Canterbury company crowdfunds cow prebiotic

23/09/2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canterbury company crowdfunds cow prebiotic

Canterbury researchers from Knewe Biosystems Limited will launch an equity crowdfunding campaign on 25 September to scale-up significant improvements in livestock health, welfare and on-farm profitability.

A little-understood link between food manufacturing and gut chemistry has enabled this Canterbury-based start-up to develop and patent a scientifically-proven prebiotic supplement to improve the digestive ability of cows and other livestock.

“Although the concept of prebiotics to improve rumen function is well known, existing products only help to reduce methane output,” says Dr Graeme Coles, Technical Director of Knewe Biosystems Limited.

“What’s different about our product is that it helps the gut flora do their job more effectively. So animals are able to extract more nutrients from the same amount of feed, making them healthier, more productive and more profitable for the farmer.”

Knewe Biosystems Limited already has strong evidence showing that knewe™ prebiotics provide direct economic returns of 2–3 times the cost of the product.

“Over the last few years we have run two on-farm dairy trials in Southland, New Zealand. We gave cows our recommended daily dose of 400g per day. As well as benefiting from optimum magnesium levels, a faster recovery after calving and a good balance of weight gain to milk solids production, the cows also produced better quality milk through better feed use and less waste.

“In autumn, the trialled cows gave a 15% increase in milk solids. In spring on pasture, there was an increase of 23%. Based on a dairy farm with 400 cows, that’s an estimated $250,000 of extra profit per annum, or up to $1.70 profit per cow, per day.

From on-farm observations in North Canterbury the researchers believe that similar gains in condition and performance are possible in beef cattle – currently the subject of a further trial – and perhaps also in sheep and deer.”

With a collective experience of over 150 years in science, dairy and farming, the next step for Knewe Biosystems Limited is a month-long equity crowdfunding campaign, beginning on Sunday 25 September.

“Because the dairy industry is such a huge part of New Zealand’s economy – and a sector close to our hearts – we’re equity crowdfunding to get our prebiotics off the ground and into New Zealand farms first, starting in the South Island,” says Dr Coles.

“We’re confident in the data from our trial results, we understand the science behind these results and we’re keen to share the advantages of our products more widely with New Zealand farmers.”

ENDS

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