Kristi Krafka, VP of regulatory affairs for Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health North America, said the company has conducted work in accordance with the food additive petition guidelines for the filing with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Its KemTRACE Chromium is a trace mineral that has been used with swine since 2000 and, in 2009, was introduced into the cattle sector.
It is the “only source of chromium permitted for use in the US cattle industry,” added Krafka.
In terms of when Kemin would expect approval and broiler market entry with its chromium propionate feed additive, she told FeedNavigator.com that:
“I can’t predict when we’ll hear back from the FDA.
However, we anticipate the review of our food additive petition will take place over the next several months.
As part of the codified food additive petition review process, the FDA will review Kemin's data package, including numerous animal studies, methods, labeling, and environmental assessment."
Fertility and growth benefits
According to a number of animal studies, supplementation of feed with trace metals provides health benefits to livestock such as swine, beef and poultry.
The effect of chromium in a diet has been shown in several studies to improve daily gain in swine and pigs per litter in sows.
Krafka said that the company’s KemTRACE Chromium “is a highly bioavailable organic source of chromium and widely used in animal feeds across the globe.
Published research confirms chromium enhances the amount of glucose available to the animal and enhances insulin sensitivity. Glucose is the source of energy for animals’ cells and is used for any needed metabolic function based on the animal’s hierarchical need – growth, performance, health and maintenance.”
Kemin’s chromium propionate is registered in 25 countries.
Broiler production set to expand in 2014
There is strong demand for broiler meat in the US.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its February outlook for US broiler meat production, predicts continued growth for the segment throughout 2014, with an increase in expected output of 2.8% to 38.9 billion lbs (17.6 billion kgs).
“With feed prices expected to be somewhat lower in 2014 and with continued growth in the domestic economy, broiler integrators are expected to have incentives to expand production,” said the report.
“Integrators are expected to utilize the lower feed costs to grow out broilers to higher weights, a trend that has been going on for a number of years.
Broiler product demand is expected to be influenced by an improving domestic economy and expected competitive prices relative to both the beef and pork sectors,” said the researchers.