Maryline Kouba

Soybean meal is the dominant protein source in animal feed, but rising costs have encouraged the search for alternatives. Canavalia gladiata, a tropical legume with good yield potential and resistance to pests, contains about 26% protein. However, its use in non-ruminant diets is constrained by anti-nutritional factors. Fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to enhance protein content and reduce anti-nutrients in various feed ingredients, making it a promising strategy for improving C. gladiata seed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of yeast fermentation on C. gladiata seed meal proximate composition, bioactive compounds, fatty acid profile and amino acid profile. In this study, raw seed meal (RCSM) was prepared from C. gladiata seed grown in Côte d’Ivoire, while fermented seed meal (FCSM) was obtained through a two-step aerobic and anaerobic fermentation with yeast. Proximate composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, fatty acid and amino acid profiles were determined using standard analytical methods. Fermentation increased dry matter by 4% and crude protein by 23%, while reducing carbohydrates and ash. It also enhanced total polyphenols by 11.11% and antioxidant activity by 32.14%, though flavonoids decreased slightly and tannin levels increased. Fatty acid profiles showed stability of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-6/n-3 ratios within optimal ranges. Amino acids increased overall, with notable rises in several essential amino acids, though lysine, cystine, and glutamic acid declined. Overall, yeast fermentation significantly improved the nutritional and bioactive properties of C. gladiata seed meal, supporting its potential as an affordable alternative protein source for monogastric animal diets. Keywords: Bioactive compounds, Canavalia gladiata, Fermentation, Nutritional value, Yeast.

Soybean meal is the dominant protein source for poultry nutrition. However, soybean is not widely grown in Europe, necessitating importation from other countries. To reduce dependency on imported soybean meal, an alternative feed material is needed. Fermentation and/or germination of grains are known to increase the value of the protein content of a diet. This study aimed to determine if they could substitute partly soybean meal in a diet. Germinated or fermented or germinated and fermented grains of lupin and oats were used in laying hen’s diet (a mix of 6.50% lupin and 3.50% oat grains). Oats were dehulled or not dehulled. The hens’ weight loss and the downgraded eggs rate were the lowest when using fermented grains. All trial diets reduced the egg cholesterol content. Dehulling had only a slight effect on performance. Diets containing germinated grains led to a decrease in laying performance and an increase in body weight loss. Diets containing fermented grains gave the best results in terms of quantity of amino acids, hen weight maintenance, laying performance, and egg quality. In conclusion, fermented lupin and oats can be used in laying hen diets to partly substitute sources of protein such as soya, but germinated grains cannot.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects on laying performance, egg quality traits, color, and composition of supplementing a white corn-based diet with Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour. Three hundred 32-week-old hens were distributed to 30 pens of 10 hens each and allocated to six dietary treatments (five replicates per treatment) for 13 weeks. Two control groups of 50 hens received one of either diet Y, based on yellow corn, or diet W, based on white corn. The other groups received a diet based on white corn supplemented with Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, or 10% (diet D). Diet D improved laying performance and yolk color at a reduced feed cost per egg but had no effect on cholesterol content. In conclusion, the inclusion of Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour, in a white corn-based diet, is effective in lowering feed cost, increasing egg production, and improving yolk color.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects, on laying performance, egg quality traits, colour and composition, of supplementing a white corn-based diet with either Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour or Hevea brasiliensis seed meal. Four hundred 32-week-old hens were distributed to 40 pens of 10 hens each and allocated to 10 dietary treatments (4 replicates per treatment) for 6 weeks. Two control groups of 40 hens received one of either diet Y, based on yellow corn, or diet W, based on white corn. The other groups received a diet based on white corn 1) supplemented with Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% or 10% (diet D) or 2) supplemented with Hevea brasiliensis seed meal at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% or 10% (diet H). Diet D led to increased egg production with a reduced cholesterol content but a degraded (pale) yolk colour. Diet D improved laying performance and yolk colour at a reduced feed cost per egg, but had no effect on cholesterol content. In conclusion, the inclusion of Desmodium tortuosum leaf flour, in a white corn-based diet, is effective in lowering feed cost, increasing egg production and improving yolk colour.

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084/ATCC BAA 1024 as a technological additive (functional group: acidity regulators) in feed for dogs and cats. The additive is intended for use at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 10¹¹ CFU/l or kg liquid feed for dogs and cats. Due to the lack of adequate data, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species. The additive was considered a respiratory sensitiser, but not irritant to skin. No conclusions could be drawn on the potential of the additive to be an eye irritant or a skin sensitiser. No environmental risk assessment is necessary for the use of the additive in feeds for pets. The Panel concluded that the additive has the potential to be efficacious in feeds for dogs and cats at the proposed conditions of use.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of the feed additive consisting of ammonium chloride (tradename: Ammonium chloride AF) as a zootechnical additive for ruminants, cats and dogs. In 2012, the FEEDAP Panel delivered an opinion on the safety and efficacy of the additive and subsequently the additive was authorised in the EU. The additive is authorised as ‘ammonium chloride with a content of ammonium chloride ≥ 99% and sodium chloride ≤ 0.5% in the active substance’ for ruminants, cats and dogs under the category ‘zootechnical additives’ and functional group ‘other zootechnical additives’. The evidence provided by the applicant indicates that the additive currently in the market complies with the conditions of authorisation. No new evidence was found that would make the FEEDAP Panel reconsider its previous conclusions on the safety for target species, consumers and environment. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that ammonium chloride is considered an eye and skin irritant and a potential respiratory sensitiser, but is not a dermal sensitiser. The present application for renewal of the authorisation does not include a proposal for amending or supplementing the conditions of the original authorisation that would have an impact on the efficacy of the additive.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of ferric citrate chelate (CI‐FER™) as a zootechnical additive for poultry species for fattening or reared up to the point of lay. The product had been already assessed by the FEEDAP Panel for use in suckling and weaned piglets and minor porcine species. The application was for an extension of use to poultry species for fattening or reared up to the point of lay. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the new use would not raise safety concerns for the consumers and the environment and retained the previous conclusions as regards to the user: CI‐FER™ does not pose a risk by inhalation, it is non‐irritant to the skin but should be considered as an eye irritant and as a skin sensitiser. Owing to the limitations identified in the tolerance trial submitted, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of the additive for the target species. Regarding the efficacy, three studies were submitted but two of them were not considered further in the assessment due to the husbandry conditions to which the animals were subject to. Therefore, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the bark of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (cinnamon tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a water/ethanol ■■■■■ solution, with a dry matter content of approximately 0.9%. The product contains on average 0.344% polyphenols (of which 0.001% are flavonoids) and 0.001% cinnamaldehyde. Methyleugenol was present at the limit of detection in one out of the five batches examined. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that cinnamon tincture is safe at the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg/kg complete feed for all animal species except horses. For horses, the maximum proposed use level of 60 mg/kg complete feed is considered safe. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of cinnamon tincture up to the highest proposed use levels in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a skin and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the cinnamon tincture as a flavour in animal feed is not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since C. verum and cinnamon bark extracts are recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary for the tincture under application.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety for the environment of the coccidiostat Coxar^® (nicarbazin) when used in feed for turkeys for fattening. In previous assessments, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the safety of Coxar^® for the environment due to concerns on 4,40-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC, one of the moieties of nicarbazin). On the basis of the new data provided, the FEEDAP Panel updates its previous conclusions on the safety of Coxar^® for the environment as follows: The use of nicarbazin from Coxar^® in complete feed for turkeys does not pose a risk for the terrestrial and aquatic compartment and in sediment. No concern for groundwater is expected. The bioaccumulation potential of nicarbazin in the environment is low.