VemoHerb® V-GroW: A natural herbal Bulgarian growth promoter
- PREMIX FOR FODDER AND DRINKING WATER
- PALPABLE ASTRINGENT ACTION
- ANTI-MICROBIAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT
- ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES
- HEPATOPROTECTOR
- GROWTH PROMOTER AND ANTIOXIDANT
The necessity of use of growth promoters
In modern poultry production, the newly born chickens 1) lack contact with maternal feces and their gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is sterile; thereby normal microflora is slowly colonized while the GIT resident microorganisms have a profound impact on the health of bird and 2) do not receive maternal antigens to help develop their immunity system. Accordingly, growth promoters (nutrient or non-nutrient feed additives) are added to the feed or drinking water to enhance the microflora of intestines, develop immunity systems and stimulate digestive enzymes secretion leading to the improved feed utilization and growth of poultry.
Antibiotic growth promoters
Antibiotics have been used to reduce diseases and more recently as growth promoters to enhance performance. The mode of action of antibiotics may be explained by an inhibiting effect on specific intestinal bacteria that produce toxins or compete with the host for available nutrients resulting in increased nutrients availability and better body weight gain and FCR.
However, many countries banned these feed additives because of increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria and their residual effects on poultry products and harmful effects on human health. Consequently, there has been a big push to find alternatives that have potential to minimize the problems related to the withdrawal of antibiotics from diets and reduce enteric diseases in poultry.
Antibiotic alternatives
Prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids and phytogenics claimed to be alternatives to antibiotics have effects on the ecosystem of GIT microflora either directly or indirectly and gut health. It is clear that controlling the microflora could positively influence poultry performance.
Prebiotics and the mode of action
Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates, some peptides and proteins and certain lipids. The mode of action of these ingredients are thought to function as competitive attachment sites for pathogenic bacteria enhancing the growth of one or a limited number of beneficial microorganisms in the gut and lowering pH through lactic acid production in the intestine, an environment that is unfavorable to pathogens.
Probiotics and the mode of action
Probiotics are viable microbial supplements containing single or multiple beneficial bacterial strains. The proposed mode of action for the beneficial effects of probiotics are producing inhibitory compounds like volatile fatty acids and hydrogen peroxide which lead to the enhancement of growth of nonpathogenic facultative anaerobic and gram positive bacteria and inhibition of the growth of harmful bacteria, adjusting to immune responses and providing digestive enzymes.
Organic acids and the mode of action
Organic acids generally lower the pH and buffering capacity of the diet, reduce the pH within the stomach, increase nutrient utilization, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and decrease intestinal bacterial growth.
Phytogenics and the mode of action
The use of medicinal plants dates back thousands of years, but phytogenics have gained attention in modern feed additives due to their historical significance, cost-effectiveness, and preventive effects. They are considered health- and growth-promoting additives that:
- Improve feed flavor and intake
- Stimulate digestive enzyme secretion
- Enhance gastric and intestinal motility
- Support gut development and antimicrobial activity
Bulgaria is among the first countries in Europe in the export of remedial and aromatic plants and VemoHerb® BP is a phytogenic fodder additive produced by VEMO Corp. (Sofia, Bulgaria) which has attracted considerable attention as an phytogenic growth promoter due to its palpable astringent, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects. This product is composed of a proprietary blend of phytogenic extracts, specifically combined to provide for amazing results.
The phytogenic components in the product are with high content of pectin (80-90 g/kg DM), a type of NSP with uronic acid as building blocks, which is highly soluble in comparison with other pectin sources and thus chicory should be classified as a highly digestible and palatable fibrous feed ingredient for chicken and pigs that improves the appetite and digestion. These components typically show the presence of inulin (68%; the highest constituent), sucrose (14%), cellulose (5%), protein (6%), ash (4%), and other compounds (3%; including esculin, coumarins, bitter sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, and vitamins in dry matter. Inulin is a chain of fructans (oligofructose) which is a good source of energy and enhances gastrointestinal absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. Inulin decreases the pH by increasing the absorption of short chain fatty acids. Inulin-type fructans are responsible for the prebiotic effect of this plant that improves intestinal functions. The active compounds coming from the other plant extracts in VemoHerb® BP are volatile oils (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes), phenylpropane derivatives, flavonoids (flavonols, apigenin derivatives, scutellariae derivatives and luteolin derivatives), tannins and oligo-elements which possess the marked astringent, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects.
While using VemoHerb® BP, it is not necessary to observe any withdrawal period before slaughtering the animals or obtaining the eggs for people consumption or technological treatment. VemoHerb® BP is compatible and can be applied along with vitamins, macro and microelements, amino acids, organic acids, different antioxidants, antibiotics and other chemotherapeutic agents. The in-vivo trials have shown the economic effect of VemoHerb® BP by weight gain increment and FCR improvement.
Suggested dosage of VemoHerb® BP
- 100-200 g/t fodder (concentrated form)
- 200 g/t fodder (starter and grower)
- 100 g/t fodder (finisher)
