Dairy Crest has announced a research partnership with Danisco Animal Nutrition, part of DuPont’s Industrial Biosciences business.

Under the partnership agreement, Danisco Animal Nutrition will support further product development and trials, commencing in January 2017. These trials will ascertain the efficacy of Dairy Crest’s galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) for use in poultry and swine. The trial results will influence further discussions on a potential arrangement for the distribution and sale of GOS in animal feed applications by DuPont.

Dairy Crest has been producing GOS, a prebiotic used in infant formula, at its Davidstow plant since March, and has been exploring other market opportunities for GOS. At its interim results announcement in November, Dairy Crest showed the positive impact GOS had in academic research trials on the growth of chickens and pigs. GOS works by stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut to help animal development.

“This marks an important step in the development of GOS for uses beyond infant formula,” said Dairy Crest’s Chief Executive, Mark Allen. “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.”