Opuntia TEX-OE^® Products

Pro-Tex Koi™ (Commercialised by Bradan Ltd.)

Bradan Pro-Tex Koi™ (supplied by Bradan Ltd) is a natural supplement containing scientifically proven chaperone stimulating compounds derived from the edible fruit of the Opuntia ficus indica, a tropical cactus.

It is specially formulated for support of Koi carp and aquarium fish during periods of stress resulting from handling, clinical examination, transport, introduction to new surroundings or other unusual circumstances.

Bradan Pro-Tex Koi™ is a supplement containing highly concentrated TEX-OE^®, a patented extract of the prickly pear fruit (Opuntia ficus indica), which accelerates ‘chaperone’ production in fish. Chaperones are integral to a body’s response to all forms of stress, but take many hours to develop. By using Pro-Tex Koi™ to stimulate chaperone production, one will reduce the effects of stress on the fish so that they can recover quickly. TEX-OE^® is registered as a traditional food stuff in the European Union and is widely used in human and animal food supplementation.

Scientifically tested in farmed fish, aquarium fish and Koi, Pro-Tex Koi™ is already widely used in salmon and sea bass farms to provide cover for all stressful events. Pro-Tex Koi™ is non toxic and safe for any filter system, and is absorbed through the gills and gut to initiate high levels of chaperone production and maintain them for three days. Read More..

PHC–OE (Commercialised by Poultry Health Centre)

PHC–OE is a natural supplement containing scientifically proven chaperone stimulating compounds derived from the edible fruit of the Opuntia ficus indica, a tropical cactus. PHC-OE promotes the synthesis of heat shock proteins, which protect the bird from stressors such as vaccination, racing and shows.

Read More ?? [http://www.poultryhealthcentre.com/mainpages/Products/Products.htm#oe] ??

AFTex™ (Commercialised by AFS Animal Care Limited)

AFTEX™ contains a natural product called TEX-OE^® that is extracted, purified and developed for both human and animal use. AFTex™ is used in the poultry industry to improve the feed conversion ratio (FCR), final weight and survival of broilers.

The Effects of TEX-OE® on Broilers

A number of studies have been carried out to demonstrate the effect of TEX-OE^®, an extract derived from the prickly pear cactus Opuntia ficus indica on the growth performance and conversion of broilers. Broiler chicks were given a dose of TEX-OE^® (based on their biomass) on day one, in the first drink when they arrive on the farm and on day 4.

The dose of TEX-OE^® was determined based on the average chick weight and number of chicks. TEX-OE^® was used at a dose of 1ml per 10Kg biomass.

The TEX-OE^® was administered through the drinking water. The drinker lines were run dry prior the introduction of the birds to the bird houses, the quantity of TEX-OE^® was calculated based on biomass and mixed with water either in the header tank or in a dositron. The water was then introduced into the drinking lines to be consumed by the chicks on their arrival at the farm. This operation was carried out on day 1. The quantity of water that was used was determined to be sufficient for approximately 4 hours of drinking thus ensuring that all the birds would have had a dose of TEX-OE^® within the first 4 hours of arrival on the farm. This operation was repeated on day 4 but the drinker lines were not run dry as the birds were drinking regularly at this stage. Again the dose of TEX-OE^® was calculated according to biomass and administered through the drinking water over a period of 4 hours.

The performance in terms of average live weight, % mortalities and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were determined and used as a marker of performance. Cost benefit analysis was carried out based on current cost of feed and live weight.

Four farms were chosen and a number of trials were carried out on each farm. In most cases a number of houses were treated with TEX-OE^® on day 1 and day 4 and a similar number of houses were not treated with TEX-OE^® (control houses). The birds in the treated and control houses were matched as closely as possible in terms of sex, parent flock age and number of birds in the houses. In some cases where this was not possible; performance criteria based on the farm standard were used to evaluate the performance of TEX-OE^®.

In total four farms were used in this study and ten trials were carried out. The total number of birds used was 804,597 as control and 878,671 treated with TEX-OE^®. Statistical analysis was carried out using a statistics package (SPSS) to determine statistically significance where possible.

Results

Out of the 10 trials carried out there were only 5 trials where there were even numbers of treated and control houses with sufficient number of replicates to allow for statistical analysis.

Out of the 5 trials, there were 3 trials where a statistically significant difference at the 95 % confidence limit was observed in one of the parameters measured. There was tremendous range in the standard error between the different trials and individual houses. This variation overshadowed most of the statistical significance. There was difference in performance observed between the treated and control houses in favor of the TEX-OE^® treatment in all the parameters studied, but it was not possible to determine statistical significance in all three parameters.

Because of the tremendous variations in the standard error, the data from the five trials was pooled to try and even out some of these variations. Statistical analysis was carried out on the pooled data using SPSS.

The results of this analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in FCR at the 95 % confidence limit. There was also a difference in the % mortality and live weight but these were not statistically significant.

Table showing averages and standard error for the combined data of % mortality, live weight in kilogram and FCR. The difference in FCR is significant at the 95 % confidence level.

Conclusion

The final step in the development of TEX-OE^® prior to market launch for use in poultry is industrial scale trials where the product is used under routine production conditions. This report is the summary of this study based on over one and a half million birds under such conditions.

In such studies using such large number of birds, it is not always possible to pair houses identically, even though one tries to match the houses as closely as possible. Also it is not always possible to divide the farm in such a manner to allow the data collected to be compared accurately using classic statistical techniques. In spite of these limitations, farmers insist on doing these trials as they are a true evaluation of product in the field and give the best indication as to how a product may perform on industrial scale use.

TEX-OE^® was assessed under these conditions and the results indicate that there is statistically significant difference at the 95 % confidence level in FCR. On average there is a difference in favour of TEX-OE^® in FCR of 0.0626. There was a difference (not statistically significant) in the % mortalities; there was on average 0.8 % more mortality in the control population. There was a difference (not statistically significant) in the live weight; the treated birds were on average 99 g or 0.22 lb heavier than the control birds.

The combined net effect of these 3 parameters and the differences in the averages of the results obtained all in favour of TEX-OE^® (even though not all statistically significant) have a very significant economic impact on chicken husbandry.

When and how should AFTex™ be used

1. To day old chicks to minimise stresses.
2. At day 4 to aid good early body weight gain.
3. Prior move from hatchery to on growing farm.
4. As an aid to minimising post vaccination reactions.
5. During periods of extreme weather conditions (hot or cold).
6. Prior to transportation
7. During any potentially stressful procedure

Administration

AFTex™ is very soluble forming a clear suspension when mixed with the drinking water in the header tank. AFTEX™ should be mixed thoroughly in the header tank to ensure that there is even dosing of all the birds.

To determine the quantity of bird biomass that needs to be treated (Total Body Mass), multiply the weight of a bird at a set age by the total number of birds. One millilitre of AFTex™ is sufficient to treat 10 Kg of Total Body Mass. AFTex™ comes in two bottle sizes, 30ml sufficient to treat 300 Kg Total Body Mass and 50 ml sufficient to treat 500 Kg Total Body Biomass.

COPRITEX (Commercialised by COPRI)

COPRITEX contains TEX-OE^®, an active extract from the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica). Its role is to stimulate chaperone activity, and thus reduce the deleterious effects caused by stress. COPRITEX is mostly employed for competition and farmed animals. It should be added to the drinking water, twice a week, at a rate of 10ml / 100Kg of body mass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFTex was awarded for Innovation at The Pig and Poultry Fair May 2004