Top 10 Feed Additives to Improve Gut Health

Disruption of the gut microbial ecosystem during pig rearing can compromise intestinal health, welfare and production performance. The nutritional composition of pig diets can be tailored using various feed additives to restore gut microbial balance. In this article we review the top 10 feed additives (in no particular order) that restore gut microbial balance and improve gut health.

Lipids

Polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce intestinal toxin transport and endotoxemia compared to saturated fat supplementation. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improves intestinal health by increasing beneficial commensals and decreasing pathogenic bacteria in the cecum of pigs.

selenium

Dietary selenium supplementation optimizes gut flora by increasing health-promoting bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria and Faecalibacteriumand reduction of unwanted bacteria, Bacteroides and ClostridiumLow selenium intake makes pigs more susceptible to infections by pathogens such as: Salmonella In addition, dietary selenium supplementation can Ruminococcaceae and Phascolarctobacteriumtwo important producers of short-chain fatty acids, which improve gut health.

copper

Dietary copper supplementation promotes intestinal growth and reduces the frequency of diarrhea. Additionally, copper supplementation reduces the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Streptococcus, Enterobacter and E. coli In weaned pigs, the organic form of copper increases its relative abundance in pigs. Prevotella, Lactic acid bacteria and Megafella Your gut health will improve.

Zinc oxide

Zinc oxide, an inorganic compound of zinc, is an effective feed additive with antibacterial properties when administered at pharmaceutical levels. Zinc oxide reduces the incidence of postweaning diarrhea by producing reactive oxygen species to kill pathogenic bacteria, but high concentrations of zinc oxide accumulate in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys, which have adverse effects on pig health. In addition, zinc oxide suppresses inflammatory gene expression and reduces intestinal damage caused by weaned piglets. Furthermore, zinc oxide promotes growth, improves intestinal morphology and permeability, enhances intestinal barrier function, and modulates the structure of the postweaning gut microbiota.

In the European Union, Canada, and to a lesser extent China, maximum pharmacological levels of zinc oxide for use have been significantly reduced for environmental and antibiotic resistance reasons.

Organic acids

Organic acids are used as feed additives to regulate the microbial fermentation of nutrients and metabolites available to the host. In addition, organic acids directly lower the pH of the environment by releasing hydrogen ions, preventing the growth of acid-sensitive bacteria. Formic acid or its salts increase acetic acid and decrease lactate concentrations in both ileal and colonic contents.

Supplementing growing pig diets with 10% malic acid, 13% citric acid, and 17% fumaric acid: E. coli Counting and Incrementing Lactic acid bacteria The number of bacteria in the intestines increases. Weaned piglets were fed 4.1% propionic acid, 9.5% phosphoric acid, 10.2% lactic acid, and 17.2% formic acid. Bacillus and Lactic acid bacteria Decrease the concentration, Salmonella and E. coli Furthermore, weaned calves fed diets containing lactic acid and fumaric acid had E. coli.

Prebiotics

Supplementing pig diets with prebiotics increases the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and reduces the numbers of potentially harmful groups such as Clostridium and Cerevicillin, thus providing a stable gut microbial ecosystem. EnterobacteriaceaeAdditionally, feeding prebiotics reduces the risk of intestinal dysbiosis and post-weaning diarrhea.

Prebiotics such as galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, oligofructose, chicory fiber and inulin promote nutrient digestion, support the immune system, improve mineral absorption and influence the energy and amino acid balance in pigs.

Probiotics

Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium etc.) Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Saccharomycesreducing the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and reducing the incidence of diarrhea. In addition, probiotics improve immunity and intestinal mucosal barrier function and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Lactic acid bacteria improve intestinal function by balancing the intestinal flora and breaking down polymeric substances that are difficult to absorb by the body. Oligosaccharides promote the formation of beneficial intestinal flora and maintain intestinal health.

Essential oils

The essential oil increases the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and decreases the relative abundance of E. coli or coliform bacteria.. Furthermore, the addition of essential oils to pig diets improves gut health, increases feed intake, and increases post-weaning productivity and average daily gain. A cocktail of carvacrol, cinnamalaldehyde, and capsicum oleoresin has Lactic acid bacteria Intestinal bacterial and lymphocyte counts in early-weaned piglets.

amino acid

Dietary amino acids regulate gut structure, function and gut microbiota diversity. Excess dietary amino acids are fermented in the lower gut, producing toxic substances that lead to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Amino acid metabolites such as butyrate and indole improve gut physiology, whereas other metabolites such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and nitrite have detrimental effects on the epithelium and intestinal mucosa.

Glutamate and glutamine provide oxidative fuel to the rapidly dividing intestinal cells and mucosa, thereby increasing the intestinal cell turnover rate in young pigs.

Dietary arginine supplementation reduces intestinal tissue damage, promotes intestinal mucosal healing, and improves intestinal dysfunction.

In growing pigs, methionine improves intestinal morphology by increasing villus height, reducing oxidative stress, and improving glutathione production in mucosal cells. Furthermore, methionine improves nutrient digestion and absorption and reduces bacterial fermentation by reducing substrate availability for bacteria.

Threonine plays a key role in mucin synthesis and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, making it essential for maintaining intestinal morphology, development and health.

carbohydrates

Wheat starch and beet pulp stimulate microbial fermentation, increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiota and promoting a stable and healthy gut microbial ecosystem. Inclusion of a compound feed containing barley improves gut microbiota uniformity and gut health after weaning. Wheat bran fiber increases the villus height and the villus-to-crypt depth ratio in the ileum and colon of growing and fattening pigs. Supplementation with pea, corn and wheat bran increases the populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria but reduces the number of E. coli in the ileum and colon digesta. On the other hand, soybean fiber reduces the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria and increases the E. coli population and the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the colon.