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THE REAL FEED WONDER INGREDIENT
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By Matt Holmes, Features editor, Milling & Grain Finnish company says resin from pine trees is the key additive for healthy animal feeds. Exhibiting at EuroTier 2018, Eija Valkonen, Manager (R&D) at Suomen Rehu spoke to Matt Holmes, of Milling & Grain magazine, about the wonder ingredient which has performed successfully in different countries. The idea of Progres® comes from an old Finnish folk medicine wisdom: if you rub rosin into wounds, they will heal faster. Recently, scientific research has shown that rosin-containing salve, indeed helps to heal even severe chronic sores and infected wounds. Coniferous trees, like spruce and pine, produce resin, in order to protect themselves against bark and wood-boring insects and microbial pathogens. Resin acids are a group of bioactive compounds found in tree resin. Progres is a novel patented feed innovation – the only resin acid product in the global feed market. It supports the gastrointestinal integrity and function of animals in a scientifically proven way. Progres was developed by Suomen Rehu and was internationally launched in 2015. Suomen Rehu’s wide, multi-national R&D network was involved in the research efforts that led to this innovation. The bioactive component of Progres are resin acids. Progres is sustainably produced from a side-stream of the paper industry called crude tall oil. Tall oil contains fatty acids, resin acids, and other hydrocarbon derivatives. The production of Progres, with its specific refining process, does not involve any chemical modification. In fact, the resin acid cocktail in Progres comes directly from the two most common coniferous trees in Finnish forests: The Scots pine and the Norway spruce. In Progres, resin acids are present in a defined percentage. Resin acids are non-volatile and heat stable, and they can be measured in the product or in samples of compound feed. It needs just 0.5 – 1.0 kg per tonne of animal feed and the costs of inclusion are competitive in terms of return on investment. “We are the first company in the world to use resin acid-based product in animal feeds and it really does have an effect,” said Eija. “Our field trials show it can help to sustain animal health and improve their performance.” Due to its unique mode of action, Progres has shown consistently excellent results in different countries and production conditions. The product demonstrated a statistically significant effect in 70 percent of the trials completed by independent institutes. In trials with an intentional challenge factor, like coccidiosis, the success rate rose to 80 percent. In both institutional and field trials, Progres has consistently improved: The growth and feed conversion of broilers and turkeys The final slaughter weight and feed conversion of veal calves Sow’s and piglets’ performance Finland has plenty of trees to produce Progres. Around 75 percent of the country is covered in forest. Proges is a very Finnish product – a fact the company is very proud of. The website says:
86 | February 2019 - Milling and Grain