Amaferm™ additive for ruminants available from Cargill in India and China

MINNEAPOLIS, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As Asia's dairy industry grows rapidly and consumption increases, Cargill's feed additive PROMOTE^® Amaferm™ is available in China and India to help dairy farmers increase milk production. With data from more than 100 research studies, Amaferm™ has shown to increase milk production, digestibility and feed efficiency in ruminants.

An offering sold under the Provimi brand as part of the PROMOTE^® line of additives, Amaferm™ is derived from the proprietary fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus commonly used in the production of many Asian foods including soy sauce, miso and sake.

"In ruminants, Amaferm™ helps stimulate the growth of fungi and bacteria that occur in the rumen, providing ample nutrients for the animal's development," said Maxime Hilbert, Cargill's technology leader for additives. "Ultimately, Amaferm™ acts as a prebiotic, delivering more microbial protein and energy to the animal through increased digestibility."    

To assess Amaferm™ in China and India, trials were performed in Hangzhou, China and District Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India in 2013. In China, an eight week trial with mid-lactation dairy cows at Zhejiang University showed an increase in milk production by 4 percent as well as a 5 percent improvement in digestibility of dry matter. In India, a four week on-farm trial with early lactation buffalo revealed a statistical improvement of 4.7 percent milk fat over the control group due to better fiber digestion which lead to higher acetate and butyrate volatile fatty acid production, the main precursor of milk fat. Along with increased milk production, trials using Amaferm™ have demonstrated improved weight recovery after calving by 22 percent as well as an ability to decrease ketosis risk.

Further, a German feed producer currently using Amaferm™ as part of its on-farm mineral Rupromin Fiber, a product from Cargill's Provimi brand designed to stimulate rumen fungi, discovered a significant improvement in fiber digestibility and a 5 percent increase in milk production on its farms. "We believe we can deliver similar results to customers in India and China, two countries where dairy consumption and production are soaring," said Hilbert.

Beyond the trials in China and India, key findings from more than 100 Amaferm™ research studies include: 

• Increased Average Daily Gain (ADG) for beef cattle up to 7 percent
• Increased milk production up to 7 percent for dairy cattle
• Increased feed efficiency up to 5 percent for all ruminants
• Increased digestibility up to 9 percent for all ruminants

Amaferm™ is currently available in India and selected countries in Europe, Middle East and South America. It is expected to be available in China in the second half of 2015. For optimal results, please contact your Provimi brand nutrition expert to develop a customized feeding program to suit local environments, business goals and regulations. Amaferm™ is a trademark of BioZyme Incorporated, used under license.

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 152,000 employees in 67 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Cargill Animal Nutrition

Cargill's animal nutrition business has more than 17,000 employees at more than 250 facilities in 37 countries offering a range of products and services to feed manufacturers, animal producers, and feed retailers around the world. In 2011, Cargill completed the acquisition of Provimi, a global leader in premix and animal nutrition solutions, adding to Cargill's portfolio of animal nutrition offerings. Today, Cargill's animal nutrition business offers a range of compound feed, premixes, feed additives, supply chain and risk management solutions, software tools and animal nutrition expertise that is unmatched in the industry. For more information about Cargill Animal Nutrition, visit: http://www.cargill.com/feed.

SOURCE Cargill

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