14 April 2022 - There are many reasons to want to minimise the use of inorganic feed phosphates, ranging from cost to environmental concerns. However, innovation around phosphorus, calcium, and anti-nutritional factors in the diet has largely focused on enzymes use. For macro-mineral specialists Phosphea, there is another angle which can be worked in pursuit of this common goal: improving the feed phosphate.
Today, Caroline Biard, Marketing and Innovation Director, Phosphea, introduces the world to a new feed material, a calcium humophosphate for broilers: HumIPHORA. Phosphea claims HumIPHORA allows for lower phosphate inclusion rates with similar or better animal performance, thanks to its unique chemistry which helps avoid calcium becoming an antinutritional factor in the digestive tract. In the interview below, Ms. Biard explains how this works, and outlines Phosphea’s plans to roll out this innovation worldwide.
[Feedinfo] Can you start by introducing HumIPHORA and explaining how it is different from existing feed phosphate products?
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[Caroline Biard] Feed phosphates, such as dicalcium phosphate (DCP) or monocalcium phosphates (MCP) are commonly used in animal feed production to provide essential nutrients, namely phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). However, there has been relatively little development work done on this feed material, most of which was focused on P content and digestibility. In that sense, HumIPHORA is not merely different; it is a breakthrough innovation in the phosphate world! For the first time, we propose a phosphate that not only brings phosphorus to the diet, but also potentially contributes to a better use of the other nutrients coming from the feed, especially plant-based phosphorus. How? Thanks to its selective chelation properties it allows for lower phosphate inclusion in the feed formulation compared to classical phosphate sources.
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Caroline Biard |
[Feedinfo] What does that mean for the bird, for the farmer, and for the environment? What data do you have to support these claims?
[Caroline Biard] Based on trials performed in private institutes in France and the Netherlands, we observed a similar or even higher feed efficiency (up to 1% lower FCR) for birds, even while phosphate inclusion in the feed was lower. This led to a positive return on investment for the farmer.
Moreover, it was important for us to ensure a stable calcium-phosphorus status for the chicken. In fact, the animals had the same bone density as the control group. A separate study on broiler breeders’ egg quality confirmed this result.
Finally, we observed a decrease of P release in the litter, which is a major environmental concern.
These three parameters (feed efficiency, bone status, P in the litter) confirmed our hypothesis on the mode of action of HumIPHORA .
They also demonstrate that it can be used at a lower incorporation rate in the formula compared to MCP, because it enables an increase in the utilisation of plant-based phosphorus.
[Feedinfo] How does the product work?
[Caroline Biard] To understand how it works, we need to start by understanding calcium (Ca). On the one hand, it is a very important nutrient for bone structure as well as being a cell messenger. But on the other hand, Ca can become an antinutritional factor (ANF) if it is not used carefully. Unfortunately, this is difficult to properly manage, as it is quite abundant on Earth, and is therefore one of the cheapest feed materials. So, during the digestion process, when free Ca enters into the intestine, where pH is higher, it can bind with other nutrients such as protein, orthophosphate, and phytic acid. In the case of phytic acid, it may decrease phytase efficiency.
HumIPHORA is a calcium humophosphate (a patented feed material which is noted in the European Feed Register). This specific organic-mineral complex helps to control Ca release in the gut, and thus decrease Ca ANF. In this way, HumIPHORA can contribute to improving plant-based phosphorus utilization.
[Feedinfo] Tell me about the design process. How long has this been in the works at Phosphea, and what were you trying to accomplish?
[Caroline Biard] HumIPHORA comes from combining deep expertise in humic substances and feed phosphates—two core areas for the Groupe Roullier and Phosphea. After six years of research and development, we were able to bring together the properties of interest from both sides to create this specific phosphate.
[Feedinfo] What are your plans for the worldwide launch of HumIPHORA? What ambitions do you have for the product’s first years?
[Caroline Biard] In 2022, we are launching HumIPHORA in Europe. We plan to reach South America in 2023, focusing on the Brazilian market, and then Asia with the Indian market in 2024, and finally North America in 2025. We are still finalising our plans for Africa and the Middle East, but expect to enter this region before 2026.
[Feedinfo] Where is HumIPHORA being made?
[Caroline Biard] Today, HumIPHORA is produced in our Tunisian factory, Gabes. However, we may decide to add it to the line-up at one of our five other feed phosphates factories around the world.
[Feedinfo] How does this product fit in with the rest of your portfolio? What does it say about Phosphea’s vision for the feed phosphates category?
[Caroline Biard] As experts in feed phosphates, Phosphea provides key elements for animal nutrition. Therefore, our mission is to analyse and understand the current challenges of livestock production and bring suitable solutions. For the past decade, the unique Centre Mondial de L’Innovation (Groupe Roullier Research Center) located in Saint-Malo, France, has been at the core of Phosphea corporate strategy for a reason: to design cutting-edge products that will emerge from our production lines every day and secure our position at the forefront of feed phosphates. This is how we see our role, and this is our vision – to be a specialist in mineral-based solutions ahead of our time, displaying a synergy of technical know-how and industrial expertise. And this is the challenge HumIPHORA takes up.
Published in association with Phosphea
