Any impurities will naturally impact its quality and function- al properties. The origin of the starting material, the process applied and the resulting purity can be largely controlled and standardised. This in turn will affect the final quality and functional properties of any PCM.


Application in animals Gut integrity is a hot topic in animal production. With inten- sifying production and a reduction in the permitted phar- maceutical solutions to control infections, other strategies must be applied. Many different solutions are used today to prevent disease outbreaks or reduce their impact on animal welfare and performance. Besides improving health mana- gement, nutritional solutions may include improving pro- tein digestibility and intestinal passage rate, pre and probio tics, organic acids, as well as bio-active toxin and my- co-toxin binders. All have different modes of action to sup- port a balanced microbiome and healthy gut. PCMs have toxin-binding properties but no direct effect (positive or negative) on either the microflora or gut integrity. The right source of PCM will bind enterotoxins produced by the mi- croflora which would otherwise damage the gut. Such damage would lead to increased nutrient costs and enable pathogens to take hold due to inflammation and loss of gut integrity. By binding some of the toxins present, gut integri- ty can be better maintained. In addition, PCMs can bind mycotoxins. Compared to the main toxin binders used glob- ally, such as clays and yeast-based products, PCMs mainly bind non-polar or neutral compounds better. Something which is vital for essential mycotoxins, like deoxynivalenol and zearalenone.


Good charcoal source As a result, the definitions and characteristics of PCMs and their functional properties can differ widely. At first sight, a more efficient PCM might seem to be the best option for in- clusion in animal feeds. However, if used as a preventive and supportive solution over more extended periods, a highly effi cient binder will not be ideal as it is not selective. Hale and others found that the higher the process temperature and the greater the surface area of the PCM, the stronger its bind- ing capacity for neutral organic compounds. That sounds good until you realise that this means that not only the harm- ful compounds (toxins) will be bound but also many nutrients provided by the feed, such as vitamins, minerals and medi- cines. Most important is to select a charcoal source with a pore structure that is open enough to bind toxins with medi- um to large molecules but which is not sufficient to bind the most essential nutrients made up of small molecules. A charcoal source selected specifically for inclusion in animal feed is commercially available from Pancosma, under the name of Carbovet. As a natural solution – and available in Eu- rope as an organically-certified feed material – this vegetable charcoal is well-suited to provide support for gut integrity. Based on oak wood of a single quality and origin and a con- trolled thermal process, the final product quality is highly standardised. A process using a medium temperature (550- 600°C) for several days, without further activation with gas, steam or chemicals and of high purity, ensures efficient toxin binding without binding essential nutrients. All in all, a very effective solution for in-feed application.


This article applies to non-NA regions. ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 4, 2021 39


Like many prod- ucts, the quality of the raw mate- rials influences the qualilty of the final product and its proper- ties. PCMs can be produced from many dif- ferent materials, ranging from bi- tuminous coal to pristine wood sources.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44