Evonik sees new opportunities for amino acid supplementation in Middle East and North Africa
It launched a marketing campaign in that respect at VIV MEA in Dubai earlier this month.
The region has some of the fastest-growing populations, including in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria, the company pointed out. In addition, parts of North Africa and the Middle East are moving beyond basic concerns about quality and plentiful supply.
“Buyers have more disposable income and more choice, so questions around the source of the meat, rearing conditions and ‘freedom from’ various items are much more advanced,” said Evonik’s VP of animal nutrition in MEA, Heinrich Ruth.
Educational program
Evonik wants to educate further, to promote nutritional understanding and knowledge. “In many countries in the MEA region, the concept of amino acid balancing, and in particular digestible amino acid balancing, is still not commonplace,” Ruth explained. “Compare this with European markets, where these nutritional strategies are completely accepted, and the use of up to five different pure amino acids is widespread.”
With regard to methionine, the educational process relates not only to the need for the amino acid in the first place, but also how to source it.
According to Evonik, research from over 40 years has demonstrated that the pure amino acid (and basis for MetAMINO) DL-methionine is utilised “with 100% efficiency”.
The alternatives in supplementation, liquid methionine hydroxy analogue-free acid (MHA-FA) and methionine hydroxy analogue calcium salt (MHA-Ca), are not amino acids at all, the company pointed out. “They certainly act as methionine precursors,” said Ruth. “However, their absorption from the gut and conversion to methionine in the metabolism are incomplete.”
In fact, feed experiments and feed trials have shown that, on average, the nutritional value of MHA-FA product is just 65% that of MetAMINO, the company claimed. “This means cost benefits for both the feed producers and livestock farmers,” Ruth explained.
Based in the MEA region since the 1960s, Evonik said it can provide a wide range of technical services and has a team thoroughly familiar with local conditions to help producers increase profitability and efficiency.
It uses a system of near infrared (NIR) spectrophotometry, which involves wavelengths and intensity of reflected light to predict parameters such as amino acid, protein and starch content. The company said its experience in this area and the quality of the analysis used in the calibration database are especially valuable.
“Using the data generated, Evonik can guide customers in comparisons between raw materials and their different sources, and how best to eliminate costs,” said Ruth.
