BergaFat: A Fat Powder With Value Added
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Milling and Grain magazineBergaFat: A Fat Powder With Value Added
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Milling and Grain magazineF
BergaFat:
a fat powder with value added
by Roland Adelmann, Berg + Schmidt, Germany
Berg + Schmidt is one of the pioneers in the
development of fat powders without a carrier.
Its BergaFat brand has become synonymous
with fat powder around the globe. BergaFat
is based entirely on palm oil, a valuable and
purely vegetable raw material. Thanks to its
high palmitic acid content it is readily digestible
and also offers a number of advantages over Ca
soaps.
ore and more, in modern
animal production, it is a
question of optimising the
individual components
of the feed in order to
offer consumers healthy,
high-quality products at
competitive prices. In this
connection the feed is
extremely important as a source of energy. That applies especially
to feed fats, since they supply over twice as much energy as
carbohydrates.
So fats in powder form are a valuable and at the same time
practical alternative. They are easy to dose, to store and to handle.
Pure energy for cows in early lactation and highperformance cows
In order to make modern milk production profitable it is
essential to provide additional energy, since high-performance
cows in the early phase of lactation expend more energy on milk
production than they can take in with their feed.
The animals organism draws the energy it lacks from the
44 | Milling and Grain
bodys own fat reserves. This may result in metabolic disorders
and reduced fertility. To prevent this and at the same time ensure
a high milk yield the cows must be provided with extra energy
through their feed. The only way to offer the animals additional
energy is to provide fat in a rumen-stable form, either as a top
dressing or in the concentrate. The BergaFat range from Berg +
Schmidt ensures that high-performance cows are given the extra
energy they need. For ruminants the company offers the products
BergaFat F-100 / BergaFat F-100 HP and BergaFat T-300.
Only rumen-stable fats are ideal for the environment in
the rumen
Normal feed fats consist of saturated and unsaturated fatty
acids. Above a certain level, unsaturated fatty acids have a
damaging effect on the bacteria of the rumen. This results in poor
utilisation of the entire ration or even reduced performance. The
bacteria defend themselves against unsaturated fatty acids by
hydrogenating them to form saturated fatty acids. They use such
hydrogenation as a kind of detoxification mechanism, but this
only works up to a total of about 4 percent fat in the feed. If the
ration is to contain more than this 4 percent fat, the added fat
must remain stable in the rumen in order to avoid damage to the
rumen bacteria.
Rumen-protected or rumen-stable: an important
difference
To prevent damage to the rumen bacteria from unsaturated fatty
acids, these fats used to be saponified with calcium in a process
involving a chemical reaction. This provides artificial protection
for the micro-organisms in the rumen. However, these rumenprotected calcium soaps are only stable in the rumen under
certain conditions. As soon as the pH drops, Ca soaps are split up
into calcium and unsaturated fatty acids. And this applies to their
behaviour in the TMR as well as in the rumen. Saponification
of the fat also impairs the odour and taste of the feed fats. This
F
lowers the animals acceptance of the
feed and thus their overall performance.
Sophisticated technology makes
BergaFat unique
Unlike the soaps, BergaFat works
without any synthetic protection at all.
In the production process, high-melting
fat fractions that are rumen-stable
by nature are isolated by physical
separation. The fatty acids in BergaFat
are saturated to the point where they
no longer damage the microbes of the
rumen. On the contrary: the saturated
fatty acids in BergaFat F-100, BergaFat
T-300 and BergaFat F-100 HP relieve
the burden on the rumen; they do not
have to be hydrogenated and therefore
meet the nutritional requirements
of the high-performance cows.
These fats reach the small intestine
unchanged, where they are broken
down enzymatically and used as energy.
In other words: fat-powder products
without carriers are the new generation
of rumen-stable (bypass) fats. With
its 100 percent fat content, BergaFat
provides more energy than calcium
soaps, for these may contain as much as
20 percent non-fat substances such as
calcium, ash and water, and therefore
correspondingly less energy. Moreover,
the BergaFat products are free from
trans fatty acids.
Feeding trials with BergaFat
BergaFat increases the quantity and
fat content of the milk. The quantity of
protein and fat is increased, while the
percentage of protein remains the same.
Cows that were given BergaFat T-300
in the trials lost less weight and picked up weight again more
quickly than the animals in the control group. This resulted in 26
percent better fertility.
Results from the USA are similar:
7.6 percent increase in the milk fat content
8.1 percent more milk fat
1.7 kg more FCM milk (3.5 percent)
0.7 percent less feed uptake
7.5 percent better feed conversion
The above figures prove that dairy cows need less feed and
nevertheless perform better with the addition of BergaFat.
Feeding trials reveal advantages over Ca soaps
The superiority of BergaFat F-100 over Ca soaps has also
been demonstrated in feeding trials. At the same amount of fat
(2 percent BergaFat F-100 versus 2.4 percent Ca soap in the dry
matter of the feed) BergaFat achieved an increase of 3.1 percent
as compared to the control for fat corrected milk, whereas the
Ca soap only achieved an increase of 0.8 percent. The economic
evaluation of this trial revealed additional proceeds of 10 US
cents per cow and day with the use of BergaFat as compared to
the control group, whereas the Ca soap caused a daily loss of
18 US cents per cow. In a further trial conducted to verify the
comparison with Ca soap, Bergafat achieved an increase of at
least 3 percent in the milk performance parameters.
Rumen-stable fat powder with palmitic acid for dairy
cows
In order to compensate for the energy deficit in early lactation,
the metabolic system of dairy cows is programmed to mobilise
energy for milk production from the bodys own reserves; this
may result in metabolic disorders. In order to prevent this it is
necessary to provide additional energy through the feed. Energy
supplementation is best carried out with BergaFat, which is rich
in C16:0, because the palmitic acid necessary for milk production
is then absorbed directly out of the bloodstream as well as being
synthesised by the animal itself.
Dosage of BergaFat
Dairy cow rations normally contain about 4 to 5 percent fat
in the solid matter. In order to feed a higher proportion of fat,
rumen-stable BergaFat must be added as extra energy. The dosage
of BergaFat depends on the cows performance. In the case of
exceptionally high-yielding cows, up to 1,000 g per animal and
day may be given. BergaFat can be mixed easily with a pelleted
concentrate or given directly as a top dressing.
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Common questions
Powered by AIIn feeding trials, BergaFat outperformed Ca soaps by showing a greater increase in fat corrected milk (3.1% versus 0.8%, respectively). Moreover, it was associated with better feed conversion and higher milk fat content without increasing feed intake, highlighting its superior efficiency in supporting dairy cow productivity .
Rumen stability of dietary fats is critical as unsaturated fatty acids in regular feed fats can harm rumen bacteria, impairing digestive efficiency and animal performance. BergaFat addresses this by utilizing saturated fatty acids, avoiding the problem of excess hydrogenation. This stability allows the fats to reach the small intestine unchanged, where they can be absorbed effectively without compromising rumen microbial health .
BergaFat provides higher energy content compared to calcium soaps, which can contain up to 20% non-fat substances, reducing their energy efficiency. Feeding trials demonstrated that BergaFat led to increased milk production and better feed conversion, resulting in an additional economic gain of 10 US cents per cow per day compared to a loss with calcium soaps .
BergaFat provides additional energy necessary for high-performance cows during early lactation, a period when cows expend more energy on milk production than they can intake from their feed, thus preventing metabolic disorders. By offering rumen-stable fats that do not require hydrogenation, it ensures a better energy balance, reducing the depletion of body fat reserves and enhancing fertility. Trials have shown better milk fat content and overall performance with less feed intake when using BergaFat .
BergaFat improves feed conversion efficiency by providing a stable energy source that enhances the cow's metabolic energy without increasing feed intake. Saturated fatty acids in BergaFat relieve rumen burden, allowing efficient use of the energy from consumed feed, leading to sufficient weight maintenance and enhanced milk production with less overall feed .
BergaFat's production process, which involves isolating naturally rumen-stable fatty acids, results in a product that efficiently bypasses rumen degradation. This process enhances its functionality by ensuring that more energy-rich fats reach the intestine for absorption, improving energy balance without disrupting microbial populations. This innovation distinguishes it from other supplements reliant on chemical modifications, offering both environmental and digestive benefits .
Utilizing palm oil in BergaFat is significant due to its high palmitic acid content, which is beneficial for energy and milk fat synthesis in dairy cows. Additionally, palm oil is a purely vegetable raw material, ensuring easy digestibility and eliminating the presence of trans fats. This makes BergaFat an energetically efficient and health-conscious option for supplementing dairy cow diets .
The fatty acid composition of BergaFat, particularly its high palmitic acid content, is directly linked to improved cow health and milk production. Palmitic acid contributes significantly to milk fat synthesis, offering a direct energy source for metabolic processes. This composition reduces the energy deficit during early lactation, minimizing the risk of metabolic disorders while supporting increased milk yield and quality .
BergaFat employs a physical separation process to isolate high melting point saturated fatty acids, thus reducing the need for microbial hydrogenation. This not only preserves rumen microbial health but also ensures the fats are rumen-stable, providing uninterrupted energy as these saturated fats proceed to the intestine for absorption .
Exceeding the rumen's fat tolerance without using rumen-stable fats could result in impaired microbial activity due to excess unsaturated fatty acids, leading to poor digestion and reduced animal performance. This can cause metabolic disturbances, increased body fat depletion, lower milk yield, and potentially decreased fertility, highlighting the importance of incorporating products like BergaFat .
