Kill two birds with one stone - the use of propionate in dairy feed!
Feed mildew problems and hazards
Feed is rich in nutrients and prone to mildew due to the reproduction of microorganisms. Feed mildew will affect the palatability of the feed. If cows eat mildew feed, it will have a negative impact on health: such as diarrhea, enteritis and other diseases, and serious cases will lead to the death of cows. Therefore, preventing feed mildew is one of the effective measures to ensure feed quality and breeding benefits.
Basic introduction to calcium propionate
Calcium propionate is a safe and reliable antimicrobial agent for food and feed approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Calcium propionate is an organic salt, usually a white crystalline powder, odorless or slightly propionate, and deliquescent in humid air.
Nutritional value of calcium propionate
After calcium propionate enters the body of the cow, it can be hydrolyzed into propionic acid and calcium ions, which can be absorbed through metabolism, which is unmatched by other antifungal agents.
Propionic acid is an important volatile fatty acid in cow metabolism. It is a metabolite of carbohydrates in dairy cows and is absorbed and converted into lactose in the rumen.
Antifungal properties of calcium propionate
Calcium propionate is an acidic food preservative, and free propionic acid produced under acidic conditions has antibacterial effects. Non-dissociated propionic acid active molecules will form high osmotic pressure outside mold cells, causing dehydration in mold cells and loss of reproduction ability; it can penetrate cell walls, inhibit enzyme activity in cells, and then prevent mold reproduction and play an antifungal role.
Calcium propionate prevents ketosis in dairy cows
Ketosis in dairy cows is most common in cows with high milk production and peak milk production. Diseased cows will experience symptoms such as decreased appetite, weight loss, and decreased milk production. Severe cows can even become paralyzed a few days after giving birth. The main cause of ketosis is the low concentration of glucose in cows. The propionic acid in dairy cows can be converted into glucose through gluconeogenesis, so adding calcium propionate to dairy cows' diets can effectively reduce the probability of ketosis in dairy cows.
Calcium propionate relieves milk fever in dairy cows
Milk fever, also known as postpartum paralysis, is a nutritional metabolism disorder. In severe cases, it can lead to the death of dairy cows. After calving, the absorption of calcium is reduced, and a large amount of blood calcium is transferred to colostrum, resulting in a decrease in blood calcium concentration and milk fever. Adding calcium propionate to dairy cow feed can supplement calcium ions for dairy cows, increase blood calcium concentration and relieve milk fever symptoms.
Differences in different calcium propionates
Common calcium propionate is food grade and feed grade. Antifungal agent SP1 uses food grade calcium propionate, which has less impurities and good palatability. The content of calcium propionate in SP1 is ≥ 98.5%. It adopts spray drying process, which makes SP1 particles spherical and has good dispersion.
Comprehensive value of calcium propionate
Calcium propionate is effective in preventing feed mildew and is also a source of organic calcium and energy with high biological value. In dairy production, it can prevent subacute acidosis and ketosis through gluconeogenesis, thereby increasing milk production.
