Non-antibiotic growth promoter for monogastric farm animals

Feed additives assist in boosting the monogastric Fanimal immune system through maintaining homeostasis of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract is a vital immune organ that encompasses roughly 70% of the total immune cells of the body. Apart from the above, feed additives regulate gut flora, reduce weaning stress and other environmental challenges on piglets and pigs respectively.

- Sanjib Borah, Simson Soren and Kuleswan Pame

With the increased awareness of potential negative impact on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in diets fed to pigs resulted in an increased interest in producing pigs without using antibiotic growth promoters. However, to avoid the use of antibiotic growth promoters from diet for pigs, changes in management and nutritional strategies may be required to improve the pigs' ability to prevent pathogenic bacteria from colonizing the intestinal system. This can be achieved through preventing the pathogens from adhering to intestinal mucosa or releasing toxins, and thus, reduce the damaging effects of the pathogens on host. Recently, researched alternatives of antibiotic additives to include in feed are organic/ inorganic acids, high levels of zinc (Zn)/ copper (Cu), essential oils, herbs and spices, different types of prebiotics, probiotics, bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, feeding strategies that influence different aspects of health leading to improved productive performances from monogasteic farm animals.

1. Acidifiers

Dietary acidifiers are organic or inorganic acids or its salts. Acidifiers create a favorable gut environment for beneficial microbes that result in increased nutrient digestibility and absorption, increased growth performance, and reduce piglet diarrhea. The following are mechanisms to increased growth performance in pigs

I Decreased or stabilized gastric pH may lead to increased activity of digestive enzymes (pepsin).

ii. Modulation and alteration of the gut microflora may inhibit pathogens.