Therefore, the resulting challenge for the international feed and animal husbandry industry is to realize sustainable global livestock production strategies for efficient production and safe food for the consumers.
Since 2006 antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in livestock feeding have been prohibited in the European Union. South Korea is one of the first Asian countries that restricted the use of AGPs in 2011. Contrary to the valid use of antibiotics for prevention and treatment of pathogenic infections to prevent diseases, animals are still administered antibiotic growth promoters in feed.
The increasing consumer demand for meat results in more intensive meat production which implies that today more antibiotics are sold for animals than for humans, as is the case in the US. As a consequence, the improper application of antibiotics leads to residues in meat which enter the human organism and cause a higher risk of resistance towards antibiotics.
Antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) are being reduced in leading countries all over the world, thus the interest for natural alternatives arose. New strategies come with new principles…
How swine can benefit from ‘quorum quenching’ and ‘ar-turmerone’?
The essential oil turmeric contains ar-turmerone, a phytogenic compound that can exert antioxidant effects.
Phytogenic feed additives are an excellent source in the feed for bio-available antioxidants . Various phytogenic compounds can function both directly (by scavenging free radicals actively) and indirectly (by the excretion of enzymes) antioxidant effects.
One of such compound is ar-turmerone, contained in the essential oil of turmeric. Due to having an aromatic function ar-turmerone can scavenge and directly stabilize free radicals very well. On the other hand ar-turmerone has a keto group in its molecular structure which enables it to react with the sensitive sulphhydril group of Keap1 and to up-regulate endogenous antioxidant and phase II enzymes.
The various farm trials showed that all phytogenic feed additives increased the total antioxidant capacity, measured using Trolox Equivalent.
The antioxidant Capacity, in the jejunum, representing the early small intestine, 2 to 4.5-fold. In addition, also Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant capacity in the liver, as an peripheral organ was strongly improved 2 to 3.5 fold. Phytogenic feed additives distinctly improve the total antioxidant capacity of an organism.
The up-regulation of phytogenic additives in the intestine protects the organism against oxidative stress (intestinal barrier function).
To find exact solutions to the increasing global population and consumer demand for high quality and safe food while saving the environment might not be as easy when looking for and evaluating alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters.
Natural, standardized and proven scientifically and commercially phytogenic products offer vast potential for efficient animal production and safe food for the consumers.
Source;pig progress.
Source;pig progress.
