Food Additives Mortality in young pigs REDUCED
To enhance the effectiveness of nutrients Young pre-ruminant calves and non-
and exert their effects in the gut or on the ruminants – responds to growth-promoting
gut wall cells. antibiotics.
Since ruminants depend primarily on
ANTIBIOTICS bacteria in the rumen for their nutrient
In small amount; chemical compound that supply, the use of antibiotics in ruminant
halt the growth of bacteria. diets might be considered to be
In therapeutic level (by injection/food/water); disadvantageous.
treat diseases caused by bacteria. Ionophore/Monensin sodium (antibiotic) –
Subtherapeutic level; added to food to effective with low roughage (high
enhance rate of growth. concentrate) diets. Controls undesirable
Produced by microorganisms (fungi) and bacteria in rumen without disturbing the
also synthesised in laboratory. overall fermentation. Improves efficiency of
Various groups of antibiotics act in different food conversion. Decrease amino acid
ways to reduce the numbers of specific degradation. Propionic acid spare amino
bacteria in the gut and thereby increase the acids for gluconeogenesis.
efficiency of nutrient utilisation. Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics:
How Antibiotics Act: because of widespread use, resistant
1. reduction or elimination of the activity of bacterial strains evolve, transfer resistance
pathogenic bacteria that may cause to other strains of populations of bacteria
subclinical infection This resistance limited the effectiveness of
2. elimination of bacteria that produce toxins antibiotic treatment.
that reduce the growth of the host animal Concern: if such bacteria gain resistance,
3. stimulation of the growth of microorganisms disease becomes untreatable.
that synthesise unidentified nutrients Copper: enhances growth of pig via
4. reduction of the growth of microorganisms antibacterial effect
that compete with the host animal (the
fermentation of nutrients by bacteria is a PROBIOTICS
wasteful process compared with direct encourage certain strains of bacteria in the
absorption) gut at the expense of less desirable ones
5. increased absorptive capacity of the small live microbial food supplement that
intestine through a decrease in the beneficially affects the host animal by
thickness of the intestinal wall. improving the intestinal microbial balance
These effects may be coupled with a beneficial microorganisms provides barrier
reduced turnover of mucosal cells and against invading pathogens.
reduced mucous secretion. Digestive upsets are common at times of
The gut accounts for a large proportion of stress (e.g. weaning), and feeding desirable
the energy and protein required to maintain bacteria such as Lactobacilli in these
an animal, and any reduction in the mass of situations is preferable to using antibiotics,
the gut and cell turnover will release which destroy the desirable bacteria as well
nutrients for other purposes such as growth. as the harmful species.
Effects of Desirable Bacteria
Antibiotic Growth Promoter used in pig and 1. Adhesion to the digestive tract wall to
poultry food: 20-40mg/kg --- result to 4-16% prevent colonisation by pathogenic
growth rate and 2-7% in efficiency of microorganisms – needs to be attached to
food conversion the gut wall to exert effect.
Great response in young and animals eating
vegetable protein than animal protein.
2. Neutralisation of enterotoxins produced by oligosaccharide is given, they bind to the
pathogenic bacteria that cause fluid loss – oligosaccharide and out to the gut.
live probiotic bacteria neutralise toxins. Yeast – have mannans (polysaccharide) in
3. Bactericidal activity – reduce pH to level cell wall structuremannanoligosaccharide
that’s harmful to bacteria, inhibits growth of (MOS)
bacteria (hydrogen peroxide is produced),
lactic acid produce antibiotic ENZYMES
4. Prevention of amine synthesis – amines Mammalian Digestive Enzyme – not all food
irritate the gut, is toxic, have incidence of are broken down by these enzymes
diarrhea Enzymes as Food Additives
5. Enhanced immune competence – stimulate 1. Improve the availability of plant storage
production of antibodies polysaccharides (e.g. starch), oils and
Probiotics are effective for young pigs. Less proteins, which are protected from digestive
effective to growing and finishing pigs enzymes by the impermeable cell wall
To be effective, the desirable structures.
microorganism should not be harmful to the 2. enzymes are employed to break down
host animal, should be resistant to bile and materials that interfere with the digestion,
acid, should colonise the gut efficiently, absorption and utilisation of nutrients -
should inhibit pathogenic activity, and break down carbohydrate fractions in cereal
should be viable and stable under cell walls which are resistant to attack by
manufacturing and storage conditions. digestive enzymes
Monogastrics: Lactobacilli, Bacillus subtilis 3. supplement the enzyme complement of
and Streptococci have been used as young animals, in which the rate of
probiotics. endogenous enzyme production may be
Ruminants: yeast in the form of live culture, limiting - enhancement of the extent of
or dead cells with culture extracts; benefit in digestion of nutrients would improve
modifying rumen fermentation. performance and reduce the incidence of
the diarrhea that results from undigested
OLIGOSACCHARIDES nutrients reaching the hind gut and being
beneficial nutritional modifiers for fermented by bacteria
monogastric farm animals 4. enzymes can increase the efficiency of
A.k.a. prebiotics - compounds other than utilisation of nutrients in monogastric
dietary nutrients that modify the balance of animals by releasing them for uptake from
the microfloral population by promoting the the small intestine rather than allowing
growth of beneficial bacteria and thereby fermentation in the hind gut, which results in
provide a healthier intestinal environment products of lower value to the animal (e.g.
Beneficial Effects in Guts volatile fatty acids)
1. although they are not easily digested by the *In order to be effective when incorporated into the
host digestive enzymes they can be animal’s diet, enzymes must survive storage at
fermented by the favourable bacteria, giving ambient temperature, the manufacturing process
them a competitive advantage (heating and pelleting) and wide fluctuations in pH
2. gut microbial population may be altered by in the gut, be resistant to intestinal proteases, and
the oligosaccharide interfering with the have specific activity on feed components in the
attachment of harmful bacteria to the gut upper digestive tract.
wall
*Pathogenic bacterial cells have lectins that attach ORGANIC ACIDS
to gut cells, once attached, they multiply and Young Pigs: efficient digestion depends on
produce harmful effects. To disrupt this, specific secretion of sufficient acid in the stomach.
Used mainly in early-weaned pigs’ diet.
use relates to the digestive physiology of MODIFIERS OF RUMEN FERMENTATION
the young pig and the replacement of sow’s Rumen fermentation processes are usually
milk with solid food at weaning kept within narrow bounds and, as they form
acids have been added to weaning diets to an integrated system, any changes made
augment gastric HCl, giving a rapid fall in have more than one outcome. Thus,
pH with beneficial effects on protein modification of the processes to one desired
digestion and the gut microflora. target is difficult
organic acids, once absorbed by the pig, Include: buffers, methane inhibitors and
can be used as substrates in intermediary bloat-preventing substances
metabolism, principally as energy sources PROBLEM: Diets rich in readily fermentable
Addition of organic acids has had beneficial carbohydrate create acidic conditions and
effects on microbial counts and species increase lactic acid formation, both of which
addition of formic, fumaric and citric acids to are detrimental to the cellulolytic bacteria
the diet has increased the activity of RESULTING EFFECT: reduces food intake
enzymes associated with intermediary and predisposes the animal to acidosis,
metabolism, indicating that the acids do reduced milk fat production, rumenitis,
contribute to nutrient metabolism ketosis, laminitis and liver abscesses
addition to pig diets has proved beneficial in sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate,
terms of nutrient digestibility, growth and calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide
food conversion efficiency buffer the hydrogen ions and increase the
dilution rate of the liquids in the rumen -
SPRAY-DRIED PLASMA increases the efficiency of microbial protein
supplies readily digestible amino acids for synthesis and, as a result of the shorter
newly-weaned piglets retention time, allows starch and protein to
This is manufactured from blood collected escape to the intestines.
from slaughterhouses and is rapidly dried to rumen fermentation produces gases that, by
preserve the protein fraction the action of ruminal and reticular
has a high protein content, and the protein contractions, accumulate in the area known
fraction comprises albumins, globins and as the cardia, from which they are passed
globulins, including immunoglobulins up the oesophagus in the process of
low in methionine and isoleucine eructation
improves food intake and food conversion BLOAT: gas becomes trapped and the
efficiency over a wide range of pig types animal is not able to clear it.
and environments, but it is particularly FROTHY BLOAT: fermentation process in
effective in situations where there is a high the rumen can result in rumen gases being
level of exposure to pathogens trapped within fluid bubbles, gas cannot be
by promoting food intake at weaning it helps eructated as normal and pressure builds up
to maintain villus structure and function and in the rumen.
hence efficient digestion and absorption of LEGUME BLOAT: frothing is due to
nutrients chemicals associated with the plant
Normal level: 20-80g/kg -- has growth PASTURE BLOAT: there are management
promoting properties beyond its use as a practices to reduce such incidence
supply of digestible amino acids Antibiotics have been used to change the
*Part of the growth-promoting and beneficial health end products of fermentation in order to
effects of SDP has been attributed to the presence produce fewer frothforming materials.
of immunoglobulins antifoaming agents are commonly used -
reduce the surface tension of the rumen
fluid, preventing the formation of the stable
foam.