VPB 321: Animal Biotechnology (2+1)

NUTRITIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

• The shortage of feed in most developing countries and the increasing cost of feed ingredients mean that there is a need to improve feed utilisation.
• Aids to animal nutrition, such as enzymes, probiotics, single-cell proteins and antibiotics in feed, are already widely used in intensive production systems worldwide to improve the nutrient availability of feeds and the productivity of livestock.
• Gene-based technologies are being increasingly used to improve animal nutrition, either through modifying the feeds to make them more digestible or through modifying the digestive and metabolic systems of the animals to enable them to make better use of the available feeds.
• Seeds derived from genetically modified (GM) plants, such as grain, silage and hay, have contributed to increases in growth rates and milk yield.
• Genetically modified crops with improved amino acid profiles can be used to decrease nitrogen excretion in pigs and poultry.
• Increasing the levels of amino acids in grain means that the essential amino acid requirements of pigs and poultry can be met by diets that are lower in protein.