LIVESTOCK
THE WESTERN PRODUCER | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | MAY 24, 2012
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LIVESTOCK FEED | BENEFITS OF ENZYMES
Better enzymes, more benefits Improves livestock digestion | New formulas break down fibre faster BY BARBARA DUCKWORTH CALGARY BUREAU
Adding enzymes to pig and poultry diets is not new, but advanced forms are improving digestion and reducing the need for antibiotics. Canadian Bio-Systems of Calgary recently released two new products: Superzyme-CS and Superzyme-W. Superzyme-CS is an enzyme supplement for diets that include proteins from soybean, canola, peas and grain such as barley, wheat and corn. Superzyme-W is designed for use in feed where 70 percent or more of the diet is cereal grain or plant protein sources. Bogdan Slominski, a nutritional biochemist from the University of Manitoba, has worked with Canadian Bio-Systems to develop new products for poultry and piglet diets. Pigs lack the necessary enzymes to digest certain fibres that have a high level of viscosity. They may not get the full feed value or develop intestinal upset or scours
from certain feed. Enzymes can lessen that risk. “Enzymes have been used for quite some time. This is nothing new,” Slominski said. “We are trying to develop more diversified carbohydrate type of preparations to effectively hydrolyze (break down) certain indigestible components in feed ingredients.” Enzymes are biologically active proteins that speed up chemical and biological reactions. “Various products were used to reduce the viscosity in the gut, which was caused by certain polysaccharides in wheat or rye,” he said. Polysaccharides include starch, cellulose and glycogen. Chickens that eat wheat, barley or rye or animal protein supplements s u c h a s f i s h m e a l may re q u i re enzymes to improve digestion. These feeds can be highly viscous and may impair nutrient digestion while at the same time feeding bacteria. Carbohydrate enzymes improve digestion and nutrient absorption and prevent the growth of bacteria in
the ileum. Enzymes include products such as phytase, which selectively breaks down the bonds that hold phosphorus to phytate. This increases digestibility of the nutrient and reduces the need for added dietary inorganic phosphorus. Products such as xylanase, betaglucanase, cellulase and carbohydrase break down the indigestible fibre components within pig diets. Slominski and his colleagues have also added enzymes to improve the digestibility of dried distillers grain. Broilers could receive 10 percent DDGs in a normal feed mix, but that could increase to 15 percent with added enzymes. “If you use enzymes for wheat or corn, why not use them for DDGs,” he said. Another research program uses enzyme technology in ethanol plants. It usually takes about two days to convert starch to ethanol, but adding certain enzymes reduces the grain’s fibre content and accelerates the fermentation process.
Celebrating 100 years of students at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. The Centennial Column is a weekly feature highlighting the history and present successes of the college.
Beef cattle at the University of Saskatchewan research feedlot.
Meeting Consumer Demand for Beef
HORSES | DISEASE PREVENTION
Vaccines prevent horse fatalities ANIMAL HEALTH
JAMIE ROTHENBURGER, DVM
W
ith the lengthening of days and promise of warmer weather, it’s the time of year to formulate and implement an appropriate vaccination program for horses before mosquito and horse competition seasons. Most horse owners are familiar with the three-way vaccine, which is designed to protect horses against eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis viruses and tetanus. Mosquitoes transmit the two viruses to horses and people. Tetanus is caused by a bacteria found in soil. It causes infection in open wounds and other skin defects. We all know how accident-prone horses can be. Even small nicks and scratches can permit the bacteria access to the body and the chance to multiply. This bacteria causes toxins that make muscles stiffen. It is difficult and expensive to treat, although most cases are fatal. West Nile Virus has become a standard component to most horse owners’ vaccination protocol. They should read the vaccine labels carefully to ensure this important pathogen is included. Not all horses need vaccination against strangles. Horses that have limited contact with strange horses are at lower risk. They may not leave their homes, are in isolated herds with no new horses being introduced
Centennial Column
Horses at risk for strangles include those that travel to horse competitions, live in boarding stables or live with horses that travel and have contact with other horses. | FILE PHOTO or live alone. The bacteria that causes strangles is transmitted by direct contact or contaminated objects such as bits, water buckets and snot rags. It is no longer valid to infect horses with strangles while they are young in an attempt to prevent severe disease later on and protect them for life. Vaccination and reduced exposure are the best ways to prevent this disease. Equine influenza and equine herpes virus vaccines should also be added to the vaccine plan for horses that have increased contact with other horses. Horses should be routinely vaccinated for rabies because it is a universally fatal disease and can also kill people. Contact between horses and rabid animals often goes unnoticed until clinical rabies develops.
Your veterinarian may recommend vaccination against anthrax and Potomac horse fever depending on your area and risk. Intranasal vaccinations can be tricky to administer and require a bit of finesse, but generally they promote better local immune responses, which translates into better protection. Injectable vaccinations stimulate antibodies in the blood stream, which is important for viruses such as West Nile and rabies. Intranasal vaccines stimulate antibodies on the surface of the inner nasal passages, which is where pathogens such as strangles gain access. Having the protection where it is needed can stop clinical disease in its tracks. Most vaccines need to be kept cool before administration. Always change needles between horses. Intranasal vaccines must never be injected because it can cause severe, sometimes fatal reactions. If your veterinarian is sedating your horse for other routine care such as dental floating or sheath cleaning, it is also a great opportunity to administer vaccines. Alternatively, prepare for intranasal vaccination by desensitizing the horse to having the inside of its nostrils touched by first using your fingers and then the plastic tubing from the vaccine delivery system. Incorporate food rewards. Then draw up the vaccine, place the tube in the nostril and slowly push the plunger. Follow with a treat. Injectable vaccines should be given in the neck muscle. Preparation and training will allow you to administer intranasal and injectable vaccines in subsequent years. Dr. Jamie Rothenburger is a veterinary pathology resident at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.
Beef cattle for meat production have been important in western Canada since the 1880s. Beef consumption increased in Canada and the USA after World War 2, and surplus grain became available. Before the 1950s there were a few small farm feedlots for finishing beef cattle for market. These rations did not contain more than 40 to 50 per cent grain. In 1964 the Department of Animal Science built a research feedlot with support from the Saskatchewan beef producers, the Provincial Government and the University of Saskatchewan. The purpose was to develop high grain finishing rations that would see cattle to market at 16 months of age. As part of this initiative a section was added to determine growth potential of bulls with a view to identify sires of faster growing steers. This Record of Performance Station (ROP) continued to operate until 1990. Professor Hugh Nicholson was hired to manage and supervise research in the Feedlot, the ROP Station and the accompanying Feedmill. One of the first research trials in the feedlot was carried out to settle the debate about the comparative merits of cattle, and barley from the northern and southern agricultural regions of the province. It was suggested by some that cattle fed barley from the grey wooded and degraded black soil areas in the north did not perform as well when fed barley grown in the south. No differences in rate of gain or carcass grade were found due to either source of barley or source of cattle. Rate of gain averaged only 1.15 kilograms per day. The ration consisted of 80 per cent steam rolled barley and 20 per cent slough hay plus minerals and Vitamin A. Other early trials evaluated various methods of processing barley, response to rapeseed meal and other protein supplements. One unique feature of the feedlot and Bull Test Station was the use of 20 per cent porosity fence around the Feedlot perimeter. This design was developed by Professor Eric Moysey in the Dept of Agricultural Engineering using wind tunnel measurements. This design prevented snow accumulation in the pens and reduced air velocity inside the pens to a distance of six times the height of the fence. This design has been adopted world-wide. www.agbio.usask.ca
Seed Hawk congratulates the College of Agriculture and Bioresources on 100 years of research and teaching excellence.