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Bio-regulation: a new concept developed by French olfaction and nutrition specialist Phodé. Based on a triple expertise in olfaction, animal health, and animal nutrition, a new generation of natural feed additives, or “bio-regulation complexes” has been developed to target every step of the whole nutritional experience, from sensorial stimulation and appetence to digestion efficacy and digestive health. Trials performed in research stations as well as in commercial farms show that one of these bio-regulation complexes, specially designed for ruminants, is able to improve feed efficacy, performances and health status in beef cattle and dairy ruminants, proving a good natural alternative to bring extra revenue and peace of mind to the farmer. These benefits are backed by in vitro and in vivo scientific research, demonstrating the modes of action of this technology along the ruminant digestive tract.


The bio-regulation concept

Based on the idea that farm animals health, nutrition, and behaviour (stress, well-being…) should be considered as a whole, Phodé R &D department has developed a very specific combination of natural plant extracts (essential oils, spices and natural flavourings) designed to act on the whole feeding process and enhance it at various levels (Figure 1):

Fig 1 : The concept of bio-regulation : a blend of specific natural ingredients to act at every level of the animal feeding experience and digestive process.

• First, the sensitive perception of the feed, which will improve the animal feeding behaviour (improves appetence and feed recognition), and well-being (specific natural flavourings)
  
  
• The first step of the digestive process, in the mouth: spices extracts are used to increase saliva production through the activation of heat receptors in the taste buds, acting directly on the digestive physiology.
  
  
• Ruminal digestion: a specific blend of essential oils, developed to improve starch, protein and fibre valorisation.
  
  
• Rumen health: the increased saliva production has a buffering effect, reducing sub-acidosis risks (spices extracts).
  
  
• Finally, nutriments absorption along the gut is optimised too: the spices extracts increase gut mucosa permeability to nutriments.

The aim of this bio-regulation complex (Oleobiotec®) is to optimise feed value and zootechnical performance, while improving animal well-being and health. The efficacy of this natural solution has been well demonstrated in the field.


Improved performance in beef cattle

To study the benefits of Oleobiotec® for beef cattle production, a first trial was performed in a French research Station (2004), involving 60 Charolais (average weight at start of trial: 334 Kg), during 120 days. The animals were divided between two groups: Control and Treated, both fed a diet made up of 60% corn, 40% concentrate with straw and salts supplements ad libitum. In addition, the Treated group received 1 g/animal/day of Oleobiotec® (Phodé, France). Average consumption and daily weight gain (ADWG) were measured for each group. ADWG showed a significant increase with Oleobiotec (+7%), while the average feed conversion rate was significantly lower (-5%), demonstrating a positive effect of the supplement on feed efficacy and animal growth (Figure 2).

Fig 2: Effects of Oleobiotec® on Charolais beef cattle daily weight gain and feed efficacy (Phodé, 2004).

A second research trial, performed in Belgium (Belgian breed Blanc Bleu Belge) and involving 2 groups of 35 animals (average weight at start: 465 kg), fed on grower feed and corn silage, showed the same trend: Oleobiotec® significantly improved average daily weight gain by 4.8%

Most importantly, these trials were validated in farm conditions: production trials were performed with different breeds (Blonde d’Aquitaine, Limousine or Charolais), on different types of diets, involving over 150 animals in total. These trials showed that the same quantity of Oleobiotec® supplement than in experimental conditions results in improved feed efficacy, increasing the ADWG by at least 5% for the farmer. These trials are summarised in Table 1.

Effects in dairy cows and small ruminants

In dairy cows, several production trials show the impact of Oleobiotec® on milk production, with milk production increases of up to 1.5 kg /day/cow.

In dairy ruminants, feed valorisation and milk quality are major concerns for farmers, together with health preservation of the lactating animals, necessary to insure long-term productivity. While this is true for dairy cows, it is even more predominant in dairy goats and sheep, where milk value is high and milk quality, such as somatic cells count, an important factor of milk valuation. The effect of Oleobiotec® on milk quality has been investigated in dairy sheep, goats and cows in several field trials. All show good results on somatic cells count, a sign of good sanitary conditions (Table 2).

Trial Effect of Oleobiotec on somatic cells count (SCC) Note 2 groups of 20 Holstein, control vs. treated, 3 months trial (Belgium, 2006) - 52% SCC in milk (142 vs. 298 X1000 somatic cells/ml in control)   2 groups of 8 dairy cows each (Holstein+ Normande), control vs. treated, 3 months trial (France, 2006) - 60.5% SCC in milk (133 vs. 335 X1000 somatic cells/ml in control) Animals in subacute rumen acidosis Excess CP content in diet 30 Prim’Holstein, x 2 months supplementation (France, 2002) - 24% SCC in milk (from 432 to 328 X1000 somatic cells/ml with Oleobiotec®; P<0.1) SCC in milk return to baseline 2 months after the end of the trial. 2 groups of 24 dairy sheep (Lacaune), control vs. treated, 53 days trial (France, 2001) - 65% SCC in milk (133 vs. 381 X1000 somatic cells/ml in control)   110 alpine goats, 2 months supplementation (France, 2003) - 25% SCC in milk (from 2.27 million to 1.65 million somatic cells/ml; P<0.1) SCC in milk return to baseline 1 month after the end of the trial.

Table 2: Effect of Oleobiotec® on somatic cells count (SCC) in milk of various dairy ruminant species.

Another good sign of milk quality improvement is the reduction of urea level in milk with the bio-regulation complex. A recent dairy cow trial, conducted in two groups of 10 Holstein breed (cross-over study), fed a diet containing 14.5 % CP, shows a 16% decrease in milk urea level (186 mg/L on average vs. 223 for the control group), for similar milk yields. This does reflect an improved nitrogen utilisation in the rumen, linked to better ruminal protein synthesis. Another study corroborates this conclusion. In a French trial, performed in 2005, milk yield increased with the addition of Oleobiotec® in the diet of Holstein dairy cows, while at the same time the addition of protein concentrate in the diet could be reduced by 22%.


A set of well-defined modes of action

The numerous trials presented illustrate well the bio-regulation effects in ruminants, in particular improved feed conversation rate, translated into better milk and meat yields, and improved health conditions (reduced SSC in milk).

These effects are the fact of the combined actions of Oleobiotec® elements, first on the animal sensorial organs (increased appetence), in the mouth (increased saliva secretion), then in the rumen and the gut of the animals, as mentioned before.

The modes of action of Oleobiotec® elements in the digestive system of ruminants have been validated by five years of scientific research, first in vitro, then in vivo in canulated dairy cows, and can be summarised as follow (Table 3).

1. Improved protein utilisation: ruminal protein synthesis is increased due to the positive effect of the specific essential oils blend on rumen flora balance (Figure 3). This is measured by the decrease in ammoniac and urea outputs.
   
   
2. Improved fibres digestibility, in particular with high starch diets, thanks to the relative increase of the cellulolytic rumen microbial population.
   
   
3. Stabilised rumen pH, in particular with high energy diet, due to the combined actions of the specific essential oils on lactate producing bacteria in the rumen and the spices effect on increased saliva production (buffering activity) through the stimulation of heat receptors near the taste buds.
   
   
4. Improved starch utilisation, with reduced carbohydrate loss (CO₂ and CH₄ emissions), due to improved ruminal flora balance.
   
   
5. Reduced somatic cells count in milk and inflammatory reaction: it has been shown that eugenol (clove extract) and cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon) inhibit COX-2 activity (cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes, which expression is triggered by inflammatory mediators such as bacterial toxins, correlated with mastitis prevalence).
   

Table 3: Oleobiotec® modes of action in the rumen, depending on the type of diet (compiled from Phodé in vitro and in vivo studies).

Figure 3: Effect of Oleobiotec® on bacterial protein synthesis efficacy, expressed as g of nitrogen per g of organic matter truly digested in the rumen (nutrient balance on dairy cows, latin square 4X4, Phodé, 2006)

Phodé is born from the conviction that the sense of smell is our primary sense, and one of the driving forces behind the behavior and well-being of living beings. Its mission is to capitalize on its expertise of olfaction and nutrition to improve the well-being and health of humans and animals, both through their food and their environment.

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