Feed preservatives are used to minimize deterioration caused by microorganisms and preserve their physical-chemical characteristics.

There are different types of preservatives with different characteristics and mechanisms of action. Organic acids are bacteriostatic and fungistatic with an efficacy that lasts up to 2 months. The cimenol ring is a botanical preservative with bactericidal and fungicidal properties that last up to 6 months after its application.

Objective

To evaluate the capacity of the cimenol ring as a feed preservative and to compare it with organic acids.

Experimental design

Samples:

• Feed for ruminants: sample taken from the mixer in the feed factory, prior to the pelletizing process.
• Feed for poultry: like the previous sample, it was taken from the mixer, prior to applying heat treatments.
• Feed for pigs: the sample was taken from a farm silo.

Treatments:

• T1: Feed without treatment
• T2: Feed with ammonium propionate and propionic acid at 400 g/t
• T3: Feed with cimenol ring at 400 g/t

A sample was taken for culture before treatments were applied and another sample was taken within 14 days of treatment application. Samples were seeded in Sabouraud Agar Plates.

Results

Colony forming units (CFU/g) of fungi and yeasts were counted for each type of feed.

Feed for ruminants

For sample T1 (control) a 90.91% reduction in the fungal count was obtained in the sample treated with cimenol ring and 59% reduction in the sample with organic acids.

Table 1: CFU of fungi and yeasts per gram of feed for each treatment.

Chart 1: graphical representation of the CFUs/g of fungi obtained for each sample and the reduction from the control group.

Feed for poultry

The sample treated with cimenol ring obtained a 100% reduction in the fungal count, while organic acids reduced it by 32% only.

Table 2: CFU of fungi and yeasts per gram of feed for each treatment.

Chart 2: We see on the bars the CFUs of fungi obtained in each treatment and the reduction from the control group.

Feed for pigs

The fungal CFUs count in the cimenol ring treated sample showed a 95.24% reduction, organic acids in turn achieved a 65.24% reduction.

Table 3: The CFUs of fungi and yeasts per gram of feed are indicated for each treatment.

Chart 3: The graph shows the CFUs of fungi obtained in each treatment and the reduction from the control group.

Conclusions

The test verified the efficacy of the cimenol ring as a preservative for feed for different species (ruminants, poultry and pigs) by observing significant reductions of the evaluated microorganisms. These reductions in the cimenol ring were around 95% to 100%, compared to the control sample. Compared to the organic acids, the cimenol ring was between 65% and 100% more effective, based on the CFU count per gram of feed.

In addition, the cimenol ring has other advantages over organic acids, as it is a bactericide and fungicide, whose preservative efficacy lasts up to 6 months and has a wide spectrum of action against pathogens. In addition, it is not corrosive for animals and operators, so it is a safe product.

The cimenol ring is marketed by Biovet S.A under the name Alquermold Natural, available in premix and liquid.