DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), as an essential unsaturated fatty acid in the human body, has been extensively proven to play important roles in brain development, memory enhancement, and retinal formation. It is mainly derived from marine fish and algae. In some Nordic countries, it is a common practice to consider the heads of deep-sea fish as important food for children because they believe it contains an ingredient – DHA – that can make children smarter. The application of DHA in dairy products is not uncommon, and its widespread use in infant formula is a typical example.
The current status of DHA fortification in dairy processing
DHA involves adding fish oil or algae oil to achieve the desired effect (as per the New Resource Food Announcement). However, this process can result in varying degrees of fishy taste in the product, and special processing is required to ensure that the flavor and texture of the product meet the requirements for consumption. Additionally, in order to ensure the shelf life of the product, emulsification and antioxidant protection are necessary for the fish oil and algae oil within the product system, such as homogenization and the use of antioxidants. This undoubtedly increases the complexity of the food processing technology.
The concept of natural DHA
Natural DHA arises from a technical standpoint to address the issues encountered in the previous mentioned process of adding ingredients to the product. It involves fortifying the feed given to cows with DHA. Specifically, microalgae powder that has undergone encapsulation treatment is used as feed. This allows DHA to pass smoothly through the rumen without being utilized by the microorganisms present. Through the process of fatty acid metabolism, DHA enters the bloodstream and milk of cows, while not affecting the normal flavor and texture of their feed. HSF Biotech, as one of the enterprises engaged in the cultivation research of Schizochytrium sp., has successfully developed algae oil DHA and its powder form for human nutrition. In the upcoming production line of HSF feed, advanced technology will also be utilized to produce Schizochytrium sp. powder (feed-grade DHA powder) for animal feed.
Processing principle
The encapsulated microalgae powder is mixed with an appropriate amount of antioxidant components such as vitamin E and selenium yeast. This mixture is then pre-mixed with conventional concentrated feed for lactating cows and further combined with the total mixed ration (TMR) using mixing equipment. Each cow consumes around 200-300 mg of pure DHA per day, resulting in DHA levels in the milk that are 5-10 times higher than regular raw milk.
Simultaneously, the DHA content in the produced raw milk remains stable, and the flavor and texture of the milk are indistinguishable from regular milk. This raw milk can be used to process various liquid milk products without affecting the processing properties, flavor, texture, tissue state, physicochemical indicators, or hygiene indicators of the milk.
Supporting regulations
The Ministry of Agriculture's "Feed Ingredient Catalog" explicitly includes the relevant DHA microalgae powder and specifies requirements for rumen protection technology. The antioxidant components used are allowed items listed in the Ministry of Agriculture's "Catalog of Feed Additive Varieties."
The development process of natural DHA raw milk
First, any well-equipped dairy farm can produce natural DHA raw milk. The production process involves the following aspects:
- Procurement and quality analysis of encapsulated microalgae powder and related feed additives (in compliance with national requirements and the quality standards of the production enterprise).
- Relatively fixed brand and model of concentrated feed for lactating cows used on the farm.
- Feed pre-mixing: Mixing the encapsulated microalgae powder with conventional concentrated feed using feed mixing equipment.
- Pre-feeding management: The introduction of a new raw material will inevitably affect the overall flavor and texture of the feed. Therefore, a pre-feeding period can be planned, typically lasting for one month and divided into four stages per week. During this period, the proportion of microalgae powder in the feed can be gradually increased, allowing the cows to adapt to the new raw material.
Next, monitoring the DHA content in the raw milk begins after two weeks of pre-feeding. Gas chromatography is used to analyze and test the DHA content in the raw milk. It is important to send the samples for testing as soon as possible after sampling and ensure uniform mixing of the samples during pre-processing. As the separation of milk fat is common in raw milk, it can cause significant fluctuations in the test data. To demonstrate the feeding effect, several batches of DHA testing can be conducted on the raw milk before feeding.
Finally, after the pre-feeding period, it enters the quantitative feeding stage, and the DHA content in the raw milk is monitored twice a month. It is important to pay special attention to sampling and testing the DHA content of the raw milk after adjusting the cow herd to observe any fluctuations.
The key technological points in the development of natural DHA raw milk are to establish a reasonable pre-feeding experimental plan before the pre-feeding period and strictly adhere to the formulation composition designed in the pre-feeding plan. This allows for a smooth and rapid transition into the constant feeding stage. During the pre-feeding period, the feeding management personnel need to pay special attention to the physiological performance of the cows during the feeding process after adding the new raw material to the feed formula. This includes monitoring their feed intake, mental state, and physicochemical data related to milk production. If any abnormal conditions occur, the feeding of the new raw material should be immediately stopped. In the constant feeding stage, it is necessary to regularly summarize the indicators of the raw milk and analyze the results.
HSF Biotech Schizochytrium sp DHA powder Feed Grade
HSF Biotech is a company that specializes in the research and development of nutritional products derived from Schizochytrium sp. The company has successfully developed a high-quality feed-grade DHA powder made from Schizochytrium sp. This powder is an excellent source of DHA, which is an important nutrient for animals' growth and development.
HSF Biotech uses advanced cultivation technology to ensure high-quality Schizochytrium sp. biomass production. The harvested biomass is then carefully processed to extract DHA-rich oil, which is further processed into a highly concentrated DHA powder.
The feed-grade DHA powder produced by HSF Biotech has a high nutritional value and is suitable for use in animal feeds, including poultry feed, aquatic feed, and pet food. It provides a convenient and cost-effective way to supplement animal diets with DHA, promoting healthy growth, immunity, and overall well-being.
In today's society, people are increasingly pursuing tastier and more nutritious food while facing the depletion of natural resources. It is foreseeable that microalgae will play an increasingly important role in animal feed and eventually occupy a prominent position in the supply chain of human food.
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