The primary cause of meat deterioration is the rapid oxidization of the unsaturated fatty acids that are so valuable for nutritional health. This means that the double bonds in fatty acids react with oxygen, turning the fat ‘rancid'. The resulting compounds change the consistency, appearance and nutritional value of the meat and make it unpalatable. To delay this process, meat producers focus mainly on providing optimum storage conditions. The principal requirement for this is an uninterrupted cold chain, whilst the type of packaging and the addition of antioxidants can also extend shelf life. With controversy surrounding the use of synthetic antioxidants, the Austrian feed additive manufacturer Delacon has adopted a more sustainable approach: The company specializes in phytogenic feed additives. Incorporating plant extracts into animal feed can have a positive impact on the antioxidative properties of meat.
Natural substances combined with high-tech
Many plant extracts and essential oils are known to have antioxidative effects. In the form of feed additives, these extracts can also have a positive impact on the antioxidative capabilities of meat and thus extend its shelf life. For more than 28 years, Delacon has put these and many other effects to good use in the production of plant-based feed additives. The company uses familiar culinary herbs and spices such as thyme, garlic, oregano and cinnamon, as well as more exotic examples like quillaja (the soap bark tree). The essential oils and extracts obtained from these plants are processed using patented technologies such as micro-encapsulation.
Numerous studies have shown that the use of phytogenic feed additives provides a safer and more sustainable means of fattening livestock without generating harmful residues in meat and eggs. Not only is the meat more succulent and tender; with enhanced protection from oxidative processes, meat products have a significantly longer shelf life.
Best for consumers, animals, farmers and the environment
Apart from food safety, optimal quality and longer shelf life – the main concerns of consumers, plant-based feed additives offer countless other benefits to overcome complex challenges along the entire food chain: The animals benefit from a stronger immune system and inhibited intestinal inflammation. Improved digestibility enables them to make better use of nutrients, which in turn brings down feed costs and increases profits for the farmer. The environment benefits from the fact that many phytogenic feed additives have been proven to reduce livestock emissions such as ammonia, methane and CO2. “As a manufacturer of phytogenic feed additives, we are the first link in the food chain. We take this responsibility very seriously", explains Delacon CEO Markus Dedl. "In the light of global market trends in recent years, we are confident that change is afoot and that phytogenic feed additives are set to become an important topic for the future. Our goal is to bring out the best of what nature has to offer, harness its potential and make its diverse effects measurable using the very latest technology. What we put in feed also has an impact on what we ultimately put on our plates, and consumers are becoming increasingly aware of this fact."
