Umami Boost in prestarters and starters for piglets

Challenge

A well-established European feed company, operating for years in the livestock feeding sector, faced the challenge of reconciling two objectives:

• improving the economic efficiency of its products (prestarter and starter feeds for piglets)
• maintaining or enhancing feed quality in the eyes of increasingly aware and demanding breeders.

Solution

We started the collaboration by analyzing formulations and testing the performance of Umami Boost – HiProMine’s proprietary component designed to improve:

• palatability,
• digestibility,
•  feed intake.

Together with the client:

• we reviewed formulas for optimization potential,
• identified the possibility of reducing production costs by up to PLN 50 per ton of starter and PLN 80 per ton of prestarter.

We agreed to conduct production-scale trials that would validate effectiveness not only in laboratory settings but, above all, under real farm conditions.

Results

In field trials conducted with piglet groups fed diets containing Umami Boost:

• feed intake increased,
• mortality declined,
• weight gains improved,
• overall health of the piglets was clearly better than in the control groups.

These outcomes persuaded the feed producer to implement the new formulation permanently.

Effect

A new line of prestarters and starters based on Umami Boost has been launched. Reception has been very positive:

• breeders quickly noticed the difference,
• opted for the new feed more often,
• many declared they didn’t want to go back to previous solutions.

The combination of better production performance and tangible economic benefits led to success for both the producer and its clients.

Key Components

• Umami Boost – a functional insect-based feed component
• Rich in bioactive fractions, amino acids, and peptides
• Supports digestion, immunity, and feed intake

Microbiologically stable, GMO-free and antibiotic-free.

Summary

The collaboration with a European feed producer confirmed that Umami Boost is not merely an alternative, but a genuine technological advantage. This component allows for formulation cost optimization without compromising quality, while delivering visible benefits to breeders: improved health outcomes, higher gains, and noticeably increased feed intake by piglets.

The full collaboration process – from recipe analysis, through production trials, to data interpretation in close partnership – proved decisive. This approach shows that innovation in animal nutrition is not just about the ingredient, but about skillfully implementing knowledge and experience.

Thanks to Umami Boost, the producer gained not only a better product, but also market trust and a tangible competitive advantage.