OligoVeal

OligoVeal is a source of nutraceutical and prebiotic compounds to promote optimum gut microflora and intestinal health in veal calves. OligoVeal is delivered to the animal via liquid reconstituted milk replacer.

OligoVeal contains biologically active oligosaccharides based principally upon mannose (MOS) and fructose (FOS).

What Are Oligosaccharides?

Oligosaccharides are natural sugar complexes which cannot be metabolized by the digestive enzymes of monogastric animals. They serve as substrates for the growth of specific beneficial bacteria in the lower gut and help to prevent the establishment of pathogens on the intestinal mucosa. Oligosaccharides can be produced from extracts of some vegetables including those from bananas, artichokes, cereals, certain fermentation processes, or by carbohydrate synthesis.

MOS

Mannan oligosaccharides occur naturally in the cell walls of microorganisms and plants.
Mannan oligosaccharides are successfully used in production animals as an aid to combating stress- dependent ailments that cause an imbalance in beneficial gut microflora. MOS exists in different forms but are all composed of mannose sugars linked by glycoside bonds:

• alpha-(1,6) glycoside bonds
• alpha-(1,2) glycoside bonds
• alpha-(1,3) glycoside bonds
• beta-(1,3) glycoside bonds

The principal form of MOS in OligoVeal is the alpha 1,6 bonded form and is produced through a molasses based yeast primary fermentation. The fermentation product is then extracted and processed to become a major ingredient in OligoVeal.

FOS

Fructooligosaccharides occur naturally in large concentrations in the chicory plant which is widely grown in Europe. FOS is extracted from the chicory plant by a hot water extraction of the macerated root which is then spray dried to produce the powdered form that is used in OligoVeal. During the liquid phase, the mixture is treated with specific enzymes to ensure that the desired chain lengths of oligosacchride that are the most effective in the animal are achieved in the final product.

The chain length is known as the degrees of polymerisation. Too few means the FOS will be unstable and not make it to the target section of the. Intestine. Too many and the FOS may not be sufficiently degraded in the colon to achieve stimulation of the beneficial bacteria. The FOS used in OligoVeal has been formulated to contain mostly medium and long length chains of oligosaccharides to ensure optimum utilisation in the intestinal tract of the veal calf.

Intestinal Microflora

The intestinal tract of veal calves is the site of nutrient digestion and absorption. It is also the site for colonization by both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. The microbial balance determines the host animal’s health status.

In healthy animals, lactobacilli dominate the intestine with a population of >100,000 cfu/g and successfully suppress pathogenic activity. Changes in this balance of microbial composition often occur and represent a major cause of digestive disturbance and the overall health and productivity of the animal. In addition, therapeutic or preventative treatment of calves with antibiotics or other drugs may remove all the microbes in the intestine and create a temporarily sterile digestive tract. Calves are extremely vulnerable to invasion by pathogenic organisms immediately after such therapeutic treatment

Oligosaccharides and Intestinal Health.

Both mannan and fructan oligosaccharides can be successfully used in veal production as an aid to combating stress- dependent ailments that cause an imbalance in the beneficial gut microflora.

MOS and FOS are principally used as an energy source by lactic acid producing bacteria, thereby stimulating their growth. Beneficial bacterial populations that are positively stimulated by include: Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium pullorum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbreukii, Enterocossus spp. This results in a more stable intestinal microflora and optimizes nutrient absorption and feed conversion.

Pathogenic bacteria cannot degrade MOS or FOS and therefore cannot use them as an energy source. Feeding OligoVeal tends to suppress the activity of important pathogenic populations such as: Escherichia coli, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella typhimurium, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium sporogenes. In addition these pathogenic bacteria have mannose specific lectins on their cell surface allowing the pathogens to become bound to OligoVeal and be washed out of the animal.

OligoVeal Trials

Trials on Veal Calves have shown

• Improved total weight gain of 1.8-5.7 kgs
• Improved Average Daily Gain of 5.6%
• Improved Feed Efficiency of 3-14%
• Reduced incidence of diarrhea
• Firmer Feces
• Reduction in medication costs of 16%

Properties of OligoVeal

• Stimulates Lactic Acid Bacterial Growth
• Suppresses Pathogenic Bacteria Activity
• Inhibits Colonization by Pathogens
• Promotes Positive Stimulation of Immune System
• Benefits Wide Range of Animal Groups

OligoVeal is provided as a wholly water soluble formulation to facilitate delivery via reconstituted milk powder. The product is heat tolerant of normal milk replacer working temperatures.

OligoVeal is packaged in 10Kg bags containing 2000 doses of 5g per head per day.

OligoVeal is heat tolerant and is unaffected by normal environmental conditions and does not require to be kept cold, but is sensitive to a moist environment and should not be exposed to moisture prior to being added to reconstituted milk replacer.

OligoVeal should be stored in a cool, dry place in it’s original packaging to ensure maximum shelf life.

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