A Calgary company is researching a new yeast-based additive that could replace antibiotics in medicated livestock feed.
Canadian Bio-Systems has received a $271,177 grant from the National Research Council of Canada’s industrial research assistance program to develop the product that could be included in poultry, swine and cattle feed. It may also be used in aquaculture nutrition programs.
This latest product stimulates a young animal’s immune system for added protection against stress related diseases after weaning or shipping, said company president Owen Jones.
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“It enables them to resist disease challenges,” he said.
This company has developed and manufactured various livestock feed components and supplements since 1984.
The novel product is still in the development stage and has not yet received approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Jones fears this could be the greatest barrier to a product that has been proven in swine and poultry feed trials.
“CFIA must approve it but they don’t have any classification for these natural products,” he said.
Jones said such products are needed in the livestock industry to reduce to use of antibiotics in animal feeds to prevent disease.
“Let the industry decide if it works,” Jones said. “If they give us such a difficult time, we will sell it outside Canada and the Canadian producer will be deprived of such a tool.”
