Introduction
The product Endofeed DC contains beta-glucanase and beta-xylanase. The product is authorised for use in the EU in chickens for fattening, laying hens, pigs for fattening, minor poultry and porcine species.
Manufacturer´s main claims
Increases digestibility of nutrients
Improves daily weight gain and feed conversion
Reduces stress at weaning and diarrhoea
Technical specifications of Endofeed DC
EU category
Zootechnical additives
Functional group of additives
Digestibility enhancers
Active substance
Endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6)
Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8)
Enzymatic activity in the product
1100 U/g endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase
1600 U/g endo-1,4-beta-xylanase
EU approval, minimum content
Minimum content for the animal categories below:
Endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase: 138 U/kg feed
Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase: 200 U/kg feed
Chickens for fattening
Laying hens
Pigs for fattening
Minor poultry species
Minor porcine species for fattening
End of period of EU authorisation
7 November 2027
EU code
4a1601
Production organism
Both enzymes produced by Aspergillus niger (NRRL 25541)
Product storage stability
Three batches of the product were stored for 18 months at either 25°C /60% RH or for six months at 40°C /75% RH. At 25°C, the residual activity of glucanase was 91%, and for xylanase, 75% of the activity could be recovered. When stored at 40°C, 25% of the enzymatic activity was lost after three months of storage. After six months at a high temperature, the residual enzymatic activity was below 35%.
Storage stability in premix and feed
The product was added to a premix and tested at the same temperatures and humidities as in the stability test of the product itself. After six months of storage at 25°C, 113% of the glucanase and 107% of the xylanase were recovered. At 40°C, the recovery rate for glucanase and xylanase was 40 and 44 %, respectively.
Pelleted piglet feed stored for three months at an unspecified temperature and humidity lost 20% of the glucanase activity, whereas the xylanase activity was unaffected by storage.
Samples of mash feed for poultry supplemented with the product were also stored at 25°C/60% RH or 40°C/75% RH. At 25°C, at least 84% of the glucanase activity and at least 90% of the xylanase could be recovered. Analyses of the feed samples kept at 40°C showed a decrease in the glucanase to lower than 52% and lower than 60% for the xylanase.
Heat stability
A mash feed for pigs based on barley, wheat and oats was added with the product and pelleted at 65-70°C. After pelleting, the glucanase activity was reduced to 74 - 85% of the initial value and to 85-88% for xylanase.
The effect of pelleting piglet feed at 50-55°C was also tested. After pelleting at low temperatures, more than 80% of the initial enzymatic activity could be recovered.
The product's heat stability was also tested in poultry feed pelleted at 65-70°C. The enzymatic activity after pelleting was reduced to 30% of that observed in the mash feed.
Homogeneity
The capacity of the product to be mixed homogeneously in a mash or pelleted feed was tested in 12 sub-samples of three diets supplemented with three different levels. In mash feed, the coefficient of variance ranged from 12 to 17% for glucanase and 7 to 12 % for xylanase. The corresponding test values for pelleted feed were 11-12% for glucanase and 5 to 14% for xylanase.
Handling
The European Commission states: "For users of the additive and premixtures, feed business operators shall establish operational procedures and organisational measures to address potential risks resulting from their use. Where those risks cannot be eliminated or reduced to a minimum by such procedures and measures, the additive and premixtures shall be used with personal protective equipment, including skin, eyes and breathing protections."
Manufacturer
Andrés Pintaluba
List of references
EFSA (2013). Scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Endofeed® DC (endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase and endo-1,4-beta-xylanases) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, laying hens, pigs for fattening and minor poultry and porcine species. EFSA Journal 2013;11(8):3322
EU (2017). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1896 of 17 October 2017 concerning the authorisation of a preparation o endo-1,3(4)-beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) and endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) produced by Aspergillus niger (NRRL 25541) as a feed additive for chickens for fattening, laying hens, pigs for fattening, minor poultry species and minor porcine species for fattening and amending Regulation (EC) No 255/2005 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 668/2003 (holder of the authorisation Andrés Pinaluba S.A.). Official Journal of the European Union. L 267/1-5