Novus International Release: Global Pig Production Falls Short of Genetic Potential

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ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Pigs fall well short of their genetic potential in today's production system costing the industry millions of dollars in lost performance, according to a swine nutrition expert.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131105/CG10088LOGO)

Dr. Jeffery Escobar, Senior Manager Swine Research at Novus International, told a group of European producers visiting the company's headquarters in St. Louis, USA, that despite various improvements in production efficiency, the industry does not capitalize on the full genetic potential of animals.

"There remains a vast gap between swine performance on a conventional farm and performance in a facility that is more aseptic and perhaps targeted towards research. That clearly indicates that we are way below the ceiling for the genetic potential for performance of animals."

"If animals are removed from conventional farm facilities and placed into ultra clean facility, optimized for air quality, water purity, feed mix, environment, manure management, and disinfection, then performance can significantly improve.

"What the gap illustrates is that there is progress we can make to achieve better performance by improving nutrition, management, environment, and all other aspects that contribute to express or repress the genetic potential of animals."

While Dr. Escobar said that growing animals in such clean environment on a full production site may be unrealistic, producers can get closer to that goal of reaching the animals' full genetic potential.

One way to improve that performance is to optimize animal feed, to ensure individual animals are receiving the ideal amount of nutrients.

"A key area for improvement is mineral consumption. Minerals are very important for healthy development but used incorrectly, or without proper care, they can be almost totally ineffective. Minerals have antagonistic properties meaning feeding too much of one can cancel the intended effects of another."

Dr. Escobar says that by using chelated trace minerals where the mineral (such as Zinc or Copper) is bonded to another molecule such as methionine hydroxyl analogue such antagonisms are avoided and more of the mineral's benefits can be realized.

"Chelated trace minerals can help to improve structural health in bones, joints, and tendons, aid fertility and reproduction, and enhance growth in terms of feed efficiency," he explained.

To learn more about Novus, MINTREX chelated trace minerals and the company's complete portfolio of products and programs designed to support pork producers in all aspects of production, visit www.novusint.com.

About Novus International, Inc.

Novus International, Inc. is headquartered in metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. and serves customers in nearly 100 countries around the world. A global leader in developing animal health and nutrition solutions, Novus's products include ALIMET® and MHA® feed supplements, ACTIVATE® nutritional feed acid, ACIDOMIX® preservative premixture, ADVENT® coccidiosis control, CIBENZA® feed additive, MINTREX® chelated trace mineral, SANTOQUIN® feed preservative, MERAMET aquaculture feed additive, AGRADO® feed antioxidant and many other specialty ingredients. Stratum® Nutrition, a division of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC, focuses on human nutrition through specialty and functional ingredients for manufacturers of foods, beverages and dietary supplements (www.stratumnutrition.com). Novus is privately owned by Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc. and Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. For more information visit www.novusint.com.

®NOVUS, ALIMET, MHA, ACTIVATE, ACIDOMIX, CIBENZA, MAAC, MINTREX, SANTOQUIN and AGRADO are trademarks of Novus International, Inc. and are registered in the United States and other countries. ®ADVENT is a trademark of Viridus Animal Health, LLC, and is registered in the United States and other countries. ®STRATUM NUTRITION is a trademark of Novus Nutrition Brands, LLC, and is registered in the United States and other countries. ®PREVIDA is a registered trademark of TIN, Inc. MERA and SOLUTIONS SERVICE SUSTAINABILITY are trademarks of Novus International, Inc. © 2013 Novus International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contacts: Tracy Barfield
636.794.2411
tracy.barfield@novusint.com

Barbara Hansen
636.926.7436
barbara.hansen@novusint.com

SOURCE Novus International, Inc.



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