Role of acidifiers in livestock nutrition and health: A review

Abstract

Ever since the European ban on use of in‐feed antibiotics in food animals, the search for alternate antibiotic‐free growth promoter is undertaken worldwide. There are few alternatives such as probiotics, pre‐biotics, phytochemicals, enzymes and organic acids. Among these alternatives, the organic acids or simply acidifiers play an important role in gut health in animals. The acidifiers could be used to favourably manipulate the intestinal microbial populations and improve the immune response, hence perform an activity similar to antibiotics in food animals in countering pathogenic bacteria. Acidifiers also improve the digestibility of nutrients and increase the absorption of minerals. The incorporation of organic acids also leads to thinning of the intestinal lining which facilitates better absorption of nutrients and its efficient utilization. However, their effect will not be similar among all types of organic acids as their mechanism of activity is based on its pKa value. Moreover, there are claims about the neutralization of acids by the secretion of bicarbonates in the initial part of intestine, reactivity with metallic items in feed mills and reduced palatability due its bitter taste demands non‐reactive and targeted delivery for better performance. Currently, coated salts of acidifiers are available commercially for use in food animals especially pigs and poultry. The present review highlights the role of different acidifiers in livestock nutrition with their potent applications in improving nutrient digestibility, mineral utilization, meat quality, enhancing immunity, antimicrobial effects in countering pathogenic bacteria, boosting performance and production, and thus safeguarding health of livestock animals and poultry.

Hematological and Intestinal Responses of Broilers to Dietary Supplementations of Lactic Fermented Turmeric, Black Pepper or a Mixture of Both

“…The definite reason for the lacking effect of dietary administration of fermented herbs on the intestinal pH was not known. However, the buffering activity of the intestine in response to the incoming fermented herbs may stabilize the pH values of the intestinal tract of broilers (Pearlin et al, 2020).…”

Dietary Organic Acids Modulate Gut Microbiota and Improve Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

“…Organic acids have been used to improve weanling pig health and growth performance due to their ability to reduce gastrointestinal tract pH, improve nutrient digestibility, and inhibit pathogenic bacterial proliferation [2]. Results of numerous experiments have documented that lowering gastrointestinal tract pH with acidifiers may stimulate pepsin activity in the stomach, which improves protein and amino acid digestion [3]. Positive responses in animal growth performance have been observed when organic acids were supplemented in diets or drinking water [4][5][6][7].…”

“…NC: basal diet devoid of any added organic acid; BA: basal diet + 0.5% benzoic acid; SBA0.035: BA + 0.035% butyrate; SBA0.070: BA + 0.070% butyrate; SBA0.105: BA + 0.105% butyrate. 2 DM: dry matter 3. NDF: neutral detergent fiber 4.…”

Assessment of the Levels of Potentially Toxic Metals in Selected Poultry Feeds Sold in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

“…The result indicated that all the samples were acidic in nature and lower than the result reported in [11] and [12] who reported pH ranges of 6.3 to 7.1 for various poultry feeds and a value of 6.9 for a starter feed respectively. The low pH values obtained in this study may be considered adequate since acidic environment generally creates barrier to entry of bacteria to the digestive tract of animals [13].…”