Like human beings, animals need a balanced diet that can provide their daily body needs.
Some nutrients require an exogenous supplement to be part of a balanced diet for livestock, by each species and growth phase.
Among these nutrients, some vitamins are commonly added to diets, like vitamin B2.
Vitamin B2 belongs to a group of water-soluble vitamins and is present in all living tissues. It acts directly on the metabolism of various enzyme systems, as well as being important in the electron transport of the respiratory chain and the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and oily acids.
Recently, the EU suspended the sale of a specific additive, vitamin B2, which is produced from Bacillus subtilis KCCM-10445, a genetically-modified bacteria. The additive was found to be non-compliant with the regulations required by laws regarding GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) and was submitted to several laboratory tests.
The demands concerning food safety are a growing reality around the world and the search for natural additives that provide what animals and humans need have been steadfastly pursued by industries, research institutes and authorities that work to support public health. The vitamin B2 provides critical functions for the maintenance of cells and tissues.
Liliana Longo Borges, ICC Brazil's animal scientist and R&D analyst, said the deficiency of vitamin B2 causes stunted growth in young animals, apathy, a lack of appetite and mucus problems.
Some symptoms, however, differ from one animal to another. Horses, for example, may show periodic night blindness. In pigs, there are skin conditions and inflammations, diarrhea and intestinal phlegm, reproduction problems (high fetus mortality or premature births). In birds, the most characteristic symptom is curved-finger paralysis, which causes movement difficulties.
In hens, there are hatching disorders and embryonic problems, given that the survival of chicks is related to the number of vitamins in the diet of hens, and in laying hens, a reduction in the laying of eggs is noted. In freshwater fish, is observed nervous disorders, skin hemorrhages, eye and fin disorders, gill necrosis, cataracts, photophobia and high mortality rates," said Borges, reinforcing the idea that when hypovitaminosis is evident, diet formulation and vitamin supplementation must be readdressed.
ICC Brazil, a pioneer in the production of innovative solutions for animal nutrition based on sugarcane yeast additives, offers an alternative to the vitamin supplementation that is natural, safe and GMO-free.
StarYeast® inactive dry yeast is derived from the fermentation of molasses from sugar cane. As well as having high palatability, StarYeast® has an excellent nutritional profile, with a high concentration of complex B vitamins.
B2 is one of the vitamins presents, which is necessary for the feed and nutritional demands of animals.
Visit ICC Brazil at: www.iccbrazil.com