17 March 2021- Mycotoxin contamination in feed remains a significant issue for livestock producers around the world, but for a long time solutions for tackling the problem have focused on traditional approaches such as clay binders or microbes.
As part of its efforts to develop more effective approaches for managing the costly problem, Biomin has harnessed the power of enzymes to come up with a novel way of breaking down the toxin in a faster – and more permanent – way.
Here, Franz Waxenecker, Managing Director of Biomin, and Ursula Hofstetter, Biomin’s Head of Global Product Management Mycotoxins, explain how the technique works, and unveil its latest enzyme product to join the industry’s mycotoxin management toolbox.
[Feedinfo] How does Biomin’s concept of using enzymes to break down toxins compare with more traditional approaches to mycotoxin mitigation? How does this approach work, and what are the benefits of using enzymes in dealing with mycotoxins?
|
[Franz Waxenecker] Traditional mycotoxin mitigation using clay binders or yeast-based products is a suitable method to counteract adsorbable mycotoxins such as aflatoxins or ergot alkaloids. The adsorption of other toxins such as zearalenone, fumonisins and trichothecenes is not an effective counteracting approach given their chemical structures. Biomin has developed enzymatic detoxification to target these non-adsorbable mycotoxins. The toxic substances are biotransformed in a targeted and specific way and the reaction is irreversible, leading to non-toxic metabolites that are no longer harmful to the animal.
|
|
There are four main benefits of using purified enzymes for mycotoxin detoxification. First, enzymatic biotransformation is faster – in fact, nearly immediate – compared to any other mitigation strategy. Second, the reaction is specific in the sense that it targets only the harmful metabolites. Third, the process cannot be undone: the metabolites are irreversibly rendered non-toxic. Fourth, thanks to a clearly defined mode of action we can measure the precise amount of enzyme needed (calculated in units) to degrade a specific amount the toxin.
[Feedinfo] Biomin has been utilising enzymes like FUMzyme, a product that specifically targets fumonisin, for several years. The company’s now extending the concept with another product component called ZENzyme, which will tackle a mycotoxin called zearalenone (ZEN). Why is managing ZEN important?
[Ursula Hofstetter] The Biomin Mycotoxin Survey and peer-reviewed literature has shown that ZEN is one of the most commonly occurring mycotoxins in animal feed and raw commodities globally. Due to its structural similarity to the hormone estrogen, ZEN can interact with the estrogen receptor and cause hyperestrogenism. Continued or repeated exposure of animals to ZEN through feed can have lasting long-term effects; the main ones include disturbance of the estrus cycle, pathological changes of the reproductive tract and organs, decreased fertility in females and their offspring, and impaired spermatogenesis.
Properly mitigating ZEN is therefore essential to protect the animal’s reproductive performance, as well as to alleviate the negative economic impact this toxin can have for animal producers.
[Feedinfo] Is ZEN more problematic for one livestock species than another?
[Ursula Hofstetter] Zearalenone is a mycoestrogen that can affect all animal species. However, there are differences in the susceptibility of species towards ZEN due to species-specific differences in the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of this mycotoxin.
|
|
Swine are particularly prone to the effects of ZEN and are generally considered as the most susceptible species among livestock due to the particular kinetics. In pigs, the bioavailability of ZEN is very high and therefore a significant proportion of the ingested toxin reaches the systemic circulation. After ingestion, ZEN is converted to α- and β-zearalenol (α-ZEL and β-ZEL) in liver or intestinal cells. Those metabolites exert higher (α-ZEL) or lower (β-ZEL) estrogenic activity than zearalenone. The rate of α-ZEL formation, which is comparably high in swine, influences the toxicity of ZEN. |
In pigs, ZEN is responsible for vulvovaginitis, an estrogenic syndrome not only in reproductively active swine but also in pre-pubertal gilts and even piglets. ZEN exposure in sows subsequently affects the health of the newborns.
In poultry, ZEN affects egg quality and can increase embryonic mortality leading to reduced hatchability. As far as susceptibility, turkeys are very susceptible to the chronic exposure of ZEN, followed by broiler breeders then layers and ducks.
Although ruminants have a natural means to degrade mycotoxins due to their unique digestive systems, this is clearly not beneficial for the animals in the case of zearalenone. ZEN is naturally metabolized to α-zearalenol (α-ZEL) and β-zearalenol (β-ZEL) mainly in the liver but also in the intestine of animals. These metabolites are estrogenic as well, with α-ZEL being up to 60-times more potent than the parental compound zearalenone. Therefore, the natural metabolization of zearalenone to α-ZEL and β-ZEL cannot be considered a detoxification.
[Feedinfo] How does ZENzyme work, and how effective has it proven to be in managing ZEN in livestock?
[Ursula Hofstetter] ZENzyme is a purified enzyme that hydrolyzes the ester bond of the lactone ring of zearalenone resulting in a metabolite called hydrolyzed ZEN or HZEN. Peer reviewed publications and trials at independent institutes show the efficacy and safety of the enzyme, and that the resulting metabolite HZEN is no longer estrogenic.
The efficacy of ZENzyme has been proven in vitro and in vivo. With the use of biomarkers we are able to see in feeding trials that ZENzyme significantly reduces ZEN in livestock. Our trials have shown that it starts to work already in the feed as soon as sufficient moisture is available. So, at around 20% humidity we see the rapid degradation of ZEN. ZEN is degraded as soon as the animal ingests feed that contains ZENzyme.
In pigs, we are able to measure the amount of detoxified product in the form of HZEN in the feces of the animals which shows that the enzyme is properly working inside of the animal. In dairy cows, we also detected high degradation of ZEN in the rumen. In poultry, we observed degradation in the crop. And the detoxified metabolite HZEN was detected in the feces/excreta of all animal species. This proves the detoxification of zearalenone via ZENzyme.
[Feedinfo] How does combining ZENzyme with other mycotoxin management products increase the effectiveness of control strategies?
[Ursula Hofstetter] It is important for animal protein producers to recognise adsorption alone is not sufficient for effective mycotoxin control. A complete solution includes effective binding of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and ergot alkaloids, and the biotransformation of toxins that cannot be successfully bound. In the presence of mycotoxins, the immune system of the animal can be weakened leading to lower performance. Therefore, bioprotective substances are essential to support the liver function and the intestinal barrier. Mycofix unites these three strategies: adsorption, biotransformation and bioprotection.
ZENzyme will be part of Mycofix®Plus 5.Z which offers the most complete mycotoxin protection for breeding animals and their offspring. Mycofix Plus 5.Z combats a broad spectrum of mycotoxins using patented, EU authorized components such as FUMzyme and BBSH 797 for the effective biotransformation of fumonisins and trichothecenes alongside additional components to ensure counteraction of ochratoxin A, adsorption and bioprotection.
[Feedinfo] When did ZENzyme first reach clients, and where is it currently being used? What are your plans to extend it to other markets?
[Ursula Hofstetter] ZENzyme was launched as part of the new Mycofix Plus 5.Z in March, and we aim to make it globally available like the rest of the Mycofix product line. Our first markets will be in Asia and South Africa, followed by Latin America towards the end of 2021. The EU dossier evaluation is in progress and we expect ZENzyme and Mycofix Plus 5.Z will be available to European customers by 2022.
[Feedinfo] How has being part of DSM impacted your strategy for bringing ZENzyme to the market?
[Franz Waxenecker] Being part of DSM has strengthened our strategy for bringing ZENzyme to the market because we are now able to reach an even broader range of customers. Our synergies will help us to position ZENzyme as part of Mycofix Plus 5.Z in a very complete product portfolio with the aim of nutrition, health and sustainability of livestock. By increasing the number of reproduction cycles and avoiding the return to heat we are able to sustainably improve the lifetime performance of farm animals.
[Feedinfo] What does the acquisition mean in terms of Biomin’s long-term focus on mycotoxin deactivation, as well as gut health and performance additives?
[Franz Waxenecker] Mycotoxin deactivation, gut health and performance along with feeding solutions are the key pillars of Biomin’s offering to date. Enriched with DSM's experience and knowledge, we can develop even more cutting-edge solutions for the growing needs of modern livestock production. The acquisition of BIOMIN by DSM will strengthen the current product portfolio and allow our customers to receive the most complete solutions for healthy and sustainable animal production. We see a clear role for mycotoxin deactivation and gut performance-enhancing eubiotics that benefit animals, producers, consumers and the environment in our sustainable future.
Published in association with BIOMIN
