ISSUE FOCUS 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2025 EXTRUSION PROCESSING – HEAT SENSITIVITY COUNTS Key findings (Table 2) include: • EGCG again proved most heat-sensitive aligning with results from the multifactorial test. • Oleuropein and curcumin demonstrated exceptional thermal resilience, with minimal degradation. • Interestingly, curcumin showed greater stability under extrusion than in static thermal stress. This may be due to matrix effects or protective interactions with other actives acting as sacrificial antioxidants during rapid, high-pressure processing. OXIDATIVE STABILITY – STRONG ANTIOXIDATIVE SYNERGIES In the oxidative stress setup, induction time was used as a proxy for antioxidant capacity. As shown in Figure 3, the blend of the botanical extracts doubled the induction time compared to the control matrix without extracts. This result highlights the strong antioxidative synergy between botanicals, suggesting improved shelf-life potential for feed formulations containing such blends. CONCLUSION: BOTANICAL KNOW-HOW FROM SOURCE TO STABILITY The use of botanical ingredients in animal nutrition holds great promise – but realizing this potential requires more than just selecting a plant with functional benefits. It demands a deep understanding of the chemical behavior of active substances under the practical conditions of feed processing, storage, and digestion. Our findings confirm that thermal and oxidative degradation are key barriers to efficacy, particularly for sensitive compounds such as EGCG. Conversely, compounds like oleuropein and curcumin show considerable resilience, especially under extrusion. The results also suggest that strategic combinations of actives can enhance overall matrix stability, both through synergistic effects and oxidative buffering. At MartinBauer Animal Nutrition, we apply our expertise in botanical sourcing, extraction, and standardization to help the feed industry go beyond trial-and-error. By linking phytochemical science with practical formulation needs, we support our partners in creating plant-based solutions that are not only functional – but stable, scalable, and reliable from seed to feed. Analyte Degradation (%) Table 2. Degradation of active compounds during extrusion Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Oleuropein Curcumin 23.2 1.0 1.4 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.4 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.4 3.8 4.2 4.6 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.2 6.7 7.1 7.6 8.0 8.4 9.0 9.4 9.9 10.3 10.8 11.3 11.8 12.2 12.7 13.1 13.6 14.1 14.6 15.1 15.6 16.1 16.6 17.1 17.7 18.3 18.8 19.3 19.8 20.2 20.8 21.2 10.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 Pressure loss [%] Time [h] with extract without extract Figure 3. Oxidative stability: Induction time of feed matrix with and without botanical extract blend
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