The Effects of Fungal Feed Additives in Animals: A Review

Abstract

As probiotics, fungi enhance animal health and are suitable animal feed additives. In addition to brewing fungi, there are also edible and medicinal fungi. Common fungi utilized in feeding programs include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus oryzae, Pleurotus spp., Antrodia cinnamomea, and Cordyceps militaris. These fungi are rich in glucans, polysaccharides, polyphenols, triterpenes, ergosterol, adenosine, and laccases. These functional components play important roles in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immune system regulation. As such, fungal feed additives could be of potential use when breeding livestock. In previous studies, fungal feed additives enhanced body weight and egg production in poultry and improved the feed conversion rate. Several mycotoxins can be produced by hazardous fungi but fortunately, the cell walls constituents and enzymes of fungal probiotics can also act to decrease the toxicity of mycotoxins. Overall, fungal feed additives are of value, but their safety and usage must be studied further, including cost-benefit economic analyses.

Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger Co-Cultivation Extract Affects In Vitro Degradation, Fermentation Characteristics, and Bacterial Composition in a Diet-Specific Manner

“…The comprehensive enzymes in their products could stimulate the growth of microorganisms by converting macromolecular nutrients to available nutrients for microorganisms, which increase the nutrient digestibility of the substrate and produce a large quantity of VFA to decrease pH in the medium [ 39 , 49 ]. Alternatively, the inactivated microorganisms and medium also provide limited nutrients for microorganisms and then enhance the nutrient digestibility, as evidenced in other fungi [ 50 ]. Regardless of the pathway, the intention is to improve the diversity and function of microorganisms through AOAN supplementation.…”

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and phytase co-fermentation of wheat bran on growth, antioxidation, immunity and intestinal morphology in broilers

“…The phytate usually form a complex with fiber in the WB, and therefore cannot degrade by phytase addition [10]. In the other hand, as the report of Chuang et al [14], S. cerevisiae could mainly secret fiber-related enzymes, such as glucanase, mannanase, cellulase and xylanase, etc. Therefore, fermentation of S. cerevisiae can degrade fiber in WB, S. cerevisiae still cannot decrease the phytase content in WB.…”

A Potential Fungal Probiotic Aureobasidium melanogenum CK-CsC for the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

“…A. melanogenum , which is widespread in nature, is a fungus that can produce EPSs and secrete various extracellular enzymes. It is widely used in the food processing industry and is a component of animal feed [ 31 , 34 , 39 , 41 ]. Since A. flavus, C. tenuissimum, and P. oxalicum have been studied in honey bees, A. melanogenum would be a good animal probiotic but has not been investigated in honey bees.…”

“…Studies have demonstrated that exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by Aureobasidium melanogenum promote anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities in mammals [ 36 , 37 ] as well as cholesterol metabolism [ 38 ]. This explains the use of this fungus in animal feed additives [ 39 ]. Furthermore, this fungus secretes numerous enzymes, including amylase, cellulase, proteinase, lipase, xylanase, mannanase, polygalacturonase, and transferases [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 40 ], which are used widely in the food processing industry [ 41 ].…”