BioComplex Plus is a UFAS certified feed ingredient, improving pig health, behaviour, performance and profitability. It also benefits the environment by reducing ammonia. Full benefits include:
BioComplex Plus has a positive effect upon many of the key performance criteria in growing and finishing pigs:
Increased weight gains in both the grower and finishing stages leading to either greater final weights or more batches per year through existing accommodation.
Better utilisation of available nutrients lead to an improvement in feed conversion rates. Farms using BioComplex Plus have seen substantial reductions in FCR in both growers and finishing pigs.
Farms using BioComplex Plus have seen reductions in mortality. Improved gut health is associated with improved general health which can lead to lower medication use.
An additional benefit of BioComplex is its ability to chemically convert the toxic gaseous ammonia in the faeces into a non-toxic crystalline ammonium.
Polyuronic Acid chemically alters ammonia and sulphur dioxide gas into crystalline forms, reducing airborne contamination and odour.
This improves the environment within the house by reducing odour and ammonia volatisation and provides a healthier environment for both animals and stockpersons.
Lower ammonia emissions assist intensive agriculture to meet the demands of the EA, NRW, and SEPA. It also helps comply with targets set out in the government’s Clean Air Strategy 2019
The gelling effect of BioComplex Plus leads to less crusting and sedimentation, fewer flies and less cost when emptying slurry channels.
Because BioComplex Plus for Pigs creates a healthier gut biome, it sets the piglets up to be healthier as soon as they are weaned so they grow more effectively as they age. Evidence to date shows piglets treated with Ekogea’s Plus outperform those treated with Zinc Oxide in later life.
The importance of this interaction is clearly highlighted by the fact that 70 to 80% of the body’s immune cells are found in the lower gut. BioComplex Plus helps establish a stable and ‘well balanced’ gut flora in very young pigs.
BioComplex is derived from marine algae processed in a unique way. It works by improving the balance of beneficial microbes in the lower gut, vital to the immunity and health of the pig, leading to more efficient digestion.
BioComplex Plus can be mixed into feed rations in a granular format or included in compound diets or home mixed rations. It acts by promoting competitive exclusion, greatly increasing the number and diversity of beneficial gut organisms and so making pigs less susceptible to enteric disorders.
Establishing healthy microbial diversity is key to efficient feed conversion and nutrient assimilation.
The use of Ekogea’s BioComplex Plus enables beneficial microbes to naturally outcompete pathogens, promoting competitive exclusion.
A healthier balance of gut organisms strengthens the epithelial cells lining the gut wall, preventing undesirable organisms crossing this vital barrier.
The unique way in which BioComplex is processed leaves high levels of available natural organic acid and sugars. Two key elements that act together to improve the gut biome are:
Simple sugars which encourage an increase in the number and diversity of beneficial organisms within the gut.
Provide a natural protection against toxins and pathogens and act as a buffer to prevent them being absorbed by the gut. It has a high capacity for ion exchange which buffers metals and toxins.
BioComplex Plus has a positive effect upon many of the key performance criteria in growing and finishing pigs:
Improves live weight gain and feed conversion ratio, so fewer days to target weight and more batches per year
Farms using BioComplex Plus have seen reductions in mortality. Improved gut health is associated with improved general health which can lead to lower medication use.
The gelling effect of BioComplex Plus leads to less crusting and sedimentation, fewer flies and less cost when emptying slurry channels.
The slurry has increased value as either a higher quality feedstock for AD plants or as a fertiliser with more plant available nutrients for all major minerals.
Taking all the benefits of BioComplex Plus into account, including improved weight gain and feed conversion ratios, lower mortality and improved general health, farms can expect to double their investment on each batch treated.
In a recent series of on-farm trials, an independent report has concluded that Ekogea’s BioComplex PLUS feed ingredient has been found to dramatically reduce the ammonia emissions of pigs.
The work was conducted by The George Veterinary Pig Practice, one of the UK’s leading pig veterinary practices. Biocomplex PLUS has shown major reductions in the ammonia levels within the pigs’ housing of over 50% for each week across the 8-week trial.
Recently we reported that a Dorset-based pig farmer has been analysing the results of using Ekogea’s PLUS granulate pre-mix feed ingredient in the diets of their growers and finishers.
Amongst other benefits, including a significant return on investment due to feed cost savings and improvements across all recognised KPIs, was the major improvement in pig behaviour.
Recently established Green Circle Feeds have been using BioComplex Plus as an alternative additive to Creep diets since November 2021.
They have excluded zinc oxide completely and add BioComplex Plus with an xx Acid and yeast protein. This is cost neutral to the feed and has provided healthy pigs with no scouring and improved weights as they grow towards ‘finishers’.
Green Circle Feeds have now extended the use of BioComplex Plus to include Creep diets going out to all Farms.
Jonathan French confirmed “the natural organic aspect of BioComplex Plus is a real bonus given the reduced cost of inclusion and the healthier animals produced.
BioComplex Plus ticks all the boxes for us!”
Ekogea UK’s BioComplex Plus feed ingredient was named as the runner-up in the prestigious Nutreco FeedTech Challenge 2017.
Chosen from an original list of 44 contenders for the Feed Tech award, Ekogea were one of 10 named finalists. Ekogea were eventually named in the top 3 by the panel of industry judges.
The Nutreco FoodTech Challenge was initiated by the globally-positioned feed company in order to find the next breakthrough ideas in innovation in the animal health industry.
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Produced from 100% marine algae
An organic feed ingredient that naturally improves gut health
Naturally beneficial with pre-biotic effect
Long shelf life and easy to store and handle on farm
UFAS approved for inclusion in feed
Provides unique nutrients for gut bacteria
Buffers toxins and improves pigs health and resilience
Increases diversity of gut flora, assisting good bacteria to outcompete pathogens
Reduces ammonia levels in faeces providing a better environment for the pigs and stockpersons
Helps prevent leaky gut
Increased final weight
Reduced emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide
More plant available phosphate when slurry is spread to land
Improved FCR
Reduced antibiotic usage
Reduced mortality
Reduces crusting and sedimentation in slurry
Zero withdrawal period
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