The fact that antibiotics used to promote growth, increase productivity and prevent infectious diseases in the field of animal nutrition carry some risks in terms of animal and human health, such as bacterial resistance, encouraged industry professionals to look for new ways. Enzymes, which are considered as an alternative to antibiotics, are especially preferred to increase the digestibility of the feed. It is estimated that the global market value of enzymes, which are widely used day by day, was 1.3 billion dollars in 2020 and will reach 2.41 billion dollars by 2028.
By Derya Yıldız It is getting harder day by day to feed people due to rapid increase in the world population, wasting of food resources, and increase in drought as a result of climate change. Animal proteins are of great importance in the healthy diet of human beings. Increasing the production and per capita consumption of foods of animal origin for a healthy life is one of the most important issues that are emphasized today. However, the fact that most of the raw materials used in animal feeds are also consumed by humans creates a problem today, where the need for food is increasing gradually. The inability to use these feed raw materials effectively affects the food sources that people can consume, both directly and indirectly. Scientists have intensified their studies on the more efficient use of feed used in animal nutrition and on alternative feed materials. To achieve this, feed additives are frequently used. Among these additives, enzymes constitute an important group. Enzymes are widely used in animal feeds to reduce the negative effects of antinutritional factors that cause performance losses in the structure of feed raw materials and to improve performance.
ENZYMES USED IN ANIMAL FEEDS Increasing the digestibility of feeds is one of the methods applied to increase the ability of animals to benefit from feed. Enzymes are one of the feed additives widely used for this purpose in many countries. Enzymes that facilitate digestion by breaking down starch, protein, and fat in the digestive system are generally defined as fungal and bacterial origin.
Enzymes that stand out as feed additives can be listed as follows: 1. Proteases: Proteases are generally preferred in young animals to increase the degree of digestion and absorption of vegetable proteins. 2. Carbohydrases: It enables animals to benefit more from energy by breaking down carbohydrates in grains used as feed raw materials such as barley, oats, and corn. 3. Lipases: They carry out the hydrolysis of fats. 4. Phytase: They increase the availability of vegetable phosphorus. 5. Others
Experts state that enzymes to be used as feed additives should have high activity, be resistant to processes such as heat treatment that will cause negative changes in enzymes, not increase the cost of feed, and be resistant to long-term storage conditions.
In addition, while choosing the enzymes to be used in animal feeds, many factors such as the type, age and breed of the animal, especially important feed raw materials such as grain used, should be carefully evaluated. The effect of each enzyme or group of enzymes shows significant differences according to these types of elements. It is also stated that supporting enzymes with other additives such as probiotics provides significant advantages.
According to the Global Feed Enzymes Market report published by Verified Market Research, it is expected that the feed enzymes market, worth $1.3 billion in 2020, will grow by 8% (CAGR) annually from 2021 to 2028 and will reach a value of $2.41 billion by 2028. According to the report; the poultry segment, followed by the pork segment, is expected to dominate the market during growth period.
ANIMAL FEED ENZYMES MARKET According to the Global Feed Enzymes Market report published by Verified Market Research in March 2021, it is expected that the feed enzymes market, worth $1.3 billion in 2020, will grow by 8% (CAGR) annually from 2021 to 2028 and will reach a value of $2.41 billion by 2028.
The report published by MarketsAndMarkets in June 2020 also draws attention to the same market trends. According to the report, feed represents 50-60 percent of the total cost of livestock. Therefore, reducing feeding costs per animal remains an important priority for every breeder. The effect of enzymes on indigestible nutrients in feeds is to maintain livestock performance while reducing feeding costs. This stands out as one of the factors that will contribute to the growth of the enzyme market.
In both reports, it is expressed that the increasing demand for animal food products and the increasing concern about animal health will drive the feed enzymes market in the foreseeable years. Moreover, it is thought that the increase in the demand of producers to benefit more from feed (increase in nutrient intake) will also contribute to the growth in the market. Besides, significant measures to improve meat quality and egg production, as well as the antibiotic ban in many regions, are expected to revive the market during the forecast period.
These reports also mention some constraints and challenges that may hinder market growth. One of these problems is some negative side effects that can occur on the health of animals with the use of enzymes in high amounts. Such effects may also result in some restrictions on the use of certain enzymes in the long run.
Another issue is high R&D investments. The feed industry needs high R&D investments and enzyme development and manufacturing capabilities to produce high-quality feed enzymes at globally competitive prices. They require enhanced infrastructural strength that comprises equipped labs for molecular techniques, such as metagenomics and genomics, which are used to discover new enzymes. This initially requires high investments, and the majority of the manufacturers have a limited number of R&D facilities. Therefore, this challenge can be overcome by collaborating with different R&D companies that have qualified and experienced teams. Some manufacturers also acquire companies to increase their R&D capabilities by adopting various technologies.
Among the enzyme types, the carbohydrase segment is expected to hold the largest market share as it increases the amount of energy supplied from feed ingredients.
As in many additives, it is seen that the preferred one between dry and liquid form in enzymes is the dry form. Enzymes in dry form are predicted to have the most significant compound annual growth (CAGR) during the forecast period due to benefits such as ease of use, good thermal stability during feed processing operations, and enhanced enzyme activity.
The reports classify the market by species as ruminants, poultry, pigs, aquaculture and others. The poultry segment, followed by the pork segment, is expected to dominate the market during this growth period. The following statements are included in the MarketsAndMarkets report; “Since swine livestock is unable to utilize all components of its diet fully, specific enzymes can be added to the feed to help break down complex carbohydrates, protein, and phytate, through carbohydrase, protease, and phytase. Carbohydrases are the most effective in the diet of starters. The main carbohydrate in the swine diet is glucose, provided by starch in corn. More than 95% of the starch in corn can be digested. However, not all carbohydrates in corn are starch. The more complex carbohydrates are called fibers and are not well-utilized by pigs. Enzymes enable the digestion of such forgotten fibers.”
On a regional basis, global feed enzymes market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the rest of the world. It is anticipated that the Asia Pacific region will have the largest market share and show the highest growth due to the increasing number of feed mills and the large animal population in the region.
COMMERCIAL PROBIOTICS INDUSTRY Many domestic and global players in different parts of the world offer feed enzymes to the market to improve animal health and performance. A significant number of these manufacturers have a presence in European and Asian countries.
Some of the big players on a global scale are as follows: • AB Enzymes GmbH (Germany) • Adisseo France SAS (France) • Advanced Enzyme Technologies (India) • Amano Enzyme Inc. (U.S.) • Alltech, Inc. (U.S.) • Associated British Foods PLC (U.K) • Aum Enzymes (India) • Azelis Holding S.A. (Belgium) • Azelis S.A. (Belgium) • Basf SE (Germany) • BEC Feed Solutions (Australia) • Behn Meyer Holding AG (Germany) • Bio-Cat Inc. (U.S.) • Bio Agri Mix (Canada) • Biocatalysts Ltd. (UK) • Bioproton Pty Ltd. (Australia) • BioResource International (U.S.) • Biovet Joint Stock Company (Bulgaria) • Bluestar Adisseo Co., Ltd. (China) • CapriEnzymes (India) • Cargill Inc. (U.S.) • Chr. Hansen Holding A/S (Denmark) • DowDuPont (U.S.) • DuPont de Nemours Inc. (U.S.) • Enmex S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) • Enzyme Innovation (U.S.) • GNC Bioferm Inc. (Canada) • Karyotica Biologicals Pvt Ltd. (India) • Kemin Industries, Inc. (U.S.) • Koninklijke DSM NV (Netherlands) • Lesaffre Group (France) • Lumis Enzymes (India) • Novozymes A/S (Denmark) • Novus International, Inc. (U.S.) • Roal Ltd. (Finland) • Rossari Biotech Ltd. (India) • Shenzhen Leveking Bio-Engineering (China) • Sunson Industry Group (China) • VEMO 99 Ltd. (Bulgaria)
There are also points in the enzyme market that are described as opportunities. One of them is innovations in phytase production processes. The MarketsAndMarkets report describes this opportunity as follows: “Through preliminary research, it is known that some fungi are able to grow in POME (palm oil mill effluent) and have the ability to produce phytase enzymes. The utilization of phytase enzymes containing feed products for monogastric and digastric livestock could increase the efficiency of nutrient uptake and livestock resistance to disease attacks. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is one type of waste that has not been used widely in enzyme production. Some fungi that grow on POME indicate their capability of producing phytase. Most of the POME is disposed of and pollutes the environment. Besides, POME is one of the wastes that contain large concentrations of carbohydrates, proteins, nitrogen compounds, lipids, and minerals. Therefore, they also act as an excellent raw material for bioconversion by biotechnological techniques.”
ACCEPTED BENEFITS OF ENZYMES The main tasks of feed additives are basically stated as improving feed efficiency and increasing productivity. Enzymes are also used to increase the digestibility of the nutrients in the feed that cannot be digested by different animal groups and thus increase the ability of the animals to benefit from the feed.
Some of the benefits that can be achieved by the use of enzymes in animal feeds can be listed as follows; • Enzymes break down polysaccharides in the cell wall of cereal grains, which animals cannot digest under normal conditions, • Due to these polysaccharides, the increased intestinal viscosity is reduced and the quality of the litter (reduction in problems such as sticky and wet litter) is prevented from adversely affecting, • The digestibility and metabolic energy values of feeds are increased, • The ability to benefit from feed is increased, • More live weight gain is achieved with less feed consumption, • The digestibility of phosphorus is increased and the phosphorus rate in the stool is reduced, • An increase is achieved in animal performance and therefore in the ratio of animal products, • As a result of all these, savings are achieved in feed costs and general livestock expenses.
Sources: 1. Feed enzymes: The science, practice, and metabolic realities, V.Ravindran, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617119305203 2. Biotechnologic Products Using as Feed Supplement (A Review), Güler KARADEMİR (Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Hayvan Besleme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları Ana Bilim Dalı) & Başaran KARADEMİR (Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi İç Hastalıklar Ana Bilim Dalı), https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/544208 3. Verified Market Research, Global Feed Enzymes Market, Published Date: Mar 2021, https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/feed-enzymes-market/ 4. MarketsandMarkets Research, Feed Enzymes Market, Published On: Jun 2020, https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/feed-enzyme-market-1157.html
