Feed your brain

The gut is the single largest immune related organ of the body and is the primary barrier between a bacterial milieu and the body per se. This barrier balances the need to support entry of nutrients through the gut wall while blocking the entry of microbes. This balance can be affected both positively and negatively by the composition of the diet along with the exposure of the body to pathogenic challenges. Young animals experience a tremendous change in gut size and function in order to support the required absorption of nutrients with the development of size, enzymatic production and function, along with establishment of a microflora population that supports the normal functions of the gut.

Young animals such as piglets, calves and chicks need a feed that supports their underdeveloped digestive system in early life. Just as feed is the single most important factor in animal production, protein is the most important feed ingredient for securing growth. High quality proteins are the key to formulating an easily digestible feed with a minimum of anti-nutritional factors. At HAMLET PROTEIN, all our innovative products are based on a patented bio-conversion process. The outcome is protein-based solutions rich in the nutrients essential to healthy growth.

Digestibility has for decades been considered the most important measure to evaluate the suitability of a protein ingredient for animal feed. However, the digestibility coefficient does not say anything about absorption speed which affects post-absorption metabolism of dietary amino acids. In this sense, research shows that fast absorbable protein ingredients improve nitrogen (N) retention and feed efficiency of the animals. The rate of protein hydrolysis, the consequent rate of amino acid (AA) absorption and the synchronization with AA from other protein sources are especially important in young animals, due to their high amino acid requirements for the synthesis of muscle tissue and vital organs. It is therefore relevant to investigate the hydrolysis rate of a protein ingredient and consider this parameter as well when choosing protein ingredients for feed formulation.

International research institutes, test farms and customers regularly test our products in feeding trials. The findings document the nutritional and functional advantages of our products and their long-term effect on animal performance overall.

Young animals such as piglets, calves, chicks and pets need a feed that supports their underdeveloped digestive system in early life. Just as feed is the single most important factor in animal production, protein is the most important feed ingredient for securing growth. High quality proteins are the key to formulating an easily digestible feed with a minimum of anti-nutritional factors. At HAMLET PROTEIN, all our innovative products are based on a patented bio-conversion process. The outcome is protein-based solutions rich in the nutrients essential to healthy growth.

Oxidative stress is a complicated subject that can be hard to grasp. In a nutshell, it is caused by the formation of free radicals, resulting from dietary stress in the form of low quality feed, environmental stress and social stress. When the free radicals are not controlled, they cause a chain reaction that leads to increased gut inflammation and, eventually, cell death.

Studies show that many instances of diarrhoea in young animals are caused by nutritional shortcomings. This could be prevented by better selection and composition of the ingredients in the diet – with no use of antibiotics at all.  Faced with consumer and regulatory pressure, EU producers are now aiming to claim ‘no antibiotics ever’. Outside the EU, various definitions of antibiotic-free (ABF) production are in circulation. Reduced use, ionophores only, organic production with no antibiotics, ionophore coccidiostats, chemical anticoccidials or chemical antibacterials, such as sulphonamides, are among the approaches employed.

The most challenging time in the life of small piglets is during weaning, where post-weaning stress syndrome, most often identified as soft stool, is a potential risk. To avoid this, the supplementation of pharmaceutical levels of zinc oxide is a practical alternative to ease the transition phase; however, zinc oxide for medical purposes are slowly being phased out and banned in all of the European countries effectively from 2022.