The rising popularity of gut health products in animal husbandry is a direct response to the ability of these solutions to tackle multiple key challenges faced by producers. As the global demand for animal protein grows, producers face increasing pressure to optimise livestock production, reduce antibiotic use, boost feed efficiency, and improve animal welfare. Gut health products can support in addressing these critical challenges, making them an essential component of animal management today.
Known for its reputation in the enzyme market, AB Vista has strategically expanded its portfolio to offer more solutions in the field of gut health. This pivot aligns with the evolving needs of producers, who require personalised offerings to solve complex challenges that improve the overall performance and sustainability of farms.
To explore this shift, Feedinfo spoke with AB Vista’s Gilson Gomes, Head of Global Technical, and Vadim Chupasov, Global Marketing Manager, to discuss the company’s approach to gut health, key products in their portfolio, and how the organisation addresses regional variations when developing gut health solutions. They also offered insights into what attendees can expect from AB Vista at EuroTier 2024.
[Feedinfo] AB Vista has had a real focus on improving animal gut health over the past few years. Why do you believe there a growing focus on gut health in the animal nutrition sector?
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[Gilson Gomes] In September 2024, AB Vista celebrated its 20th anniversary at a company-wide meeting, which was a great opportunity to reflect on our growth as a business. We started with a bold ambition to lead in the enzyme market, and while feed enzymes remain at our core, several years ago, we strategically expanded into the gut health market. Through conversations with customers, we recognised a significant shift in their expectations: animal protein producers no longer seek “just” efficient products – they want tailored solutions to the challenges they face. |
Gilson Gomes, Head of Global Technical, AB Vista |
In this context, gut health has become a very dynamic area for innovation in the feed additive industry, addressing urgent issues such as antibiotic reduction, feed efficiency or managing high-performing animals in new ways.
[Feedinfo] Can you tell us what steps AB Vista has taken to develop its gut health offerings and why you’ve diversified into this area?
[Gilson Gomes] In building our gut health portfolio, we introduced the world’s first stimbiotic, acquired a unique natural phytogenic feed additive, Progres®, and continued to elaborate our yeast portfolio, focusing on gut health benefits.
Our services became an integral part of this solution-driven approach. They help customers optimise and control all stages of feed production, reduce costs, monitor animal gut health, and achieve environmental goals.
In addition to offering efficient products and actionable insights through services, we’re also developing a third pillar – our expertise. Together, these three elements form the foundation of cost-effective solutions for our customers. For example, our long-standing work on fibre not only strengthened our enzyme offerings but also led to the development of Signis, a stimbiotic that stimulates fibre-degrading microbiota in the lower gut, thus also supporting intestinal gut health.
Our experience with yeast products enhances our ability to grasp the complex interactions within rumen and gut microbiota. Similarly, our work with Progres®, which directly supports intestinal integrity in the upper gut, has deepened our understanding of managing gut health.
[Feedinfo] Could you explain more about Progres® and how it works across different species?
[Gilson Gomes] Progres® is the only natural resin acids product in the animal feed market. Its active ingredient has been shown to directly support intestinal integrity, so animals can build resilience against various challenges typical of commercial production.
One of the standout features is its universal mode of action, making Progres® effective across different species. While the specific benefits will vary, they mainly stem from the same action on re-enforcing gut integrity. In field conditions, animals can face many different stressors which often trigger some degree of intestinal inflammation, even in otherwise healthy animals. This inflammation, an energy-costly process, weakens the gut barrier, impairing resilience against pathogens and reducing nutrient absorption.
Whether it’s post-weaning stress in piglets, the start of laying in poultry, or reducing reliance on medication like antibiotics or zinc oxide, Progres® helps animals to better cope with these stressors that can impact both well-being and performance.
[Feedinfo] Why do you believe that integrated solutions are crucial in meeting customers’ evolving needs?
[Gilson Gomes] The pressures and complexities of modern commercial production are so interconnected that no single product can provide a complete solution. Recognising this, we’ve adapted our approach to better meet our customers’ developing needs.
We align our research, development and business activities with what we call “feed intelligence”. This concept integrates innovative, state-of-the-art products with valuable tools and global expertise into meaningful solutions to help customers tackle their toughest challenges.
The solutions we are offering are based on insights provided by our key services and a deep understanding of our products’ mode of action, which is a prerequisite for targeted product application and synergistic combinations of different products.
[Feedinfo] As a global brand, how do you account for regional variations when developing gut health strategies?
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[Vadim Chupasov] We believe in delivering global feed intelligence, locally. We treat our products and services as a toolbox, working with our customers to choose the best tools for their requirements. For example, efficient gut health products can be used to reduce reliance on antibiotics. However, it doesn’t mean they are not applicable in countries where antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) are in use. Gut health products, depending on their mode of action, usually deliver multiple benefits, so we focus on the benefits relevant to specific production models. |
Vadim Chupasov, Global Marketing Manager, AB Vista |
Additionally, even in countries where AGPs are not yet restricted, there are issues with antibiotic resistance, prompting producers to seek alternative solutions. Some may also explore export opportunities to the EU, which would require introducing production lines without AGPs. In this way, we provide the tools our customers need here and now, as well as offering a full toolbox for future opportunities once their initial goals are met.
Since some aspects of gut health are difficult to track in field conditions, we also introduce functional gut microbiome analyses, which provide a holistic view of the initial situation and help monitor the impact of changes introduced.
[Feedinfo] The industry will soon be gathering at the upcoming EuroTier. What can we expect to see from AB Vista?
[Vadim Chupasov] We’re excited to showcase Progres® for the first time at AB Vista’s EuroTier stand (Hall 21/Stand J10), alongside other solutions. Visitors will get firsthand insights into how our products, tools and expertise work to support animal producers, including the opportunity to test full-size and handheld NIR machines. We look forward to welcoming everyone!
