How to Choose Potassium diformate in livestock nutrition?

As a result, research is continually being conducted to study alternatives for replacing antibiotics. Alternatives under studying range from herbs, probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids to chemical supplements and management tools. Numerous studies have demonstrated that formic acid is effective against pathogenic bacteria. In practice, however, due to the problems of handling, strong odor and corrosion to feed processing and feeding and drinking equipment, its use is limited. To overcome the problems, potassium diformate (K-diformate) has received attention as an alternative to formic acid because it is easier to handle than the pure acid, while it has been shown effective in enhancing growth performance of both weaner and grower-finisher pigs. A study conducted by researchers at the Agricultural University of Norway (J. Anim. Sci. . 78:-) showed that dietary supplementation of K-diformate at 0.6-1.2% levels improved growth performance, carcass quality and meat safety in grower-finisher pigs without negative effects on sensory pork quality. It was also showed that unlike K-diformate supplementation of Ca/Na-formate had no effects at all on growth and carcass quality.

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In this study, a total of three experiments were conducted. In experiment one, 72 pigs (23.1 kg initial body weight and 104.5 kg body weight) were assigned to three diet treatments (Control, 0.85% Ca/Na-formate and 0.85% K-diformate). Results showed that the K-diformate diet increased overall average daily gain (ADG) but had no effect on average daily feed intake (ADFI) or gain/feed (G/F) ratio. Carcass lean or fat content was not affected by either K-diformate or Ca/Na-formate.

In experiment two, 10 pigs (initial BW: 24.3 kg, final BW: 85.1 kg) were used to study the effect of K-diformate on performance and sensory quality of pork. All the pigs were on a limit-fed feeding regime and fed the same diets except for adding 0.8% K-diformate in the treatment group. Results showed that supplementing K-diformate to diets increase ADG and G/F, but it had no effect on sensory quality of the pork.

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In experiment three, 96 pigs (initial BW: 27.1 kg, final BW: 105kg) were assigned to three diet treatments, containing 0, 0.6% and 1.2% K-diformate respectively, to study the effect of supplementing K-diformate in diets on growth performance, carcass traits and, microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. The results showed that supplementation of K-diformate at 0.6% and 1.2% level increased growth performance, reduced fat content and improved carcass lean percentage. It was found that adding K-diformate reduced the number of coliforms in gastrointestinal tract of the pigs, therefore, improving pork safety.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of authorisation of potassium diformate for all animal species. The additive was initially evaluated in and re‐evaluated by the Panel in , with the conclusion that the additive (i) was safe for the target species, the consumer and the environment when used under the proposed conditions; (ii) was an eye irritant and (iii) had the potential to increase the storage time of raw fish and fish by‐products for feed use in a dose‐dependent manner at low temperature. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use of potassium diformate under the approved conditions of use remains safe for consumers and the environment, and that it is an eye irritant. Due to the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel could not conclude on the potential of the additive to be a skin irritant or a respiratory or dermal sensitiser. Regarding the safety for the target species, the FEEDAP Panel considered that the mixture of different sources of potassium diformate remains safe for use in sows’ feed under the approved conditions of use (12,000 mg/kg complete feed). However, based on a tolerance trial, the Panel concluded that the maximum safe level of potassium diformate in weaned piglets should be reduced to 6,000 mg/kg complete feed and the same conclusion was extended to pigs for fattening. Owing to the lack of information provided, the Panel could not conclude on the safety of the additive for species other than pigs under the approved conditions. The present application does not include a proposal for amending or supplementing the conditions of the original authorisation that would have an impact on the efficacy of the additive.