A new online calculator has been launched to help nutritionists and livestock producers better assess beta-mannan levels in pig and broiler diets.
Developed by Elanco, the free tool aims to support more informed decisions around feed formulation that could help drive improved animal productivity and health.
Dr Tom Dutton, technical consultant at Elanco, said beta-mannans – which are found in many raw materials such as soya, sunflower and cereals – can have a significant but often overlooked effect on animal performance.
“Beta-mannans can mimic the structure of pathogenic organisms which causes them to trigger an unnecessary response by the animal’s immune system, known as a Feed-Induced Immune Response (FIIR),” he said.
“This diverts nutrients and energy away from productive functions and causes inflammation within the gut, reducing nutrient absorption, lowering feed conversion efficiency, and increasing the risk of secondary infections.”
He added: “Even minimal amounts of beta-mannans – (0.20%)1 – is enough to trigger a FIIR.”
To address the challenge, the energy-sparing enzyme beta-mannanase – commercially available as Hemicell XT – can be included in diets to break down the beta-mannans and reduce their impact.
“The new calculator can be used to assess beta-mannan risk at any stage of the diet. By using ingredient percentages entered by the user, it estimates beta-mannan levels in the ration and identifies if the inclusion of Hemicell XT would be beneficial,” Dr Dutton explained.
He added that improving visibility of beta-mannan levels allows for a more targeted approach to feed formulation.
“Identifying and taking action to counter beta-mannans in diets is an important step in improving feed efficiency, supporting gut function, and helping animals perform to their full potential,” he said.
The calculators are free to use on the Elanco website.
