Dairy Crest eyes animal feeds market with DuPont prebiotic deal

21st Dec 2016 07:51

(ShareCast News) - Dairy Crest has agreed a research partnership with DuPont to try and expand the market for its galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) byproduct, which has so far been used as a prebiotic in infant formula. The FTSE 250 company, which began manufacturing GOS from its dedicated plant in March as it looks to broaden its revenue streams outside of its core cheese and spreads, and DuPont's Danisco animal nutrition unit have agreed a research partnership to test the effectiveness of GOS for use in poultry and swine products.If all goes well, the pair hope to then agree a deal covering the distribution and sale of GOS in animal feed applications by DuPont.Last month, Dairy Crest highlighted academic research trials of GOS, which works by stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut to help animal development, had found it produced a positive impact on the growth of chickens and pigs.Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen said the deal was an important step in the development of GOS for uses beyond infant formula."I believe the potential opportunities for GOS in the animal feed market are exciting. I am therefore delighted to be working with DuPont, a company which has enormous experience in developing innovative products for animal feed."