The natural preservative is presented as a unique solution for the control of fungi and bacteria that cause feed degradation

The preservation of grain and balanced feed is a key element to maintain its nutritional and microbiological quality. It is based on the control of microorganism (fungi and bacteria) that cause the degradation of feed.

Classic methods use products based on organic acids, usually defined as fungi inhibitors. In recent years, natural alternatives have been described for the preservation of feed and raw materials that eliminate microorganisms and keep feed in optimal conditions in a short and long term.

An example of this is the natural preservative of Biovet S.A., Alquermold Natural, a product based on natural extracts that has demonstrated its efficacy in several trials, both as a bactericide and feed preservative.

Conventional products: Why should you replace them?

Organic acids or fungi inhibitors are the most commonly used preservative in animal feed. They are bacteriostatic and fungistatic products that inhibit the growth of microorganisms, without eliminating them. The microorganisms are able to adapt and reuse them as an energy source, so the efficacy of these products decreases over the time.

On the other hand, its spectrum of action is reduced: an organic acid it is only effective against a specific group of microorganisms. For this reason, the products usually combine at least two different organic acids, which expand its spectrum of action, but also increase their dose.

Usually, this reduced spectrum makes necessary to add substances such as formaldehyde (toxic and carcinogenic) for the control of pathogens such as Salmonella, among others, since organic acids do not completely eliminate them.

Finally, we should not forget that these products are acids, that is, corrosive solutions that are dangerous for workers and damage machinery.

Therefore, there is a need to find innovative methods for feed and raw materials preservation that allow maintaining the conditions of feed in a short and long term and, in this way, ensure its nutritional and microbiological quality.

Alquermold Natural as a unique solution to feed preservation

The trials carried out with the natural preservative of Biovet S.A., Alquermold Natural, demonstrate that it is an effective preservative with marked advantages over the use of conventional products:

Its spectrum of action is wide, with a single product, bacteria, fungi and yeasts can be controlled. It also eliminates the need to use other products such as formaldehyde. In addition, since it is a bactericide and fungicide, Alquermold Natural completely eliminates microorganisms and it is effective for long-term preservative effect (up to six months).

It is a natural product, based on plant extracts with a known amount of active molecules, which is not harmful to workers or machinery.

Alquermold Natural validated as a preservative for animal feed

Alquermold Natural has been tested in multiple trials against bacteria, fungi and yeast both in plate and in substrate (raw material and balanced feed). The results have shown that it has a high inhibition index.

Table 1. Growth inhibition by Alquermold Natural in different substrates and against different microorganisms.

In summary, the natural preservative is presented as an effective alternative to organic acids since it has multiple advantages: it has a wide spectrum of action, completely eliminates microorganisms and is not corrosive. Furthermore, the use of this fungicide has demonstrated its effectiveness in preserving food in a long term.