Experiment with rats

In the Netherlands, we have commissioned experiments with rats that indicate that fermented protein can be used to replace expensive fishmeal with no change in the production results! The other provisional conclusions are:

• that the use of fermented feed leads to more uniform growth (read the statements from customers, which also indicate this)
• that fermented feed should be added in the farrowing pens to help prevent early weaning diarrhoea
• that flavourings should be added up to 10 kg
• that it is possible to use fermented rapeseed to prevent Lawsonia diarrhoea – if enough is added

The key points of the analysis:

• 24 rats (three groups of 8) were fed with fermented and unfermented rapeseed for 37 days
• Days 1–22: 4 groups on fermented corn, 4 groups on non-fermented corn (30% of the total feed volume)
• Days 23–27: The rats were placed in separate cages to measure the digestibility of the feed. 6 on fermented corn, 6 on non-fermented corn and 6 on basic feed without corn mix (to test the digestibility of basic feed)
• The rapeseed mix prepared was very different to the fermented mixture. 80% of the non-fermented RSM was mixed with 14.5% wheat starch and 5.5% dried potato peel, while wheat bran was incorporated in the fermentation mix. This resulted in a blanco-feed that contained 44 g more starch per kg and 15 g less protein in the fermented mix. This had already been established through analyses of the different mixes.
• The rats’ assimilation of the feed was exactly the same: 322 g / rat / day
• The average daily growth was nearly identical: 53 and 54 grams The feed utilisation figures were likewise almost the same: 5.92 and 5.94 kg feed per kg of growth.
• The calculated net energy in the different mixes varied greatly on account of the extra starch in the blanco feed.
• With regard to FCR per feed unit (Dutch Ew, which corresponds to Danish feed units (FE)), there was an appreciable difference. The FCR/Ew for the group that received non-fermented feed was 7.17 with an FCR of 0.77. The FCR/Ew for the group that received fermented feed was 6.66 with an FCR of just 0.25. This means that the rats showed more uniform growth.

So: rats that received fermented feed utilised the energy in their ration 7% more efficiently than those in the group that received non-fermented feed.