FerMos - Mannan Oligosaccharide

FerMos is a concentrated supply of mannan based complex oligosaccharide sugars produced from a dedicated fermentation and processed in such a way as to protect it’s microbial growth factor activity. These sugars specifically stimulate only the beneficial gut microflora resulting in better gut health and efficiency.

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What Are Oligosaccharides?

Oligosaccharides are natural sugar complexes which cannot be metabolised by the digestive enzymes of monogastric animals. They serve as substrates for the growth of specific beneficial bacteria in the lower gut and help to prevent the establishment of pathogens on the intestinal mucosa. Oligosaccharides can be produced from extracts of some vegetables including those from bananas, artichokes, cereals, certain fermentation processes, or by carbohydrate synthesis.

Mannan oligosaccharides are successfully used in production animals as an aid to combating stress- dependent ailments that cause an imbalance in beneficial gut microflora.

Typical analysis of FerMos shows 45% of bioactive carbohydrates derived as mannose from alpha-1->6 mannans and glucose from beta - 1 -> 3 glucans. Furthermore FerMos is processed in a way to protect its microbial growth factor (MGF) activity.

Properties of FerMos

The control of intestinal pathogens is a major concern in ensuring optimal animal health.

FerMos is Micron’s name for a type of highly selected and processed biologically active form of mannan oligosaccharide. FerMos is produced through a molasses based yeast primary fermentation. The fermentation product is then extracted and processed to become the product FerMos. Unlike other sources of MOS on the market, FerMos is not a by-product of some other fermentation process such as brewing. FerMos is the primary product of the fermentation of the same highly selected strain of yeast. This ensures consistently high levels of MOS in FerMos resulting in predictable response when used.

FerMos can bind to pathogenic bacteria and block their colonisation of the intestine.
FerMos is selectively used by lactic acid bacteria, stimulating their growth.
FerMos has an immuno-stimulatory effect on animals.
FerMos benefits a wide range of animal groups.

Stimulation of Bacteria

FerMos is principally used as an energy source by lactic acid producing bacteria, thereby stimulating their growth. Beneficial bacterial populations that are positively stimulated by FerMos include:

Bifidobacterium longum
Bifidobacterium pullorum
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus delbreukii

This results in a more stable intestinal microflora and optimizes nutrient absorption and feed conversion.

Bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria cannot degrade mannan oligosaccharides and therefore cannot use FerMos as an energy source. Feeding FerMos tends to suppress the activity of important pathogenic populations such as:

Escherichia coli
Salmonella pullorum
Salmonella typhimurium
Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium sporogenes

In addition these pathogenic bacteria have mannose specific lectins on their cell surface allowing the pathogens to become bound to FerMos and be washed out of the animal.

Pathogenic Bacteria

Broiler Trial
FerMos @ 500g/T Feed

Poultry

Parameters	FerMos (17,0000 birds)	Control (34,000 birds)
Growth Period, days	36	37
Mortality, %	0	0.54
Bird Weight, g	1792	1742
Feed Conversion	1.8	1.9
Condemnation, %	0.84	1.49
Daily Gain, g	49	47

Parameters	Gilts + FerMos	Gilts Control	Sows + FerMos	Sows Control
Av. no. piglets/litter	8.80	8.75	12.75	12.80
Av. litter birth weight, kg	10.82	9.46	19.40	17.30
Av. Piglet birth weight, kg	1.23	1.08	1.52	1.35
Mortality birth to 30kg, %	7.2	14.4	6.8	14.1

Piglet Trial - Sows & Gilts
FerMos @ 1 kg/T Feed

Pigs

Lamb Finisher Trial
FerMos @ 1 kg/T Feed

Sheep Picture

Ration	Control ADG, g/d	FerMos ADG, g/d	Improvement %
Concentrate @ 18.8% Crude Protein	365	409	+12.1
Concentrate @ 16.9% Crude Protein	354	419	+18.4

FerMos Mannan Oligosaccharide has applications in the following animal groups: