Probiotics gaining wider approval

Probiotics gaining wider approval

An estimated 3 million calves are currently being raised on farms across New Zealand. An increasing number will receive probiotics – products that supply or encourage beneficial microbes to establish in the gut in order to maximise animal health and growth potential.

The health benefits of probiotics are widely recognised in human nutrition, with yoghurt being the most common probiotic-containing food product. Animal probiotics are simply formulations containing microbial strains that are specific to the differing needs of cows, sheep and horses.

One of New Zealand’s oldest agri-companies, Donaghys Industries, is urging farmers to evaluate the benefits of probiotics, in particular those that can verify their claims and are cost-effective.

Donaghys manufactures a range of probiotics developed by its Scientific Research Group – one of New Zealand’s biggest privately funded science divisions. The ProCalf formula has been on the market since 2001 and last year Donaghys, in conjunction with Technology New Zealand, approached AgResearch in Palmerston North to trial ProCalf. AgResearch was chosen because of its specialisation in functional microbes for animal applications, having spent over $5m on research in this area.

Dr Adrian Cookson led the AgResearch team which introduced several of their newly discovered probiotic microbes to the ProCalf formulation. AgResearch’s trial results found ProCalf increases a calf’s appetite by 6.3 percent. Research showed calves also tended to grow 6 percent faster during the 42 days leading up to weaning (giving a 1.2 kg advantage) and growth was still 2 percent faster over the 28 days post weaning.

“Both farmers and calves will benefit from using ProCalf,” says Dr Cookson. “The trial results speak for themselves.”

Probiotics work by supplying and encouraging the growth of microbes that cause the rumen to develop more quickly. The rumen is where solid feed is digested – the quicker it develops, the sooner the calf can be weaned.

ProCalf also contains rennet, an enzyme that helps clot the milk enabling it to stay in the gut for longer which in turn allows for better digestion and reduces the risk of scours. Feedback from farmers is that ProCalf, and the probiotics it contains significantly reduce the incidence of scours.

Donaghys Industries dairy product manager Doug Mackenzie says sales of ProCalf are increasing as more farmers learn about the benefits through word of mouth. However, he warns not all probiotics are the same and farmers need to carefully evaluate their options before they decide what to buy. “Farmers need to be wary of outlandish claims and to look at their cost-effectiveness.

“Donaghys prides itself on its long history with generations of New Zealanders. We ensure our products don’t overpromise,” says Doug. “We are particularly proud that ProCalf is manufactured in Dunedin with products derived from New Zealand. And despite being Kiwi-made (like Donaghys), ProCalf is cheaper than competitor products. At $5 per calf from birth to weaning it is a tenth of the cost of some competing products.

“There are many other advantages to ProCalf. For example, it’s in a liquid form which makes it easier to mix. Farmers who are using ProCalf report more contented and healthier looking calves. It all leads to a reduction in man-hours as the calves mature faster which means there are feed cost savings to be made as well.”

About probiotics

Probiotics is Latin for “For Life” and was coined in 1953. However, probiotics have been used for centuries to promote good health. At the beginning of the 20th Century Russian scientist and Nobel laureate Eli Metchnikoff studied the effect of probiotics and prescribed a diet of sour milk. During the past 20 years probiotics have increasingly become an important part of the human and ruminant diet as concerns have grown about antibiotic-resistant microbial strains associated with disease. Donaghys Industries probiotic products are produced from a range of microbial promoting substances including cytokinins (microbial activators), amino acids, vitamins, minerals and digestion enhancing enzymes. The products are then adapted into various formulas to meet the specific needs of various animals and their off-spring.

ENDS

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