Optimal calcium and phosphorus metabolism
Background on the challenge
During the last decades, N and P excretion by livestock has been increasingly regulated by legislation to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production. Reducing dietary P contents (one of the ways this is possible is by phytase application as feed enzyme) requires optimized Ca metabolism to stimulate phytase efficacy and ensure good bone quality in fast-growing birds. An imbalance between dietary Ca and P results in bone defects, poor bone strength, wet litter, and reduced production performances.
The implication for the industry
The application of phytase in almost all broilers diets worldwide improves the digestion of vegetable P, which is mainly present in plants as phytate. Increasing vegetable P digestibility reduces the need for feed phosphates in broiler diets, and consequently the excretion of P in poultry droppings. The efficacy of phytase, however, is dependent on the dietary Ca level and solubility. When reducing dietary Ca to improve phytate efficacy, vitamin D3 metabolism needs to be supported to maximize Ca uptake from the intestinal tract and improve performance and bone mineralization in broilers. Such dietary supplementation with 1,25(OH)2D3-glycosides can improve phytase efficacy.
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fast time to action
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improves mineral metabolism
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increases bone strength
Panbonis® is a complementary feed that contains a standardized level of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol-glycosides (1,25(OH)2D3-gly) from dried and ground Solanum glaucophyllum leaves. 1,25(OH)2D3-gly can only be absorbed after the sugar molecule is released from 1,25(OH)2D3 by specific enzymes that are present in the intestine. This is a gradual process, ensuring a slow release of the bioactive component. Once it is absorbed, it does not need additional activation steps, like vitamin D3 or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) do, which means that Panbonis® can directly support the animal even in periods when specific activation enzymes in liver and kidney are limited.
Supplementing a commercial phytase-supplemented broiler diet with 100-200g/t of Panbonis® supports mineral metabolism and stimulates performance and bone strength.
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Supports the crucial role of vitamin D3
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100% Natural
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GMO-free
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Standardized content of the active ingredient
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Gradually absorbed from the intestine
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Considered a complementary feed in the EU
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High processing and storage stability
Mode of action
Vitamin D3 needs to conversion steps to become metabolically active. The first step happens in the liver, where vitamin D3 is converted to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3. 25(OH)D3 is the storage form of vitamin D3 and gives a good indication of the vitamin D3 status of the animal. The second activation step happens in the kidney, where the 25(OH)D3 is converted into 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3). 1,25(OH)2D3 then interacts with the vitamin D3 receptor (VDR), which is, among others, located in the gut cells. There 1,25(OH)2D3 increases the expression of Calbindin, a Ca-binding protein in the cell that transports the Ca from the gut to the blood. When providing Panbonis, which naturally contains 1,25(OH)2D3-gly, only the glycosides need to be cleaved by endogenous enzymes, and the free 1,25(OH)2D3 can be absorbed and is directly available at the site of Ca-absorption.
Trial results
Broilers were fed a 2-phase control diet (starter: 10.0g Ca; 3.0 g av.P and grower: 9.0g Ca; 2.5g av.P) as such, or supplemented with phytase (500 FTU) with a single or double Panbonis® dose (100mg and 200mg) – all contents given per kg diet. Results are given in percentage of a positive control diet that contained an additional 2.0g av.P in both phases.
- fast time to action
- improves mineral metabolism
- increases bone strength