October 27, 2015
Evonik''s methione plant in Alabama starts production of Mepron®
Evonik started production of Mepron at its Mobile, Alabama, site in the US, on Monday, October 26, it was announced. Mepron is a formulation of the amino acid methionine specially developed for dairy cows by the Animal Nutrition Business Line.
"With this investment, we strengthen our position in North America as a leading company to offer innovative solutions to the market. This investment opens up new growth opportunities for the Animal Nutrition business and for Evonik in North America," said Dr Ralph Sven Kaufmann, member of the executive board and COO of Evonik.
Dr Emmanuel Auer, head of the Animal Nutrition Business Line at Evonik, explained that the US "is our most important sales market for Mepron. So, it was important for us to serve our customers out of our new own production facility".
The US has the world''s largest stock of high-yielding dairy cows and produces about 12.5 percent of the world''s milk.
High methionine requirements
High-yielding dairy cows have particularly high methionine requirements which, in conventional animal feeding, are covered by protein-containing feeds. In contrast, Mepron in dairy cow rations reduces the amount of crude protein in feeds, with no loss of output. This in turn reduces feed costs, eases metabolism in the animals, and reduces nitrogen excretion. "In this way we''re contributing to more sustainable milk production, from which all sides benefit," Auer said.
Methionine counts among what are known as essential amino acids, which higher organisms must ingest with their food. Without adequate methionine dairy cows cannot optimally metabolise the protein in their feeds. Methionine must, however, be specially "packaged" for ruminants so that it reaches the small intestine of the cow, where it can be absorbed. Without such a protective coating, it would be already degraded by microorganisms in the first stomach.
Evonik''s Nutrition & Care Segment produces and markets four essential amino acids for advanced animal nutrition: MetAMINO, Biolys, ThreAMINO, and TrypAMINO. Mepron, a protected DL-methionine for high-yielding dairy cows, and CreAMINO, a high-grade creatine source, complete the product portfolio.
The Animal Nutrition Business Line has over 60 years of experience in the manufacture of essential amino acids for animal nutrition, serving the needs of its customers in over 100 countries.