DIGESTON-1B Produktionsgemeinschaft F.u.H. Egger Ges.m.b.H. A-8413 Mitterlabill 19, Tel. +43-3184-2419, Fax +43-3184-2419-6, e-mail: pge-egger@aon.at
2 DIGESTON-1 The natural concept Natural additives have gained remarkable public interest and importance by proving their efficiency and obvious positive effects on animal health. Natural feed additives, which improve the balance of the microflora involved in digestion and enhance the general immune system of the animals are very important tools for a natural animal husbandry. Antibiotics, whose use in animal nutrition is controversial, may be replaced by modern natural feed additives without any performance reduction! Nowadays many producers are willing to re-think their production methods and to occupy themselves with alternative concepts. The ever growing demand of the consumers for residue-free food from a more natural production will strengthen this tendency. The concept of natural feed additives will more and more replace the praxis of antibiotics in the future.
3 Information about the manufacturer DIGESTON-1 is produced by the company Produktionsgemeinschaft F.u.H. Egger GmbH (P.G.E.) in its production facilities in Mitterlabill, Austria. The Produktionsgemeinschaft F.u.H. Egger GmbH, founded 1977, is a private independent enterprise, specialised in the production of microbial and other biological feed additives. P.G.E. was the first company in Europe to register a probiotic feed additive, based on specific lactic acid bacteria. DIGESTON-1 has been produced and further developed in the manufacturing plant in Mitterlabill for 20 years. The P.G.E. products are exported in more than 15 countries all over the world. P.G.E. manufacturing plant (partial view), in Mitterlabill, Styria, Austria With more than 1000 cbm in tanks for anaerobic fermentation, P.G.E. is well equipped for large-scale lactic acid fermentation. The company also has in operation most advanced drying facilities. A well-equipped laboratory for chemical and microbial analysis ensures highest production control standards.
4 DIGESTON-1 supplementary feed for animal husbandry DIGESTON-1 is a natural supplementary feed produced by fermentation of soy-bean meal. Specific features: DIGESTON-1 is produced by a controlled lactic acid fermentation. Several specially selected strains of lactic acid bacteria are used to initiate the fermentation. By using sophisticated drying-techniques the fermentation flora is preserved in the product to a great extent and so DIGESTON-1 contains a high number of naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria. In the course of the fermentation the fermentation substrate (soybean meal) is converted and different metabilites e.g. short chain peptides, which are known to enhance mucosal immunity and thereby the general health, are produced by the bacteria. General effects: DIGESTON-1 is added to the feed and leads to an optimal balance of the bacteria involved in the digestion. The lactic acid bacteria flora is improved, thereby the mucosal immunity is enhanced and an uncontrolled growth of decease-causing germs is prevented. Further on, the healthy digestive tract has a positive influence on the weight gain, feed conversion and mortality. General effects: improved growth performance reduced feed consumption healthier and calmer animals reduction of coughs and flues as well as losses (strengthened immune-system) Package: 25 kg paper sacks Shelf life: when stored in cool and dry place 12 months
5 Description of the manufacturing process For the production of DIGESTON-1 a specially selected bacterial culture of lactobacilli is used. This mixture is inoculated on a carrier consisting of 100 % heat-treated soybean meal. After several days of fermentation the substrate is dried at low temperature, with purified, pre-dried warm air, to a remaining moisture content of approximately 10 %. The dried product is ground and a final production control takes place. The manufacturing process of DIGESTON-1 is patented by Produktionsgemeinschaft F.u.H. Egger GmbH. DIGESTON-1 bacteria - different species of Lactic Acid Bacteria bacteria in active stage (log phase) DIGESTON-1 bacteria - on substrate before drying
6 Schematic description of the manufacturing process of DIGESTON-1 Reactivation of standardised Lactic acid bacterial cultures and reproduction in laboratory and subsequently in industrial fermenters Heat-treated, defatted Soybean meal Mixing Anaerobic Fermentation in industrial fermenters Fermentation Drying at low temperature, with pre-dried filtered air Drying Grinding Final production control in own laboratory and through state laboratory Storage, Quality control
7 Chemical Analysis of DIGESTON-1 : Moisture... 11 % ph (10 gr/100 ml H2O)... 4.3 Lactic acid... 9 % Acetic acid... < 1 % Crude protein... 43 % Digestible protein... 40 % Fat... 0.8 % Ash... 6 % Calcium... 0.5 % Phosphorus... 0.7 % Lysine... 2.7 % Total Sugar... 1.4 % Starch... 3.7 % Official control of contaminants by State Veterinary During production a lot of care is taken to avoid contamination with undesired micro-organisms. Each batch is stored separately and tested for contaminates in a state laboratory. Typical test result: Coliforms... negative in 10 grams Salmonella... negative in 50 grams Staphylococci... negative Pathogenic clostridia... negative Shelf life If stored under proper conditions (cool and dry) DIGESTON-1 will keep its properties for 12 months.
8 Usage and dosage To reach the optimal effects, it is advantageous to use DIGESTON-1 already in the early stages and before the expected stress periods. In stress-situations higher inclusion rates (up to 10 kgs per ton) can optimise the results. Animal Usage Dosage (per ton of finished feed) -- Pigs: Piglets: Breeding sows: Finishing pigs: Inclusion in the first feed and in the weaning feed 2-4 weeks before farrowing and during the lactation 20-60 kg life weight 2-5 kg 2 kg 1-2 kg -- Poultry: During the whole rearing and the laying- or fattening period 1-2 kg -- Ruminants: Calves: Young cattle, dairy cows and fattening cattle: During the rearing and calf fattening, especially when the feed is changed from liquid to normal feeding. In compound feed and at poor structured feed 3 kg 1-2 kg -- Horses: During the whole rearing and in stress periods 2 kg -- Rabbits: As well in the rearing (fattening) as in the feed of the breeding animals 2 kg -- Pets: For the regulation of the intestinal flora small quantities when needed Generally an inclusion rate of 0.1-0.2 % in the finished feed is used.
9 Trial results Pigs: 1) Influence on the reproduction performance of sows (LE GOUESSANT, Lamballe, France) Control-Group DIGESTON-1 Stat. Signif. Number of sows 86 50 No. of live born piglets per litter 11.5 12.2 NS Piglets, stillborn (% from total) 5.9 6.3 NS % mortality/live born piglets 22.4 18.1 S Ø Piglets weight at birth (g) 1366.6 1335.3 NS Ø DLWG 1st week (g) 137 106 S Ø DLWG D8 - weaning (* (g) 292 314 S Ø DLWG D0 - weaning (g) 225 232 S Ø No. of live piglets at 21 days 9.12 9.94 S Piglet diarrhoea (%) 18 8.8 S (* Weaning: 28th day Summary: The usage of DIGESTON-1 from 20 days before until 20 days after the weaning has influenced all examined parameter positively. The number of raised piglets was 9% higher then in the control group and the DLWG was increased by 3.1%. The number of piglet diarrhoea was reduced by the half. The sows produced 13% more milk and 37.5% less cases of MMA occurred. 2) Influence of DIGESTON-1 on piglets (PORTER, Norfolk, U.K.) Control-Group DIGESTON-1 Significance Initial Bodyweight (kg) 21.42 20.65 Final Bodyweight (kg) 27.68 28.80 DLWG 17. to 25.9. 0.51 0.65 P<0.01 25. to 29.9. 0.54 0.74 17. to 29.9. 0.52 0.68 P<0.01 F.C.R. 17. to 25.9. 2.43 2.08 N.S. 25. to 29.9. 2.51 2.16 17. to 29.9. 2.46 2.12 N.S Conclusion: Inclusion of DIGESTON-1 at 2 kg per tonne to the diet of growing pigs, together with reduction (-16.8%) of the protein content of the diet, resulted in substantially and significantly improved weight gain, compared to controls. Feed/gain ratios were lower in test than in control groups, but not significantly.
10 3) DIGESTON-1 in pig fattening (Dr. HUBER, Upper Austria) Control DIGESTON-1 No. of animals 12 12 Days on trial 94.35 86.61 Initial weight 30.20 kg 32.25 kg Final weight 106.20 kg 106.89 kg Av. daily weight gain 811.70 grams 862.39 grams feed conversion 1: 3.07 2.84 Summary: In this trial 24 pigs were stalled separately and divided into two groups: Control group (n=12) and DIGESTON-1 group (n=12), which received 0.1 % of DIGESTON-1. The trial group had a statistically significant (P 0.05) better feed conversion of 7.5%. Concerning the daily weight gains the DIGESTON-1 group was 6.2% better (P 0.10). The economic efficiency of the inclusion of DIGESTON-1 in the feed is shown by a 48,-- ATS higher revenue per finishing pig. Broiler: Trial for fattening poultry with DIGESTON-1 (M.BOUGON et al., Ploufrangan, France) Digeston = DIGESTON-1 Dose: 700 grams per ton of feed Performance on the 22nd day - start of fattening - (chicks) (Bougon et al. 1987) Average weight (g) Group Feed male female average Feed conversion (1) Losses (%) A 767ab 702ab 734ab (100,0) 1.470a (100,0) 2.32 B Avotan 789a 722a 755a (102,9) 1.435b (97,6) 1.25 C Toyocerine 756b 705ab 731ab (99,6) 1.477a (100,5) 1.08 D Digeston 763ab 708ab 735ab (100,1) 1.451ab (98,7) 0.90 E Biocroissance 776ab 715a 745ab (101,5) 1.445ab (98,3) 1.07 F Starflor 778ab 704ab 741ab (101,0) 1.461ab (99,4) 2.68 G Lactiferm 755b 688b 721b (98,2) 1.470a (100,0) 0.90 769 706 737 1.458 1.46 (1) Average temperature = 26 C Performance on the 43rd day - end of fattening - (chicks) (Bougon et al. 1987) Average Weight (g) Group Feed male female average Feed Conversion (1) Losses (%) A 2049b 1748b 1899bc (100.0) 1,908a (100.0) 3.39 B Avotan 2138a 1803a 1970a (103.7) 1,866b (97.8) 2.86 C Toyocerine 2080ab 1778ab 1929abc (101.6) 1,904a (99.8) 2.33 D Digeston 2094ab 1793ab 1943abc (102.3) 1,881ab (98.6) 1.44 E Biocroissance 2081ab 1782ab 1931abc (101.7) 1,892ab (99.2) 1.78 F Starflor 2110ab 1792ab 1951ab (102.7) 1,884ab (98.7) 2.68 G Lactiferm 2029b 1745b 1887c (99,4) 1,886 (98.8) 1.96 2083 1777 1930 1.889 2.35 (1) Average temperature = 25 C Positive (statistically significant) results in the gain from the 22nd - 43rd day in the Digeston Group (improvement: 3.8 %).
11 Cattle: Calf rearing in Austria (Dr. B.HUBER, LWK, Linz, Upper Austria) P = DIGESTON-1 0 = Control group Finishing Daily weight gains n Initialweight e- weight weight Intermediat Final- A - Z Z - E A - E A - Z Z - E A - E kg kg kg kg kg kg g g g P 10 84.90 ± 8.13 181.80 ± 6.68 209.00 ± 7.07 96.90 ± 3.96 27.20 ± 2.04 124.00 ± 4.04 1020.00 ± 41.65 1046.15 ± 78.61 1025.62 ± 33.39 0 10 85.50 ± 8.29 169.30 ± 8.01 197.00 ± 8.06 83.80 ± 6.46 27.70 ± 0.95 111.50 ± 6.17 882.11 ± 68.00 1065.38 ± 36.49 921.49 ± 50.98 P+0 20 85.20 ± 9.00 175.55 ± 9.63 203.00 ± 9.61 90.35 ± 8.51 27.45 ± 1.57 117.80 ± 8.22 951.05 ± 89.53 1055.77 ± 60.46 973.55 ± 67.92 Difference (d) 137.9 104.13 Sd 25.22 19.27 t 5.47 5.40 F 29.90*** 29.20*** Summary: In a commercial farm two groups of calves each 10 male animals per group were kept in the same environment, whereas the trial group received 0.3 % DIGESTON-1 mixed in the calve feed concentrate. The DIGESTON-1 group achieved during the finishing period of 121 days an extra weight gain of 12 kg per calf, the daily weight gains were 104g better and the contribution margin was ATS 538,-- higher per calf. These results are statistically highly significant, therefor it can be concluded, that DIGESTON-1 is capable of improving the weight gain as well as the economic efficiency.