes also help lower the manure output in terms of the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus while also helping producers save money by reducing the feed cost per ton.