* Photo: PhD. Cristina Latasa, from Recombina, during her conference: "Differentiation between drug and pronutrient"

Pronutrients, enzymes and mycotoxin binders were the protagonists of the 4th session of the XXXI Biovet International Symposium, which was held from May 26 to 29 at the Chamber of Commerce of Tarragona. Producers and distributors of the poultry and swine sector, from all over the world: China, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Romania, United States, Peru, Guatemala, Ireland, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Bangladesh and Argentina, attended the meeting.

Professor of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), Tarragona, Miquel Mulero, was the moderator of this session, which took place on May 29th. PhD. Cristina Latasa, from Recombina, opened the session with a lecture entitled: "Differentiation between drug and pronutrient", in which she highlighted: "Veterinary drugs restore, correct or modify organic functions. Its mechanism of action is based on the interaction with a receptor, whose union provokes specific mechanisms, such as the modification of cells and their functions, modifications at the level of proteins, enzymes, amino acids or elimination-blocking of a certain metabolic pathway".

Meanwhile, pronutrients "activate the expression of tissue-specific proteins, without modifying their function, improving the integrity, functionality and immune response in a specific organ or system, so that they improve the physiology and protection against diseases and not they have the negative effects of antibiotics, whose use in animals can compromise their use in humans" she explained.

Regarding Antibiotics Growth Promoters (AGPs), Latasa summarized: "Subinhibitory concentrations of penicillin, virginiamycin, flavomycin, chlortetracycline, erythromycin or colistin, among others, are added to feed as growth promoters, since they regulate and maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiota that can be affected by stress or digestive disorders changes. Despite this, its use in animals is contraindicated, since it may compromise its use in humans".

PROTEASES
Sara Borrell, from Biovet Regulatory Affairs Department also gave a presentation entitled: "Enzymes: Proteases" in which she highlighted "the growing demand for proteins and amino acids necessary in the diet of production animals, to reach the conversions that the industry needs". She also mentioned that "the key to the properties of proteases is to improve the efficiency of feed, maintaining intestinal health."

Photo *: Sara Borrell, from Biovet Regulatory Affairs Department gave a presentation entitled: "Enzymes: Proteases"

Following, the Engineer from the Scientific University of the South (UCSUR, for its initials in Spanish), Alfredo Rubén Palomino, gave a breakdown in his intervention about some studies in aquaculture on "Intestinal endoenzymes" in which he stressed that "the concentration of all these endogenous enzymes varies depending on the habits of the fish. In the case of fish specialized in a specific diet, they manifest significant type differences, concentration and enzymatic activity, although certain enzymes may not exist or have a very reduced activity, whereas in less specialized fish, which are fed with different types of diets, a greater diversity of enzymes can be found.

Foto *: The Engineer from the Scientific University of the South (Peru) (UCSUR), Alfredo Rubén Palomino, analyzed aquaculture studies on "Intestinal endoenzymes"

MICOTOXINE BINDERS
Finally, PhD. Hugo Ramírez, from the Iowa State University, concluded the fourth session of the XXXI Biovet International Symposium, with a lecture entitled: "Supplementation with Alquerfeed Antitox for the reduction of aflatoxin M1 in milk and biomarkers of liver function in dairy cows”.

In the research carried out by the Department of Animal Sciences of this institution and led by PhDs. E.H. Branstad y H.A. Ramírez-Ramírez based on the hypothesis that a diet supplementation with aluminosilicate clay (Alquerfeed Antitox) will reduce AFM1 concentrations in milk and mitigate the inflammatory response induced by aflatoxins.

This study concluded that the use of Alquerfeed Antitox is an effective strategy to mitigate aflatoxin contamination in dairy cows (27% lower concentration of AFM1 in milk, 28% reduction in transfer rate, 35% less excretion of AFM1) in milk). Likewise, no harmful effects are found in the productive parameters when supplemented with Alquerfeed Antitox.

Photo *: PhD. Hugo Ramírez, from the Iowa State University, concluded with a presentation on mycotoxin binders in cows

You can read more information about the XXI Biovet International Symposium of Tarragona at the following links:

Biovet S.A. celebrated the XXXI International Symposium in Tarragona

Pronutrients, protagonists of two sessions at the XXXI Biovet International Symposium in Tarragona

The Scientific University of the South (Peru), Adivet (Peru) and INPSAS (Colombia), winners of the Biovet 2018 Awards