Products in Production Aids and Processing Additives: Improved Fert...

Cuxavit Beta Carotene is the precursor of vitamin A, which is essential for many physiological functions in the body, such as vision, epithelial membrane development, fertility, embryonic development and the immune system. Regardless of its role as a pro-vitamin A, β-carotene has an important impact on fertility, including by stimulating progesterone synthesis. In addition, β-carotene protects the embryo from damage caused by free radicals thanks to its antioxidant effect.

Astaplus® consists of free flowing beadlets and contains 10% astaxanthin in a protective matrix. Astaxanthin plays an important role in enhancing flesh coloration of farmed salmonids which is desired by consumers. Since salmonids lack the ability to synthesize astaxanthin de novo, the pigment must be incorporated into their diets. In some countries Astaplus® is also used for shrimp pigmentation. Astaxanthin being the most valuable microalgal compounds. Haematococcus pluvialis strain is the richest source of astaxanthin (Mezzomo and Ferreira, 2016; Zaheer, 2017). This substance gives the pinkish-red hue to the salmonids (salmons and trout), shrimps, lobsters and crabs and has an important role in their immune-system and fertility. Nutritionally, astaxanthin is the most powerful antioxidant in the nature, with role to scavenge efficiently free radicals from the human body (Koller et al., 2014).

Caroplus® consists of red to reddish brown, free-flowing beadlets containing 10% beta-carotene in a protective matrix. Beta-carotene exists naturally in many green plants and accounts for the yellow to orange color of many different fruits and vegetables. It has a positive effect on the fertility process of cattle, breeding mares and sows. When indoors, animals might suffer from deficiency of beta-carotene and some symptoms may occur as retarded ovulation, silent oestrus, lack of fertility, embryonic death, early abortion as well as lower resistance against infectious diseases. Adding Caroplus® in the animal feed can improve fertility rate, decrease service interval, improve follicle quality and protect the mucosa.

ApoEplus® consists of orange-red, free-flowing beadlets containing 10% ethyl ester of β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid in a protective matrix. This yellow carotenoid is widely used in the feed industry as an additive for offering yellow pigmentation of egg yolk and poultry skin. In comparison to yellow xanthophylls from plants, ApoEplus® is in a high bioavailability form and has a higher deposition rate in egg yolk and poultry skin.