Evaluating a Platinum Premix for Vitamin Stability in a Commercial Feed Mill Over Six Months

We evaluated the stability of vitamins and enzymes in a proposed Platinum Premix. The combination of various additives into one premix allow for more flexibility in microbin space in the feed mill, among other advantages. In this case, the customer had been using a vitamin premix with RONOZYME HiPhos (M) phytase, and questioned whether the inclusion of inorganic minerals (combination of oxides and sulfates), betaine, and NSP enzymes would impact the stability of the various components. 

A total of eight premixes were evaluated:

1.       Vitamin + phytase premix (control)

2.       Premix #1 + NSP enzyme 1

3.       Premix #1 + betaine

4.       Premix #1 + inorganic minerals

5.       Premix #1 + inorganic minerals + betaine

6.       Premix #1 + inorganic minerals + betaine + NSP enzyme 1

7.       Premix #1 + NSP enzyme 2

8.       Premix #1 + inorganic minerals + betaine + NSP enzyme 2

The premixes were stored in a commercial feed mill in the Midwest for six months under ambient conditions. Samples were taken every four weeks from June through Dec 2016. The stability of vitamins A, D, E, thiamin, riboflavin, B6 and phytase of the premixes was evaluated through the heat of the summer and into the winter.  Premixes 5, 6 and 8 would be expected to be the most destructive to vitamins and enzymes because betaine was present in all three. Betaine is hygroscopic (attracts moisture), and in combination with inorganic minerals and moisture, can lead to oxidation and reduction chemical reactions.  Such reactions can wreak havoc with various organic components such as the vitamins and enzymes.

After two months (60-days) storage, no premix experienced a loss of any vitamin beyond 10%, which could be within the realm of normal sampling and analytical variability. Most premixes are used within a 60-day period.

Tables 1 and 2 highlight the stability (expressed as % of claim) for premixes 6 and 8, the two premixes with all combinations.  For premix 6, recovery of the vitamins was very good, being 91 to 103%.  The exception was riboflavin with a 75% recovery at the end of 6 months.  This is probably an aberration of sampling or analytics, because prior to the last sampling, riboflavin showed no propensity for loss.

For premix 8, all vitamins experienced good recovery after 6 months storage. Vitamin A was the exception, having 76 and 80% of claim at the 5- and 6-month sampling periods, suggesting some loss was taking place after a prolonged storage period.

Premix 3 contained betaine (without trace minerals) and had the lowest recovery of vitamin A, which after 6 months was at 72% of the target level. Vitamin A suffered the most loss of the vitamins, ranging from 72 to 89% of the target level across all premixes (Figure 1). Vitamin A is one of the most sensitive vitamins when exposed to temperature, oxygen, light, and humidity.  Without the presence of trace minerals, this loss was surprising.

The phytase loss ranged from 0 to 20% with the greatest reduction in phytase stability (20%) in premix 4, which contained only inorganic minerals (with vitamins).

Overall, after 6 months of storage, minimal losses in vitamins occurred in these different premix combinations under commercial conditions in the feed mill were minimal, with the exception of vitamin A.  This supports the concept behind Platinum Premixes.

Figure 1. Vitamin A recovery in 8 different premixes after 6 months of storage in a commercial feed mill.

Please contact your dsm-firmenich representative with any questions.