SPECIation of Metals for Animal Nutrition – SPECIMAN

The objective of the joint laboratory between the SME Animine and the research laboratory IPREM (Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for Environment and Materials), a Joint Research Unit of the CNRS and UPPA (UMR 5254), is to develop a common structure of Research and Development centered on cutting-edge analytical methods for studying high added value trace elements (especially Zn, Cu, Mn) in the feed industry. Animine want to understand better the behavior of their products in order to improve their efficiency and to decrease their environmental impact. With this common project, Animine will boost their position on the market compared to their competitors. It is planned, that this advantage will triple their business volume (from 5 to 15 M€), especially with the penetration of the markets LATAM, USA or Canada) and will lead to the creation of 7 new job positions in the R&D, Marketing and Sales departments of Animine until 2023.
The research lines of this joint laboratory, called SPECIMAN (SPECIation of Metals for Animal Nutrition), have the aim to improve the physical-chemical characteristics of the existing and future innovative products of Animine in order to enhance their bioavailability, refine their inclusion recommendations and thus reduce their concentrations in the animals’ excretions. The common laboratory will profit on the IPREM side from specialized skills on cutting-edge analytical technologies, and on the Animine side from the specialized expertise and knowledge on additives for animal nutrition, on their effects on the performances to achieve in animal breeding, as well as on the environmental impact.
The joint laboratory will be developed in the following steps:
- Development of analytical methods for Zn in 5 different matrixes corresponding to 5 different steps throughout the evolution of the product (additive, feed, digestion, absorption, and excretion) in order to study the zinc metabolism in the organism for its better understanding and improvement of the dosage recommendations.
- Analysis of the first samples with Zn supplementation to obtain the composition and the evolution of different forms and sources of Zn from the industrial process, during digestion until excretion by defecation.
- The firsts two steps will be followed for copper and manganese as well.
- Refinement of the dosage recommendation and repetition of the analytical and zootechnical evaluations.
At the outcome of these steps, the joint laboratory will have several tools and analytical methods at its disposal for the evaluation of physical-chemical characteristics of Animine products, in order to assess their quality, but also to keep on improving their efficiency and differentiate them from the competitor’s products on the market. The common strategy will be as follows:
- Broadening to other trace elements (Fe, S, Mo, Se, I).
- Improvement of the analytical methods towards a cross-referencing of data between the various trace elements to underline the possible synergic/antagonistic effects between them or with other components (e.g.: amino acids, antioxidants, microorganisms, microbiote) which can influence their bioavailability. The entirety of the analytical techniques of the IPREM laboratory (for example for organic analysis) might be necessary later in a new analytical methods development program.
The joint laboratory will mobilize from both side 2 FTE as well as the equipment and analytical platforms.