Tasco® is a functional food/feed type of animal product that is both natural and organically certified. It is manufactured from a specific species of macroalgae and has GRAS status enabling it to be safely fed to all classes of livestock with no withdrawal times.
With over 20 years of research by Acadian AgriTech, Tasco® has been shown to be particularly effective in improving the productivity of animal production systems. Research has shown that the benefits of feeding Tasco® are not species specific to just ruminants or monogastrics but similar effects are seen in all species of animals tested so far.
Immunity
Numerous research studies have concluded that appropriate feeding of Tasco® to animals has the general effect of enhancing the animal’s own immune system. This serves to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with stresses such as animal transport, mixing and exposure to chronic disease. Although not an antibiotic or drug, Tasco® seems to induce or stimulate the animal’s own immune system to reduce the negative effects of such stressors and maintain growth and productivity. Tasco® seems to be particularly effective in young animals that are heavily challenged. Research has shown that Tasco® may be an important management tool to use in weaner pig production, stocker calf assembly and dairy calf production.
Reproduction
Tasco® seems to enhance reproductive efficiency particularly in cattle where the most research has been done. One consistent effect of adding Tasco® to animal management programs has been an increase in body condition scores, even under situations of high productivity in both beef and dairy cattle. Preliminary data suggests that Tasco® may have a powerful prebiotic action altering GI-tract microbial balance and GI-tract integrity. These changes have been associated with increased organic matter digestibility, at least in ruminants. Increased body nutritional reserves along with improving the animal’s health and resistance to disease could be enough to improve reproductive efficiency, particularly during times of high stress or productivity.
Food Safety
Tasco® has been shown to be an effective tool to reduce the shedding of pathogenic bacteria associated with serious food safety concerns. Research has shown that in beef cattle, Tasco® not only reduces shedding of E coli O157:H7, the deadly “hamburger disease” microbe but it also reduces the viability of the bacteria when shed into the environment, possibly reducing the potential for water and crop contamination from manure. Preliminary research has also shown that Tasco® may reduce shedding of Salmonella in poultry feces and the infiltration of Camphyobacter into poultry tissue. Although more research is required, it appears that Tasco® may be another effective tool that has the potential to improve the safety of our food production systems.
Carcass and Meat Quality
Although the exact mechanism is not known, research has shown that Tasco® administration to growing animals acts to increase the value of the carcass by improving carcass grade. In addition, Tasco® administration during the finishing period improves meat color scores, increases marbling and prolongs shelf life appearance. Also associated with these improvements are increases in water retention, reducing cooler shrink and drip losses. Research in both beef and pig production indicate that when Tasco® is administered as part of the management program, the economic benefits for these parameters alone may be enough to pay for the extra cost of Tasco®.
|
