ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2022 55 lipophilic (fat-soluble) sides. This important feature enables lysolecithins to mix fat and water thereby promoting oil-in-water emulsions required for a proper fat digestion. Due to their structure, lysolecithins create finely dispersed emulsions containing small fat droplets. This creates a more hydrophilic environment needed for the optimal functioning of enzymes while providing more surface area for lipase to act on. Moreover, a more finely dispersed emulsion also reduces the barrier that fat forms for enzymes involved in starch and protein digestion, giving these enzymes better access to their substrates. By improving fat emulsification and raising the enzymatic potential of enzymes involved in fat, protein and starch digestion, lysolecithins increase nutrient digestibility. Additionally, lysolecithins create more stable and hydrophilic mixed micelles which transport the fat digestion products to the intestinal wall for absorption. Furthermore, lysolecithins act on a physiological level by altering the architecture and functioning of the intestinal membrane to support a higher nutrient absorption. Thereby, lysolecithins are efficient in increasing nutrient availability and utilization. THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS All biological processes react according to the law of diminishing returns. This law states that animal performance does not linearly increase with an increase in nutrient density. So, with each increase in nutrient density, the marginal benefit for growth performance decreases up to the point of maximum yield after which growth performance declines. As lysolecithins improve nutrient digestibility, they will increase the nutrient availability and thereby nutrient density. Lysolecithins support the animal in approaching its genetic potential following the law of diminishing returns. TRIAL DESIGN During a recent trial performed at a research facility in Thailand, the effect of FRA® LeciMax Dry on broiler performance (Cobb 500) with diets differing in nutrient density was tested. The product which is based on lysolecithins was given the entire trial period of 42 days. The broilers (±44 g) were divided over six treatment groups differing in energy level and supplementation of FRA® LeciMax Dry. A typical corn and soybean meal diet was used as a standard diet with soybean oil as a fat source. This diet had a metabolizable energy of 2908, 2986 and 3067 kcal per kg in the starter, grower and finisher phase, respectively. The higher nutrient densities were obtained by increasing the energy level through the addition of extra soybean oil (SBO) while reducing corn and soybean meal (Table 1). Table 1. Experimental design Treatment T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 Diet Standard feed Standard feed SF + 25 kcal/kg SF + 25 kcal/kg SF + 100 kcal/kg SF + 100 kcal/kg FRA® LeciMax Dry (g/ton) - 500 - 500 - 500 SF = Standard feed
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