A new value-enhanced corn hybrid contains more than three times the available phosphorus than standard yellow dent corn, recently completed research at the University of Illinois has shown.

NutriDense(TM) LP, a low phytate corn from ExSeed Genetics L.L.C.(TM), provides a phosphorus utilization of 95.8 percent as compared to 30.2 percent relative bioavailability of conventional No. 2 yellow dent com, research showed. Phosphorus is stored in plants in the form of phytic acid, which is necessary for germination and needed for bone development in the animal.

"Low phytate corn gives swine and poultry producers two tremendous advantages," says Jerry Weigel, director of nutrition and regulatory affairs for ExSeed. "First, it makes phosphorus more available to the animals in their feed. That means less phosphorus in the animal's manure and ultimately less phosphorus in manure applied to the soil, which can be an environmental hazard if it leaches into the groundwater or nearby waterways."

"Second, NutriDense corn is naturally higher in digestible phosphorus than standard No. 2 yellow dent corn, so less supplemental phosphorus is needed when formulating feeds for monogastric animals like swine and poultry. This reduces the feed costs for livestock feeders," Weigel says.

"At ExSeed Genetics, we offer value-added products that have both economic and environmental benefits to the producer," says Mark Scholl, president of ExSeed Genetics. "Low phytate corn is truly a revolutionary product for swine and poultry producers, and we're proud to be the first to have it commercially available."

ExSeed's NutriDense LP, a trademarked nutritionally enhanced product, has additional benefits to the low phytate characteristic. It has a stacked set of genetic traits specifically designed to deliver the animal feeder significant benefits over standard yellow dent corn, including at least one more unit of oil, two to three more units of quality protein, 30 percent more lysine, 50 percent more sulfur amino acids, 18 percent more threonine, twice the tryptophan, and 25 percent more of both methionine and cystine.

The findings from the University of Illinois study were recently presented in a paper by M.W. Douglas et al., University of Illinois, Nutritional Evaluation of Low Phytate and NutriDense com, at the Poultry Science Association, 88th Annual Meeting, in Springdale, Arkansas. Douglas reported that NutriDense LP from ExSeed Genetics indicated a phosphorus utilization of 95.8 percent as compared to 30.2 percent relative bioavailability of conventional corn. Her data also demonstrated substantially higher levels of digestible amino acids over conventional corn. Phytate is known to bind essential amino acids, minerals, and protein, making them unavailable to the animal. However, the data shows that, when phytic acid is reduced, there is an increase in the availability of these nutrients.

The increased value of the low phytate trait alone may not command enough premium to growers, unless phosphorus management is mandated. But by stacking the trait with a nutrient dense corn, like NutriDense LP, more value is created for the grower and the feeder. "In poultry and swine finishing diets, a 15 to 25 cent premium can be easily realized by incorporating NutriDense LP into the ration," Weigel says.

"As human and animal populations expand, increased emphasis will be placed on the environment, especially in the area of phosphorus in livestock waste. Low phytate corn can provide an alternative to chemical treatments of livestock waste prior to land applications in sensitive environmental corridors," Weigel says.

ExSeed Genetics provides value-enhanced grains to feed, food and industrial markets under the brand name ExSeed Enhanced(TM). ExSeed Genetics works with a variety of seed and production partners within the ExSeed Contracting Network to provide animal feeders, millers and food processors ExSeed Enhanced traits in grains that add value and improve the end-use product.

ExSeed Genetics was the first company to release low phytate corn varieties, NutriDense LP and Yellow Dent LP(TM), and make them available to swine and poultry producers throughout the United States.

ExSeed Genetics L.L.C., headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, was formed in 1994, and has research operations in Owensboro; Ames, Iowa; and Olivia, Minnesota. You can visit the ExSeed Genetics web site at www.exseed.com.

For more innformation about this study and other ExSeed Genetics products, please contact the Technical Services Group at 217-425-0759, or contact the ExSeed Genetics corporate office at 800-233-8942.

Company news release
N2311