Lactosan aims for greater market share after sow probiotic gets positive EFSA opinion
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found its gut flora stabiliser - Bonvital – safe and effective when used with sows throughout the complete reproductive cycle at the dose of 5 × 108 CFU/kg feed.
Bonvital is a preparation of a strain of Enterococcus faecium authorised for piglets, pigs for fattening, sows, chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying and minor poultry species.
Entire reproductive cycle
Prior to the positive scientific opinion – published 18 February - Lactosan’s product was only authorised for use with sows ‘from day 90 of pregnancy to the end of lactation’.
The company, in its request to the EU Commission, had asked for an extension of the use of the gut flora stabiliser in feed for the entire reproductive cycle of the sow.
Anja Meieregger, quality assurance and regulatory affairs manager at Lactosan, told FeedNavigator.com:
“With this latest positive opinion, the broad spectrum of different animal categories where Bonvital has a proven positive effect on the animal's performance is now further extended.
We are, therefore, looking forward to further increasing the market volume of our successful probiotic product in the pig breeding sector and we are hopeful that the corresponding EU regulation defining market authorisation in the EU will be published soon.”
Litter weight gain
Included in the data submitted by the manufacturer were the results of three studies that were each performed over two complete reproductive cycles.
The studies showed that Bonvital, at the minimum recommended dose of 5 × 108 CFU/kg feed, has the potential to increase litter weight gain or maintain sow condition, said the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP).
The panel said that, based on that data, it supported the extension of the use of the additive to the entire reproductive cycle.
“Three efficacy studies, each performed over two complete reproductive cycles, demonstrated significant effects of Bonvital at the minimum recommended dose in sows: weight gain of the litter, body weight of sows as well as piglet number and live weight at weaning,” said the FEEDAP Panel.
The opinion of the FEEDAP panel on Bonvital can be found here.
