Canadian researchers tested whether dry encapsulated lysozyme, a natural anti-microbial enzyme, can replace antibiotics in chicken feed. Trials showed that the dried, encapsulated enzyme permitted the same level of infection resistance as is normally obtained with pharmaceutical antibiotics.
Encapsulation is a common technique by which a sensitive material is coated or embedded in a stabilizing material in order to provide protection from harsh processing or storage conditions, as is the case with pelletized chicken feed.
The encapsulated product (named Entegard™), produced by the companies EnWave and Neova Technologies was incorporated into chicken feed to test their response to clostridial necrotic enteritis. The product gave protection equal to the antibiotic medication that is the common industry solution to this problem in North America.
Phase out antibiotics
Countries around the world have been looking for ways to eliminate the routine usage of antibiotics in animal feed in order to reduce the perceived risk of anti-microbial resistance in human and animal populations.
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Neova Technologies
EnWave
