The research is carried out in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen. lndustrial postdoc Svend Roesen Madsen, who is heading the project, explains,

"Our laboratory tests show that a compound found in EPlDOi - a feed containing fermented rapeseed - can inhibit bacteria's ability to mutate. This could be a breakthrough in the battle against antibiotic resistance, because until now scientists have only identified very few substances with this property. Also, it is promising that the effect is found ina feed that is already on the market and thus can have an immediate effect in the animals."

The feed from European Protein A/S contains protein mixtures fermented with lactic acid bacteria. The company's hitherto experience shows that by using its feed in pig production up to 90 percent of a herd will never require any antibiotics. The new discovery has the prospective to stop new antibiotic­ resistant bacteria appearing among the remaining 10 percent of the pigs that still need an antibiotic treatment.

"We are proud of this discovery, which gives us unprecedented opportunities. Now, we are able to present a perfect feeding strategy," says Jens Legarth, Director of European Protein A/S. He adds enthusiastically,

"We have already seen that we can reduce the consumption of antibiotics and medical zinc to a minimumon pig and poultry farms because our products break down pathogenic bacteria and promote the overall health of the livestock's intestines. Now, we have obtained knowledge about the substances that are being produced during the fermentation process and, not least, how they work. With the new discovery, it is entirely up to the industry whether or not it wants to prevent the development of immunity against antibiotics."