Phytogenics

Modes of action

Effect on growth rates

Compounds such as caraway oil, lemon oil, and dried herbs and spices, may improve the growth rate of certain animals. Phytogenic feed additives can substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in poultry diets.

Effect on ammonia emissions

Certain compounds, such as saponins, have shown potential to reduce ammonia emissions of animals by inhibiting urease activity that converts urea in ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Quorum sensing inhibitory effects

Phytogenics have been shown to interfere with bacterial quorum sensing and thus have the potential to reduce virulence of certain bacterial pathogens. Quorum sensing inhibition is used as a possible method to treat bacterial disorders in farm animals.

Registration

According to Art. 6, Reg. EC 1831/2003, a zootechnical feed additive is defined as “any additive used to affect favourably the performance of animals in good health or used to affect favourably the environment”. In the European Union, all phytogenic products must pass the authorization process as feed additive, if efficacy claims are used. The requirements concerning safety issues are mandatory for all additives, whereas the scope of application differs, and is reflected by the feed additive categories.

Unlike most botanical feed additives, which are considered as sensory additives (flavors), Delacon obtained zootechnical registrations for its main phytogenic products in the pig and poultry feed sector in 2012 and 2017, covering both digestibility and performance parameters.

In order to obtain the registration as a zootechnical feed additive, a dossier of complete, comprehensive and validated data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the feed additive must be submitted to the European Commission. The Commission mandates the European Reference Laboratory (EURL) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to carry out a detailed evaluation of the dossier. The EURL then analyses and evaluates relevant parameters of the samples, methods and traceability of the additive in the feed chain (additive-premixture-feed). The full evaluation report has to be submitted to the EFSA. After the order of the European Commission, EFSA issues a scientific opinion to the European Commission, the Member States and the applicant on the safety and efficacy of the additive. This opinion demonstrates whether the feed additive has the potential to meet these requirements and whether it is safe for the target animals, workers, consumers and the environment. Following this intensive evaluation, EFSA formulates a scientific opinion which serves as the basis for the final decision and approval by the European Commission in concordance with the Member States.

References

References

1. "Phytogenics".
2. (2017-10-12). "How phytogenics fit the role of an antibiotic alternative".
3. "Phytogenic feed additives - the future in animal nutrition".
4. "What is a Phytogenic Feed Additive".
5. (17 October 2016). "PigProgress - Using phytogenics to boost gut health in weaned piglets".
6. (2011-12-01). "Effects of a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens". Poultry Science.
7. (2009). "Phytogenics in Animal Nutrition: Natural Concepts to Optimize Gut Health and Performance". Nottingham University Press.
8. [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:043:0015:0017:EN:PDF "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 131/2012"], 16.2.2012, Official Journal of the European Union [EN], L 43/15-16
9. (2015). "Phytogenic Feed Additives as an Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Broiler Chickens". Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
10. Zentner, E. [http://www.raumberg-gumpenstein.at/cm4/de/forschung/publikationen/downloadsveranstaltungen/finish/1759-3577-wt-apc-futterzusatz/16169-effects-of-phytogenic-feed-additives-containing-quillaja-saponaria-on-ammonia-in-fattening-pigs.html "Effects of Phytogenic Feed Additives containing Quillaja Saponaria on Ammonia in Fattening Pigs"], 3.7.2011, XVth International Congress on Animal Hygiene 2011
11. (2009). "Inhibition of quorum sensing regulated bacterial functions by plant essential oils with special reference to clove oil". Letters in Applied Microbiology.
12. (1 January 2015). "The impact of oregano (Origanum heracleoticum) essential oil and carvacrol on virulence gene transcription by Escherichia coli O157:H7". FEMS Microbiology Letters.
13. (2017). "Chances for phytogenic feed additives in antibiotic-free animal production". International Animal Health Journal.
14. (22 September 2003). "Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition". European Commission.
15. (2011-04-01). "Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of FRESTA® F for weaned piglets". EFSA Journal.
16. "Zootechnical registration - officially proving the claims".
17. (2015). "The work of the European Union Reference Laboratory for Food Additives (EURL) and its support for the authorisation process of feed additives in the European Union: a review". Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A.