Evonik to introduce first own developed probiotic (DFM) - GutCare® PY1

Essen. Evonik will launch its first own developed probiotic (DFM, direct fed microbial) product GutCare® PY1 at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) 2017 in Atlanta (USA). Over the coming years, Evonik, specialist in feed amino acids, also intends to assume a leading role in the field of sustainable and antibiotic-free livestock management.

GutCare® PY1 has a positive effect on the healthy balance of bacteria populations in the chicken gut especially under stressful conditions. "The product can be part of a set of alternative solutions to reduce the use of antibiotic growth promoters. Thus it can contribute to a healthy and balanced nutrition of livestock," says Dr. Emmanuel Auer, head of the Animal Nutrition business line at Evonik.

For the development of GutCare® PY1, a multi-parameter selection process was established to screen more than 500 strains of the bacterial type Bacillus subtilis for probiotic properties.

Different scientific in-vitro as well as in-vivo studies demonstrated the ability of Bacillus subtilis DSM 32315 to modify the gut microbiota to inhibit the conditions that encourage different necrotic enteritis outbreak isolates.

This illness, which is commonly associated with certain pathogenic bacteria of the Clostridium perfringens type, causes losses of billions of US dollars to the global poultry industry every year.

The product will initially be introduced in the U.S. market, and other countries will follow. Since the acquisition of the probiotic business of the Spanish company NOREL S. A. in the summer of 2016, Evonik has two probiotics in its portfolio: Ecobiol® (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CECT 5940) for poultry and Fecinor® (Enterococcus faecium CECT 4515) for piglets. “Our own developed probiotic product GutCare® PY1 ideally complements our product portfolio and expands our options to serve our customers worldwide,” states Peter Freisler, head of Gut Health Solutions at Evonik.

In addition to expanding its product portfolio, Evonik is developing a unique chicken gut simulation model in order to study the mechanisms of action of probiotics in animal nutrition. "From our perspective, the potential of probiotics for sustainable animal production is far from being exploited. That's why we want to understand in detail how they work within the gut" explains Stefan Pelzer, head of innovation area Gut Health & Diagnostics.

Evonik’s Animal Nutrition business line has over sixty years of experience in the manufacture of essential amino acids and provides solutions for efficient and sustainable animal nutrition to customers in over one hundred countries. Evonik wants to make an even greater contribution to the efficiency and sustainability of animal feed by complementing its portfolio with innovative feed additives beyond amino acids in order to create additional value for its customers. Evonik’s products and services in the area of animal nutrition play a key role worldwide in the production of healthy and affordable food, while preserving natural resources and reducing the ecological footprint.