ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2022 27 INTRODUCTION One of the objectives of any poultry or swine producer is to feed the animals with balanced diets at the least cost. Feed constitutes the highest variable cost in poultry and swine production, accounting for at least 60% of such costs, especially in an intensive rearing system. The nutritionist's role is to work with the different tools available to deliver the best possible diet solution balancing cost and animal performance. Nutritional values have been established for some feed additives, allowing for cost savings when the additive is added to the diet, and its nutritional matrix is included in the feed optimization. However, the related research and data that supported the development of the matrix values are of utmost importance to the nutritionist. The nutritional matrix values can be generated/validated in different ways. One is the traditional way, in vivo digestibility trials, an established and standard method for many years (Zhang and Adeola, 2017). Another option is the 'new' way, via mathematical modelling, providing matrix values based on previous performance trial results. Can mathematical modelling be as reliable as digestibility studies to generate and/or validate a feed additive nutritional matrix? THE FUNCTION OF A PHYTOGENIC FEED ADDITIVE Including a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) in feed has shown effects on enhancing the performance of THE DETERMINATION OF A NUTRITIONAL MATRIX BY MODELLING “Including a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) in feed has shown effects on enhancing the performance of broilers and swine at all stages of the production cycle (Amad et al., 2013). A PFA can be formulated into the diet with nutritional matrix values, playing an essential role in the least cost formulation and sustainability of feed. The key is to make a trustable estimation of the nutritional matrix values of a PFA.” Sandra Chamusco, MSc Global Technical Manager, Swine Delacon Manu De Laet, MSc Global Technical Manager, Poultry Delacon Caroline Donaldson, BSc (Hons), Ph.D. Global Solution Researcher Delacon
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