Construction of the plant got underway last autumn. The first phase of the build is expected to be completed in the summer.
The company expects deliveries of that nutritional product from the Spanish factory to begin at the end of the year.
"By adding this European plant, we will have production sites for Selsaf on all continents; we are already manufacturing it in North America, China and Latin America," a spokesperson for Phileo Lesaffre told FeedNavigator.
Further investments are planned for 2023 to expand the factory’s production capacity in the face of growing demand in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for oxidative stress management solutions, added the French developer.
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress is detrimental to animal performance, said the company.
Modern farming practices, characterized by high socking densities, highly productive genetics, early weaning and uncontrolled high or low temperatures, impose a cumulative stress on the animal. The resulting high concentrations of oxidative stressors in animal cells can compromise the immune and reproductive systems, and can also reduce muscle, milk and egg production, with significant economic effects, it reported.
“Adding Selsaf to animal feeds has been seen to improve the overall health status of the animal by stimulating antioxidant defenses. This improves not only immune and reproductive functions, but also animal performance and the quality of animal products.”
The company claims the product can also support animal health resulting in better embryo viability and survival rate, more selenium transfer to offspring, and less morbidity. In reducing the oxidation, and therefore the rancidity of animal-derived end-products, Selsaf, it continued, also brings a lot of benefits to consumers, with more selenium in meat, milk and eggs.
“Our standardized production process and quality certifications guarantee a high concentration of organic selenium and a consistent active seleno-compound profile, with two-thirds selenomethionine and one-third selenocysteine and other active seleno-compounds,” said Marcos Jerez, country manager, Iberia.
