By Dr. Pete Wilcock, Global Technical Manager, AB Vista

US trials in finisher pigs fed soy, corn and distillers, have revealed the potential of an average 6 point improvement in weight corrected Feed Conversion Ratio (FCRw), through xylanase application. This could equate to approximately $1.80 - $2.10 per pig.

Such benefits can be linked to three key mechanisms associated with xylanase. The first is the ability to reduce digesta viscosity in diets with a high soluble, non-starch polysaccharide content such as barley and wheat; the second is the break-down of insoluble arabinoxylans present in plant cell walls, giving the animal’s endogenous enzymes access to cell contents; and the third mechanism is the ability of the xylanase to break-down long-chain arabinoxylans into small-chain xylo-oligomers or AXOS.

Producing the right AXOS profile is important and this can be dependent on the characteristic of the enzyme used as well as the dose fed. AXOS is fermented by the micro flora in the lower gut of the animal, and can increase Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) production. The VFAs can then play a role in bacterial control, as well as improve epithelial integrity, and can potentially be used as an energy source in older animals.

For maximum returns in swine, it is recommended that xylanase should be fed early in the nursing period, as this will maximise the potential FCRw improvement, especially in late finishing which can result in considerable cost savings when feed intakes are high. 

To ensure performance benefits in animals, it is important that the xylanase reaches the animal and so a xylanase should be selected that is thermostable for pelleted feed, gastric stable and assayable.

The data from five US finisher-based trials has shown that Econase XT delivers consistent, significant cost-effective performance benefit for the swine producer feeding corn, soybean and corn DDG based rations.

Watch the videos

AB Vista is an animal nutrition technology company that provides innovative products and services to the animal feed industry. A new video, which highlights the benefits of early xylanase application, can now be viewed online.  Forming part of the AB Vista Extraordinary Science Brought to Life series, ‘Achieving consistent gains through xylanase application in swine’ can now be viewed at www.abvista.com