Welcome to another Edition of the Stirling Connection bursting with information that you have always wanted to know, but been too frightened to ask. This Edition's feature story "There's an Iotic in my Food" introduces the world of non-medicated or natural food/feed additives. This article is in honour of PBI, the newest member of the Stirling Group of companies. To all those employees of PBI - welcome to Stirling, make sure you read the Newsletter - we will examine you on it later!.

For those of you who do not know who PBI is, you are obviously not reading enough of the Stirling Connection. Set on beautiful Prince Edward Island (birthplace of the legendary "Anne of Green Gables"), PBI is Stirling's entrée into the world of natural feed additives for aquaculture, livestock and companion animals and brings a new dimension to Stirling's portfolio of products. We look forward to a long and productive relationship.

On a sadder note I have to say goodbye to little Theo, who was the best little buddy of my parents. To anyone who has never had to grieve the loss of a pet that has been around for years, you have never experienced one of the hardships of life. Enjoy the Newsletter (that always sounds like a command!) and at the sake of sounding repetitious, let me know what you liked, what you didn't like, what was good and what was bad.

As some of you may know, Stirling completed the acquisition of the Canadian company Progressive BioActives Incorporated (PBI for short) in August this year (see About Town segment). This was a significant step for Stirling. Not only does it put us in the business of actually making some money (that's a nice problem to have!), but it also adds a range of different opportunities to the Stirling portfolio.

This article touches on the new dimension - the world of "iotic" compounds. Probiotics, prebiotics, immunobiotics or just plain non-medicated feed additives when it comes to animals. They are the basis of what most people know as nutraceuticals or functional foods in terms of the human diet. In animal production, they are increasingly finding their way into animal feeds because of the nutritional advantages they bestow on growing animals by providing better digestion (more efficient production) and better health (less losses due to disease). Some see these as an important step towards the removal of antibiotics fed at low concentrations to promote growth in production animals and aquaculture. So what are they exactly, what do they do and how do they fit into the "life of Stirling?"

There are three main areas of activity for these compounds - those that influence digestion, those that help to colonise the gut with "good bacteria" and those that have an effect on the immune system of the body, although they may not be exclusive from each other.

Probiotics: The beneficial effect of some bacteria on both humans and animals has been known for over thirty years. You may be familiar with such complicated names as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium and may well eat yoghurt, drink Yakult® or take a capsule full of these little gremlins. When people or animals are exposed to stress, the acidity of the digestive tract can change. This provides a more favourable environment for pathogenic ("nasty") bacteria to grow out of proportion and often results in an infection of some sort. For example when your stress levels increase, the acidity of your digestive tract changes and "bad bacteria" proliferate.

By supplementing the diet with probiotics, the natural acidity of the intestines (called a neutral pH) is restored as these bacteria replace the bad ones on the gut wall. They produce large amounts of lactic acid and are very effective in improving nutrient utilisation and maintaining minerals and other nutrients that generally improve the digestion.

Prebiotics is a term that usually refers to minerals and vitamins that are added to the diet because of known benefits these compounds have on digestion and nutrient absorption. For example, puppies are born from a sterile environment and suddenly come into the world and are exposed to a myriad of pathogenic bacteria that can cause serious infections. Their immune system is not fully developed at birth so they are at risk of sometimes life-threatening infection. In the early stages of life, they get immunity from their mother's milk by what is called passive immunity (immunity that is passed on, not developed). So at the time when they have to make it on their own (a process called weaning), they are particularly exposed. It has been found that supplementing their diet with antioxidants such as vitamin E, or beta carotene can help their immune system to grow. Other compounds such as added calcium, help bone development and so on.

Immunobiotics is a relatively new term (scientists just love to invent big names for things!) which represent compounds, molecules or extracts added to the diet that have the effect of stimulating the immune system. These are particularly exciting and it is into this category that PBI's ProVale^TM compound fits. ProVale^TM is what is called an activated beta glucan and it has shown exceptional results in increasing the productivity and immune status of poultry, swine and in particular fish and shrimp.

Animals and humans, when they become stressed or run down, tend to lose the effectiveness to fight off infections. This is because their immune system loses its punch. There are two levels of immunity - innate and acquired. Innate immunity is the frontline in infection control, but it is non-specific. You might have heard the term macrophage or white blood cells. These are major components of the innate immune system. When your body becomes infected, these cells move quickly to the site of infections and essentially start eating the infecting agent. Acquired immunity is more specific. Your body mounts a very specific and focused response to infections that has got through the "frontlines". What's fascinating about acquired immunity is that the body remembers how to do it, so next time you get the infection you are better prepared. This is the whole basis behind vaccination.

Acquired immunity however is not that good against what are called opportunistic pathogens. These are infections due to some impairment in the immune system. For example, if you get a cut and it gets infected, it is because the primary defence offered by the skin is compromised. If you get food poisoning, it is because you ingest bacteria that produce toxins that upset the normal gut flora (usually much to your detriment!).

Beta glucans are extracted from the cell walls of certain yeast. More specifically ProVale^TM, which is a beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, has been shown to stimulate the immune system such that it produces more "fighting cells" and compounds. It has also been shown to have a very significant effect by improving the protection of vaccines against specific diseases. Just as not all "oils are oils" not all "glucans are glucans". PBI has perfected the art of getting a highly purified and highly active beta glucan. Just like R-salbutamol because of its purity is more effective than its forerunner, mixed or racemic salbutamol, so too ProVale^TM is more effective than other forms of beta glucans which are less purified.

Readers should visit either the Stirling or the PBI website (www.progressivebioactives.com) to find out more specific information, but in general beta glucans have the potential to be just as good as antibiotics in protecting and promoting the growth of pigs and poultry. Unlike antibiotics which have no effect in viruses, they have a very beneficial effect on improving the action of vaccines used in the pig industry by increasing the levels of antibodies.

But wait there is more! In fish and shrimp where the immune system is not as well developed as their warm blooded animal friends (translated that means they need all the help they can get!), the immune system is heavily focused on the non-specific or innate immunity. As such ProVale^TM in trials on shrimp shows the ability to significantly enhance the immune system, adding extra protection against infection and therefore significantly improving the production yields and quality of shrimp.

Stirling is very excited about the possibilities of ProVale^TM. ProVale^TM together with R-salbutamol provides the company with representative compounds in both the areas of medicated and non-medicated feed additives not only for production animals but also for companion animals (dogs, cats and horses). (I just love it when a plan comes together). Stay tuned for further developments in the ProVale^TM story.

Ten things I've learnt in the last ten days

1.	Young people aged between 2 and 19 will be the first generation in history to have a life expectancy less than that of their parents.
2.	In order to meet the demands predicted for the world's 8 billion people projected in the year 2025, we will need to double food production from the 1.5 billion hectares of arable land available on the earth.
3.	Ninety percent of the farmers using biotechnology in some form or another are in developing countries.
4.	In 2005, biotechnology innovations doubled productivity per unit area of land, protected natural biodiversity, decreased pesticide usage by 252,000 tons and saved 9 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide (equivalent to taking 4 million cars off the road).
5.	Eighty percent of all new diseases are zoonotic (spread by or derived from animals).
6.	Biotechnology is the only single scientific discipline that can address each of the four major threats to modern civilisation - global warming, the health crisis, diminishing resource supplies and available energy forms.
7.	All the essential nutrients needed by mankind were discovered over a 40 year period in the 20th century.
8.	The complete removal of trans fats from cooking can remove 33% of cardiovascular disease, prevent 26,000 heart attacks and prevent 3,000 deaths in the United States alone each year??
9.	Up to 80% of all phosphorous fertilizer applied to soil is wasted.
10.	The black bear hibernates for four months under ice with her cubs. During this time she consumes no food but continually lactates and when she wakes up, she has an instant family that has grown on her milk alone.

 

Sweet Smelling Poop........

Scientists in Britain have been given a £700,000 grant to adapt the genes of chickens in a bid to cut down on the damage caused by the excretion of harmful chemicals in the birds' droppings. Nitrogen and phosphorous from chicken droppings help weeds to flourish and cause other pollution in the environment according the article in the Edinburgh Evening News. The scientists also hope that their remedy will reduce the odour from the droppings (that's what they need in Benson, Minnesota, see the Stirling connection Ed. #8). Now guess where the studies are being done? The Roslin Institute which made biological history by creating Dolly the world's first cloned mammal.

An Assault on Australian Integrity........

From the land that stops because of a horse race (never quite understood how a whole country becomes de-focused for a two minute horse race!), our defences have recently been challenged. Australia made world news for all the wrong reasons last month with the outbreak of horse flu. Forty seven horses were officially classified as having a cold with another 150 having suspected runny noses. The effects were far reaching - racing events in Australia and Japan were cancelled. The effects of horse flu are thankfully not as devastating as bird flu or swine flu for example and the symptoms are similar to that of human flu. Horses that are at the greatest risk are those less than three years old. Athletic horses depend on a large lung capacity to fuel the muscles with oxygen, so the effects on performance are quite devastating. Studies in America have found that respiratory problems were the third leading cause of lost work days in the horse population (not good news for the horse, but great news for Stirling's Equine company Pulmovet that is developing treatments for equine respiratory disorders.)

Logic or Sweet Revenge?........

There have been several stories over the last few months concerning the rejection of US pork from China because it supposedly contains unacceptable levels of ractopamine. Now I never thought I would be defending our #1 competitor but this just baffles me. China has rejected several shipments of US pork because it contains traces (and I mean traces) of ractopamine. Ractopamine, or Paylean as it is better known, is permitted in 23 countries around the world but is banned in China. This is the same country where high levels of beta agonists are readily available on the "black market" and the same country that recently set the pet food industry on fire over the melamine contamination. In Taiwan, Paylean is known as "lean meat essence". Taiwan also rejected two shipments of pork containing traces of ractopamine as low as 0.15 parts per billion, despite local levels of ractopamine in pork measured at almost twice that level. According to two international organisations, this equates to a human having to eat in excess of 250 kg of pork to get sick. We have measured the levels of R-salbutamol and found that significantly more pork than this would need to be eaten, to even get to the same daily dose of salbutamol given to humans every day as medication. (You've got to wonder what the motive is!)

Stirling's Press Releases in 50 Words or Less

July 30, Distribution Agreements for US Markets - Stirling Products North America signed a distribution agreement with major innovative US integrated aquaculture feed company. In a separate agreement, royalty payments were negotiated as part of a licensing agreement with US company, BioAgra.

August 22, Results of General Meeting - A General Meeting of the Company, conducted on Wednesday August 22 2007, approved the purchase of the total shareholding of Progressive BioActives Inc. in Canada. The purchase was divided into a cash component over the next 18 months and issue of shares in STI.

August 27, Stirling starts revenue stream in North America - Signified the completion of closing documents for the purchase of PBI and the immediate generation of revenues. The announcement also alluded to the commitment of the Stirling Board to increase the manufacturing potential at the PBI facility in Prince Edward Island in preparation for further development of sales revenue.

September 11, Stirling Gains a new INAD Number for Heaves Project - Stirling announced that on behalf of its 50:50 joint venture company Pulmovet, it would commence further trials in the US on horses with heaves, following the approval an Investigational New Drug Application number (INAD) from the FDA. The trials to commence in October will trial a new steroid to complement R-salbutamol.

September 28, Premier of Prince Edward Island visits Stirling North America - PEI's Premier, the Honourable Robert Ghiz, visited Stirling's North American plant in Charlottetown, PEI. Stirling also announced that it was on track to complete the first phase of its scale-up plan for PBI by the end of October and acknowledged the pledge of the PEI Province to support the Bioscience Industry.

October 2, Stirling Files New Intellectual Property for Effective Replacement of Antibiotics for Growth Agents - A patent application has been filed in the United States for the combined activity of R-salbutamol and purified Beta Glucan. This is hoped to be the start of an innovative solution for production of livestock that does not depend on the use of antibiotics.

October 4, Broiler Production Trial with R-salbutamol - The first production trial with R-salbutamol produced significant increases in the amount of lean meat per bird; 9% in breast meat and 8% in leg muscle.  This occurred over a shorter period (16 days) compared to previous trials (21 days) potentially leading to significant gains for the producer.

Stirling Visits the Canadian Consulate - Stirling and PBI signed the final agreements for share purchase of PBI on August 24, 2007 at the Canadian Consulate in Sydney. Stirling was originally introduced to PBI by Mr Stephen Chase of the Canadian Trade Commission, so it seemed an appropriate touch. During the visit the Canadian Consul General (Mr Rick Kohler) described the Stirling/PBI merger as "one of the success stories of 2007 in terms of bioscience progress between Australia and Canada".

Left to Right: Rick McElrea (Consul and Senior Investment Counsellor) Brian Wilkins (Deputy Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner) Calvin London (CEO & Managing Director Stirling Products) Rick Kohler (Consul General) Clive Page (Chairman, Board of Directors, Stirling Products) Shane Patelakis (President & CEO, Stirling Products North America) Stephen Chase (Consul and Trade Commissioner)

Stirling Goes to ABIC (September 23 -26, 2007) - Stirling North America was represented at this year's Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference in Calgary, Canada. Mr Shane Patelakis (CEO of PBI and President of Stirling North America, middle), Mr Reid Barnett (Business Development for Stirling North America, right) and Dr Calvin London (left) lead the way in terms of Australian/Canadian Bioscience.



Innovet Conference October (Oct. 14 -16, 2007) - Stirling has been invited to present at the Innovet conference in Prince Edward Island. Stirling will join a number of prestigious animal health companies in presentations at the conference. The conference, which is attracting the likes of Novartis, Hills Pet Nutrition, Burrill & Company and Peptec (from Australia), is focused on animal health developments.

Interview with Tom Murrell - Stirling's CEO was recently interviewed by Mr Tom Murrell of 8M Media as part of a case study to be presented in a number of south-east Asian countries on investor relations. You can hear extracts of the interview at http://www.8mmedia.com and by following the links to the Newsletter or hear the full interview on the Stirling website http://www.stirlingproducts.net/information/Media.

Tia says "I've Got a Bone to Pick With You"

Hello everyone, for those you who don't know me I am Tia - love of my mum and dad's life. Because I am so loved, I have my own section of the newsletter so that I can talk to you "human to human" and give you real scoop on different things. What a time I have had since I last spoke to you. I have been in a fashion parade for dogs and even got my photo on the side of a rubbish bin in Cottesloe on the beach! (see photo).

I've also been to the country and seen the biggest dog in my life. These thing produce so much poop that even my new "you-beaut" pet loo could not cope with these suckers! Dad says they are cows, but I think they are just really big dogs!

Life has not all been roses though. I managed to get hold of a lamb cutlet bone the other day and because I did not want anyone else to steal it, I swallowed it straight down, no chewing required - just went straight down. Mum and Dad were not pleased because I heard them on the phone to the vet. It is never good when they talk to the vet - bad things always happen! Sure enough next morning, me not feel so good. I had to go the emergency hospital for animals. I don't like hospitals. They put me to sleep twice in one day. My Dad says I was really lucky; they managed to get the bone out through my throat and mouth, all 7 centimetres of it! I'm OK now but I have told mum and dad, no more bones for me!

Anyway till next time, let me leave you with four good reasons to get a dog and not one of those pesky cats. Thank you to the lady that sent this in to me.

1. If you want someone who is willing to make a fool of themself simply over the joy to see you, buy a dog.
2. If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of them and never complains, buy a dog.
3. If you want someone who is content to be on your bed warming your feet and who you can push off when they snore, buy a dog.
4. If you want someone who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of your attention and loves you unconditionally, buy a dog.

But if you want someone who never comes when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to sleep, eat and drink....buy a cat!

A Little Bit of Humour To Finish Off:

Bad Jokes Never to Be Told In Public......

What happens when a boy reaches puberty? He says goodbye to his boyhood and hello to adultery.

A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm. He says "I'll have a beer and one for the road."

An invisible man marries an invisible woman. Their kids were nothing to look at either.

A women has twins and gives them up for adoption, one of them goes to Egypt to a family that calls him Amahl. The other goes to a family in Spain and is called Juan. Years later Juan sends a picture of himself to his long lost mother. Upon receiving the picture she tells her husband that she wishes she had a picture of Amahl. Her husband says, "They're twins, if you've seen Juan you have seen Amahl."

The Last of To God from the Dog......

Things I must remember:

Dear God: I will not play tug of war with Dad's underwear while he is on the toilet.

Dear God: Sticking my nose into someone's crutch is not an acceptable way of saying hello.

Dear God: The cat is not a squeaky toy, so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.


The Three Little Pigs......

Three Little Pigs went out to dinner one night. The waiter came and took their drink order. "I would like a Sprite," said the first little piggy. "I would like a Coke," said the second little piggy. "I want beer, lots and lots of beer," said the third little piggy. The drinks were brought out and the waiter took their orders for dinner. "I want a nice big steak," said the first piggy. "I would like the salad plate," said the second piggy. "I want beer, lots and lots of beer," said the third little piggy. The meals were brought out and a while later the waiter approached the table and asked if the piggies would like any dessert. "I want a banana split," said the first piggy. "I want a cheesecake," said the second piggy. "I want beer, lots and lots of beer," exclaimed the third little piggy. "Pardon me for asking," said the waiter to the third little piggy, "But why have you only ordered beer all evening?" You're going to LOVE me for this.... The third piggy says - "Well, somebody has to go wee, wee, wee, all the way home!"

(Definitely time to go....... See you next Edition).