Yucca extract has been used in animal feed for decades, and the question buyers ask most often is a simple one: at what inclusion rate? This page gives the use rates by species that are conventionally quoted in the feed trade, together with the composition and specification information needed to fix a purchase specification.
What the ingredient is
Yucca extract is produced from the stems and leaves of Yucca schidigera, a desert plant of the Agavaceae. The extract is standardised on its saponin content, a group of steroidal saponins - principally sarsasapogenin and smilagenin glycosides - together with the polyphenolic fraction known as yuccaols and a range of free sugars. It is the saponin fraction that the specification is written around, and grades are normally quoted as a percentage of saponins.
General use rates
The figures below are the conventional inclusion rates for Yucca schidigera extract in compound feed. They are starting points for a trial rather than fixed values: the appropriate rate depends on the saponin content of the grade used, the species, the diet and the objective, so the rate should be confirmed against the specification of the material supplied.
| Species | Inclusion rate |
| Poultry | 100 – 150 g / tonne of feed |
| Swine - nursing sows | 120 g / tonne |
| Swine - starters | 120 g / tonne |
| Swine - growers | 100 g / tonne |
| Swine - finishers | 60 g / tonne |
| Cattle - beef | 400 – 800 mg / head / day |
| Cattle - dairy | 800 mg / head / day |
| Pets | 250 g / tonne (most applications) |
| Shrimp and aquaculture | 200 – 300 g / tonne |
Specification
| Item | Value |
| Botanical name | Yucca schidigera |
| Part used | Stems and leaves |
| Active fraction | Saponins |
| Saponin content | Standard market grades available; custom standardisation on request |
| Appearance | Fine powder, light brown |
| Solubility | Water-soluble |
| Test method | UV / HPLC |
| Packaging | 25 kg fibre drum with food-grade inner liner |
| Documents | COA, MSDS, specification sheet |
Standard market grades are available, and custom specifications can be produced to order. Exact parameters are confirmed per order and stated in the batch Certificate of Analysis.
Handling and blending
The extract is water-soluble and is normally added to the premix stage rather than the finished feed, so that it is distributed evenly through the batch. Saponin-containing powders are fine and light, and standard dust-control practice applies during weighing and blending. Inclusion rate and premix carrier should be confirmed against the grade supplied, because a lower-saponin material needs a proportionally higher dose to deliver the same saponin intake per tonne of feed.
Quality documentation
Manufacturing is carried out under ISO9001, ISO22000, FSSC22000, HACCP, cGMP and FAMI-QS management systems, and the product range is certified for HALAL, KOSHER, NOP and EOS (organic) where applicable. Certificates are available on request. Each batch is released against a Certificate of Analysis. Buyers should confirm the regulatory status of the grade in the destination market before finalising the label.
Related products
Animal-nutrition grades are listed on the yucca extract powder product page. A saponin-standardised feed grade is listed as yucca plant extract powder 30% saponins. Sea buckthorn seed powder is supplied for the same customer base.
Samples and enquiries
Evaluation samples are available for qualified enquiries, and bulk quantities are quoted against the required specification. Contact us at liu@wellgreenxa.com with the species, saponin grade and intended inclusion rate, and we will confirm the specification, packaging and delivery schedule.
This page describes an industrial botanical ingredient for business-to-business use. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and is not intended for direct consumer use.
