Watt Poultry® International published an article earlier this year on Amlan international’s product, Phylox®. Phylox is a natural alternative to anticoccidial drugs that works well alone, as part of a rotation program, or as part of a bio-shuttle program to control coccidiosis. The natural ingredients of phylox targets multiple Eimeria species with several modes of action, while also promoting a healthy intestinal barrier and improving intestinal immunity. If you missed this article, here is your chance to learn more about Phylox. Follow the link to learn more.
WATT Poultry® International recently featured Dr. Wade Robey and Dr. Aldo Rossi in an article showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of phytochemicals in the modern poultry market. Phytochemicals have emerged as a natural alternative for coccidiosis control in poultry, providing natural protection to your flock. Dr. Aldo Rossi highlights the adaptability of phytochemicals, explaining how they offer a cost-effective solution in the poultry industry’s progression toward no antibiotic ever (NAE) systems. Click to read more
(Figure 1) Platinum octaethylporphyrinmolecules seen adsorbed by Calibrin-Z using Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy. Platinum (pink) seen under microscopy indicates where the organic compound was bound in the interconnected pores of the unique clay mineral.
Providing Economic Value for More Than a Decade
For more than 16 years, Calibrin®-Z (available in select international markets) has helped poultry producers mitigate the damage that mycotoxins cause to their livestock, their sustainability, and their bottom line. Calibrin-Z’s ability to bind mycotoxins, fungal toxins that negatively affect the health and performance of livestock, has been shown both in experimental settings and on the farm. The implication from this research was that the unique clay mineral that comprises Calibrin-Z was blocking the negative effects of mycotoxins on animal performance by adsorbing the toxins in the pores of the clay. The way the binding occurred was known but had not been seen directly.
Until Now!
Scientists from Oil-Dri worked with university scientists to enable us to see organic molecules binding to Calibrin-Z (Figure 1). To do this they used Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy. This type of microscopy is used to look at biological and materials structures at an almost atomic level. The material of interest is flash-frozen to keep from damaging the structure of the organic material that is being observed.
Octaethylporphyrin, is an organic molecule that was chosen to represent the mycotoxins that Calibrin-Z normally adsorbs. It has a general size and planar orientation similar to that of mycotoxins. Platinum is not an element that is typically found in the clay mineral that makes up Calibrin-Z and can be seen using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. This combination of factors makes it an excellent marker to use to visualize Calibrin-Z’s binding sites. When the organic portion of the platinum octaethylporphyrin molecule is adsorbed onto the Calibrin-Z binding sites you can see the platinum with a cryogenic transmission electron microscope. The platinum in the picture taken under the microscope was interspersed between the layers and on the outer surface of the Calibrin-Z particles. This shows that the organic compound was bound in the interconnected pores as was anticipated.
Selection and Quality
Calibrin-Z’s natural ability to adsorb biotoxins is based on the clay mineral used in its manufacture. The source of the clay mineral was chosen after years of testing and comparisons of a multitude of different potential sites. This source was selected based off its innate ability to bind toxins, the ability to improve that binding with processing, and its benign chemical profile. With vertical integration, mine to market traceability, and decades of reserves, this unique clay mineral is the foundation of Amlan International’s animal health products.
Calibrin-Z is composed mainly of calcium montmorillonite with opal lepispheres. The opal lepispheres are intimately interwoven within the nano-scale layers of montmorillonite. They help Calibrin-Z maintain its structure during a proprietary processing step that expands the number of biotoxins Calibrin-Z adsorbs. The unique structure of Calibrin-Z is vital to its toxin binding capacity.
Absorption and Adsorption
A kilogram of Calibrin -Z has approximately the same surface area as 60 soccer fields. This is because over 99% of Calibrin-Z’s total surface area is inside the particle. Calibrin-Z’s internal network of interconnected channels and pores is ~50% of its total volume. When Calibrin-Z is fed to livestock or poultry, fluid in the intestine rapidly absorbs into the mineral’s pores through capillary action. Biotoxins in the fluid move inside via the networks of capillary channels. From a molecular perspective it is as if they are traveling on a superhighway. Biotoxins adsorb once they reach the binding sites on the pores’ surfaces.
The biotoxin molecules are attracted onto the pore surfaces via adsorption, this is both chemisorption and physisorption. Biotoxins will structurally coordinate themselves onto charged surfaces and bind via ion-dipole and electrostatic interactions. While mycotoxins tend to be smaller and can enter the pores of Calibrin-Z and bind there, bacterial toxins tend to be larger but may also bind. Theoretically, there are special physical properties that allow the molecular conformation of the bacterial toxin to become distorted, which allows them to adsorb onto macro-surfaces within the pore spaces.Someday we may be able to use microscopy to see that, too.
Because of its structure, the clay mineral that Calibrin-Z is made from is naturally hydrophilic and will bind to polar molecules. But Calibrin-Z undergoes a proprietary processing method that causes dehydroxylation of the clay mineral’s crystal structure. During this process the opal lepispheres spread between the layers maintain its channels and binding sites. Thus, Calibrin-Z continues to bind polar molecules, such as the mycotoxin aflatoxin, but processing also allows it to have the ability to bind non-polar mycotoxins such as zearalenone. The ability to mitigate the effects of multiple mycotoxins has been shown using both in vitro and in vivo research.
Because of Calibrin-Z’s proprietary heat treatment the toxins that it adorbs include a broad-spectrum of polar and non-polar toxins. Therefore, Calibrin-Z has shown high adsorption properties for mycotoxins, enterotoxins, and endotoxins.
Examples of Biotoxins Bound by Calibrin-Z
Natural and Reliable to Use
Calibrin-Z is shown to be a reliable and effective biotoxin binder. When added to animal feed at up to 5X the recommended dose it showed no negative effects. In fact, there was often a numerical improvement in gain, feed intake, or feed conversion when Calibrin-Z was added to an unchallenged diet. This indicates that there was no significant negative effect of Calibrin products on nutrient utilization.
The unique surface chemistry and structural properties of the calcium montmorillonite in Calibrin-Z, added to its proprietary thermal-processing method, are what provide its optimal toxin binding capacity. This is what sets Calibrin-Z apart from other clay-based products. We have long known this because of its structure, how it works in vitro and how for more than a decade it has improved the performance of livestock and poultry. And now we, and you, are able to see it with our own eyes.
To learn more about broad spectrum biotoxin binder Calibrin-Z, and how you can add it to your poultry and livestock feed, visit amlan.com
During the 2023 World Dairy Expo held in Madison, Wisconsin, Ann Hess from Feedstuffs 365 spoke with Amlan, the Animal Health business of Oil-Dri, about mineral technology as a solution to support gut health and improve diary performance. Listen to Dr. Marc Herpfer, VP of New Technologies, Regan Culbertson, VP of Strategic Marketing, and Jay Hughes, Director of Technical Services, Americas discuss how the unique, thermally processed calcium montmorillonite with opal lepispheres are driving economic, bottomline, performance in the dairy industry.
For decades, clays have been used globally as feed additives to help with feed flowability and pellet binding (e.g., Flo-Fre™ and Pel-Unite™). More recently, some international markets have also recognized the ability of mineral-based products to bind biotoxins in the intestinal tract of animals. However, there is a misconception in the industry that all clay minerals are the same and have the same biotoxin-binding abilities. The truth is that the natural properties of the minerals and how they’re processed have a significant impact on their effectiveness as a biotoxin enterosorbent.
Calibrin®-Z (available in select international markets) is an example of a mineral-based product that’s not your typical biotoxin-binding feed additive. Many mineral-based products focus on binding only one biotoxin (e.g., aflatoxin). However, the natural composition of Calibrin-Z and the proprietary processing technique that’s used to modify its surface chemistry allow it to bind a broad spectrum of biotoxins, including bacterial exotoxins and endotoxins and polar and nonpolar mycotoxins.
A Natural, Synergistic Mineral Mix
Calibrin-Z is a calcium bentonite that is primarily composed of two minerals — calcium montmorillonite and opal (amorphous silica lepispheres). Each of these minerals has specific physical properties and it’s how they’re naturally mixed together that gives Calibrin-Z part of its distinctive enterosorbent abilities (Figure 1).
Figure 1: A representation of the calcium montmorillonite layers intertwined with opal lepispheres.
The interwoven, naturally occurring calcium montmorillonite and opal lepispheres of Calibrin-Z create more biotoxin-binding opportunities than if they were used alone. It’s what makes the intimately mixed mineralogic nature of Calibrin-Z difficult to duplicate — the minerals grew and altered their properties for over 60 million years.
An Interconnected Pore Network
Calibrin-Z is very porous — it’s about 50 percent pore space consisting of nano, micro, meso and macro pore sizes. Opal lepispheres have their own micro pores and help to open up spaces within the calcium montmorillonite structure because they’re naturally formed amongst the calcium montmorillonite. This natural mixture of minerals gives Calibrin-Z a very low bulk density, high porosity and an extensive surface area of around 450,000 m2/kg — an area equivalent to around 50 average-sized soccer stadiums. A phenomenal amount of chemistry can occur on this expansive surface area.
In order for Calibrin-Z to adsorb biotoxins that are in intestinal fluid, the fluid must first be absorbed into its pores. The pores of Calibrin-Z are an interconnected network that allows intestinal fluid to enter them, where the biotoxins can then interact or bind with the pore surface. Unlike other clays, the porosity of Calibrin-Z creates an open construct on a microscopic scale and a more inviting place for intestinal fluids to be absorbed into.
A Hydrophobic Surface Improves Biotoxin Binding
When the calcium bentonite in Calibrin-Z is mined, the capillaries and channels of its pores are naturally filled with water. Our proprietary thermal processing technique removes most of this water and also modifies the surface of the minerals to allow the pore surfaces to become more hydrophobic (Figure 2). This is a significant point of difference for Calibrin-Z because certain biotoxins (e.g., nonpolar mycotoxins and bacterial toxins) have a greater affinity for hydrophobic surfaces than hydrophilic surfaces. Other mineral-based products that are more hydrophilic than hydrophobic won’t be able to adsorb the broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal toxins that Calibrin-Z can bind.
Figure 2: Thermal processing removes water and changes the surface chemistry to create biotoxin-binding Calibrin-Z.
Safe, Irreversible Thermal Processing
Our proprietary thermal processing heats the surface of Calibrin-Z, changing its surface chemistry. These thermochemical changes are irreversible — they can’t be undone even after being exposed to the harsh environment of the animal’s gut.
Some companies activate the surface of their minerals with harsh chemicals instead of heat. Chemical activation of minerals does not create an irreversible bond, so theoretically these chemicals could be stripped off in the animal’s gut. This is important because the in vitro biotoxin-binding efficacy of a mineral-based product activated with chemicals may not be replicated in the real world. In the animal’s gut, the minerals are exposed to strong acids, enzymes and other substances that can change their properties and biotoxin enterosorbent abilities. Thermal processing is a safer, ecofriendly alternative to chemical activation of minerals that is permanent.
Vertical Integration Ensures Consistency
Quality and reliability of supply is another differentiator for Calibrin-Z. Amlan is the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of sorbent minerals. Vertical integration allows Oil-Dri and Amlan to control every step of the mineral production process to reliably deliver safe, high-quality and efficacious mineral-based products.
If needed, we can trace the minerals in our products from the feed bag, through the supply chain, through the processing chain in our plants back to where we mined the calcium bentonite. This includes the original core drill hole that was used to extract and pre-qualify the raw material to ensure it met the physical and absorptive quality profile. We mine our calcium bentonite from a single mine and from a specific location within our mine that has hundreds of years of reserves — giving our customers confidence in the availability, consistency, quality and efficacy of our minerals every time they buy a new batch of products.
The biotoxin-binding abilities of Calibrin-Z are quite different compared to most other calcium bentonite-based biotoxin binders. That’s why it’s important to look beyond the ingredient list on the feed bag and review the in vivo research that proves a feed additive can improve the intestinal health and performance of production animals. To read our in vivo Calibrin-Z research, visit our Research page or contact your local Amlan sales representative.
Our mine to market approach offers a distinct advantage for our customers who value ingredient consistency and traceability. Because we’re vertically integrated, we oversee the entire production process. We extract the mineral, thermally process it, create and package multiple mineral-based products and distribute them all over the world. That’s the Amlan difference.
To learn more about the unique properties of our mineral and why all clay minerals aren’t the same, visit our mineral technology page. For more information on the traceability and reliability of our mineral, contact your local Amlan representative.
Proprietary mineral technology is the foundation for Amlan’s innovative value-added products for animal protein producers. In this article, we take an in-depth look into the mineral technology used in our all-natural feed additive Calibrin®-Z and its unique properties that are the Amlan difference.
Consistent, Controlled Mineral Supply
The physical and chemical properties of a mineral can differ depending on where it is mined. That is why — to ensure consistent quality — Amlan only uses a single-source mineral in our products. Amlan is vertically integrated as the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, allowing Amlan and Oil-Dri to control every step of the production process and reliably deliver safe, high-quality products.
Calibrin-Z: Our All-Natural Broad-Spectrum Biotoxin Control Product
Calibrin-Z protects poultry and livestock health and performance by binding intestinal pathogens, bacterial exotoxins and endotoxins and polar and nonpolar mycotoxins. It is composed of a single ingredient — our proprietary mineral technology, thermally processed to create the specific physical and chemical properties that give Calibrin-Z its powerful mode of action.
A Network of Interconnected Pores
The distinctive properties of Calibrin-Z include a high surface area and extensive porosity. More than 99% of Calibrin-Z’s total surface area is internal due to the product’s structural properties. This means that targeted molecules can migrate via interconnected networks of capillary channels towards internal binding sites. These physical features provide Calibrin-Z with a high adsorption capacity for binding a broad range of mycotoxins, bacterial pathogens and their toxins.
Layers Within Layers
The mineral in Calibrin-Z is a particular type of phyllosilicate (“phyllo” meaning sheet) and is primarily calcium montmorillonite with amorphous opal-CT lepispheres and other minor and trace minerals.
Phyllosilicates consist of silicon, oxygen, magnesium and water molecules, and either aluminum or iron atoms. The aluminum, iron or magnesium atoms form octahedron structures, whereas the silicon forms tetrahedrons. These formations give the mineral a nano-scale structure of a 2:1 layer of octahedrons between tetrahedrons. Between the 2:1 layers are interlayers of water molecules and cations (Figure 1). Various positively charged sites in the mineral structure — interlayer cations and broken edge octahedral units — provide the adsorption sites.
Figure 1: A progressive view of the structure of the mineral in Calibrin-Z down to the nano-scale layers.
Proprietary Thermal Processing
Typical montmorillonites have water molecules between the mineral layers that make the pores and surfaces hydrophilic for adsorbing hydrophilic (polar) molecules (e.g., aflatoxins) but do not bind hydrophobic (nonpolar) molecules (e.g., zearalenone and fumonisin). However, the montmorillonite used in Calibrin-Z undergoes proprietary thermal processing that uses an optimized temperature and time to allow adsorption of hydrophilic and hydrophobic toxins (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Thermal processing of Calibrin-Z allows binding of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules.
Thermal processing eliminates most of the water molecules from the mineral in Calibrin-Z, making it more hydrophobic. The process is carefully controlled since excessive heat that completely dries the mineral — removal of the interlayer water molecules — would destroy Calibrin-Z’s binding capabilities. The naturally occurring opal-CT lepispheres help maintain the layered sheet structure of the mineral during processing and provide Calibrin-Z’s high binding capacity (Figure 3). Amlan’s proprietary processing method also avoids the use of harmful chemicals typically used by other companies preserving a natural composition.
Figure 3: Naturally occurring opal-CT lepispheres maintain Calibrin-Z’s structure during thermal processing (removal of a controlled amount of interlayer water molecules).
A Variety of Binding Mechanisms
Calibrin-Z’s binding forces include hydrophobic interactions, chelation, electrostatic attractions, hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Thermal processing allows an interaction between both polar hydrophilic molecules and non-polar hydrophobic molecules and the inter-mineral layer. This is the method used to adsorb mycotoxins to Calibrin-Z.
Bacterial exotoxin binding to Calibrin-Z occurs through molecular ion exchange mechanisms. For example, a part of the Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin electrostatically anchors (tethers) to either the positively charged broken-edge sites (exposed alumina octahedra) or the positively charged interlayer cations of Calibrin-Z.
Molecular conformation change mechanisms are also possible binding methods. Large exotoxins can distort their molecular structures or conformations to adsorb themselves onto macro-surfaces within the pore spaces.
Compatible With Nutrient Availability
While Calibrin-Z excels at binding biotoxins, its binding abilities do not interfere with the absorption of important nutrients in the diet. It is possible that some minor quantity of nutrients could temporarily be absorbed into Calibrin-Z’s pores. However, this is via weak thermodynamic and kinetic interactions that are readily reversible. Therefore, nutrients can travel in to and out of Calibrin-Z particles based on concentration gradients in the gastrointestinal tract.
A 42-day swine study conducted by SAMITEC in Brazil, examined the performance of pigs fed a common basal diet (Control) and Calibrin-Z included at 5 kg/MT, a level that is 10 times the recommended dose. Even at this very high inclusion rate, Calibrin-Z had no adverse effects on nutrient availability, supporting equivalent weight gain and feed conversion.
The proprietary mineral technology used in Calibrin-Z is what sets it apart from other companies’ mineral-based products. For more information about Calibrin-Z and how it can help protect your animals from the deleterious effects of biotoxins, contact us at info@amlan.com.
Amlan International is excited to offer our North American customers an exclusive portfolio of mineral-based feed additives that support gut health and improve the sustainability of poultry and livestock production. The North American portfolio expands our efforts to support optimal intestinal health in protein-producing animals around the world.
Consumers in North America, like global consumers, demand high-quality animal protein raised without antibiotics. These consumer preferences, coupled with concerns about microbial resistance, have put producers under pressure to reduce the use of in-feed antibiotics. Consequently, North American producers and vertical integrators are seeking cost-effective, non-antibiotic, natural feed additives that support feed conversion and optimal intestinal health. Their search ends with our North American product range that can help with these challenges.
Our mineral-based feed additives offer multiple advantages for animal protein producers. The products support optimal gut health and meet the demands for cleaner food while reducing the inputs needed to raise production animals, helping to decrease the cost and environmental impact of poultry and livestock production.
Our North American sales and technical service team, led by Heath Wessels, Director of Sales and Technical Service for North America, is eager to partner with top-tier producers to help them achieve their production goals by integrating Amlan products into their operations. “Our natural feed additives are formulated to have strong synergy with each other for supporting optimal gut health,” said Heath. “We offer individual product solutions or can recommend product combinations for maximum results.”
The new product line will only be available for sale in North America but will be offered with the same excellence and reliability that global producers know and trust from our international product offerings. Amlan is vertically integrated as the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, allowing Amlan and Oil-Dri to control every step of the production process and reliably deliver safe, high-quality single-sourced products from company-owned mines.
The North American product portfolio strengthens our commitment to leading the industry in supplying natural feed additives that support animal intestinal health and add value for producers. Meet our products below, and if you have any questions about our North American product portfolio, please contact info@amlan.com.
A natural feed additive that yields performance results comparable to AGP use? It really does exist. Varium® supports a healthy intestinal tract AND can help provide production economics similar to antibiotic-fed birds.
As the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, Amlan International’s scientifically proven products are backed by Oil-Dri’s 80+ years of experience in mineral science. Amlan has access to the hundreds of millions of tons of mineral reserves that Oil-Dri, based and operating in the USA, selectively mines, processes and sells in a diverse range of industries throughout the world. Vertical integration allows Oil-Dri and Amlan to own every step of the production process and consistently deliver reliable non-medicated solutions to support animal protein producers around the world as they look to optimize animal health and production economics.
Safe Thermal Processing
The single-source raw material used in Amlan products is an all-natural mineral ingredient that contains high-capacity opal-CT lepispheres. This mineral is selected because its properties allow for thermal processing that is specifically talilored for each product. Thermal processing ensures the minerals’ structural integrity and optimizes the products’ broad utility, ultimately helping producers achieve normal animal health and meet their production goals.
Independent Assessments for Regulatory Requirements
Each quarter, all Amlan product lots are assessed by an independent laboratory to ensure they comply with regulatory requirements. These analyses ensure the mineral is below any established regulatory levels for dioxins (PCDD/F+PCB) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury) in feed or food. This report is available upon request by contacting info@amlan.com. For both performance and safety, Amlan also performs extensive core drilling analyses of their raw material and selectively mines the highest quality raw materials for use in their products.
High-Quality Manufacturing Standards
All Amlan products are made to the highest industry standards for non-medicated feed additives to ensure their safety and consistent performance. Amlan’s quality systems are audited and certified annually by independent parties to demonstrate compliance.
Approved Feed Ingredients Only
Amlan’s feed additives only use ingredients that are approved for use in feed products by major regulatory bodies such as the U.S. FDA or the EU. This helps to secure the safety of the animal and, as Amlan’s products are developed for protein-producing animals, ensures end consumers are safe too. Amlan is proud to carry the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) seal of approval on many of its products. OMRI Listed® products are approved for use in certified organic operations under the USDA National Organic Program.
High-Quality, Safe Products Are Paramount
Along with following ISO-9001 standards and a certified HACCP system, Amlan is also a certified International Safe Feed/Safe Food plant. This voluntary and independently certified program designed for the total feed industry establishes comprehensive standards of excellence that go beyond existing regulations to maximize food and feed safety. This certification assures customers that Amlan’s products are safe, healthy, trustworthy feed solutions. For all applicable products and production facilities, Amlan also meets the requirements set forth by FAMI/QS — a certification created exclusively for specialty feed ingredients and their mixtures. Many countries require the FAMI/QS certification to sell market specialty feed ingredients within their borders.
Mineral Technology Is the Amlan Difference
Amlan’s proprietary mineral technology is the foundation of their innovative products. In fact, multiple governments, including the United States, the European Union, China, Korea and Indonesia have recognized the unique mineral-based technology within Amlan’s products Varium® and NeoPrime® and have issued a patent for the products’ modes of action.
By leveraging their owned, unique mineral technology and committing to the highest quality standards, Amlan develops innovative and reliable natural, mineral-based feed additive solutions for poultry and livestock. To learn more about Amlan’s products, visit https://amlan.com/products/.
