Benefits of enzymes in animal feed
Enzymes used in animal feed act on antinutrients, fibers, or compounds with low bioavailability.
Its main benefits are:
Improved digestibility
Monogastric animals such as birds and pigs lack certain enzymes to efficiently break down components like phytates, hemicelluloses, and galactosides. Supplementing their diet with exogenous enzymes improves the absorption of key nutrients such as phosphorus, calcium, energy, and protein.
Increased nutritional value of feed
Enzymatic action releases compounds that would otherwise go unused. This allows for a reduction in the use of more expensive raw materials and the enrichment of diets with byproducts or alternative ingredients without compromising quality.
Reduction of environmental impact
Phosphorus bound to unabsorbed phytates is often excreted, causing pollution. Phytases, by releasing this phosphorus, not only improve feed efficiency but also reduce soil and water pollution. Furthermore, by optimizing digestion, they reduce nitrogenous and organic waste.
Improving animal welfare
Improved digestibility reduces unwanted intestinal fermentation, minimizes gas and diarrhea, and promotes a more stable gut microbiota. This results in healthier animals with greater weight gain and more efficient feed conversion.
Phytases in animals (Commercial phytases)
Phytates are the main form in which phosphorus is stored in plants, but they cannot be digested by monogastric animals. Phytases are enzymes that release this phosphorus, making it absorbable.
Benefits
- They increase the bioavailability of phosphorus, reducing the need for inorganic phosphates.
- They improve the absorption of other minerals such as calcium, zinc, or iron.
- They break bonds with proteins, increasing their digestibility.
- They reduce the environmental impact of excrement.
Commercial phytases
These are widely used in feed for chickens, pigs, fish, and some young ruminant species. They are dosed according to the phytate content of the feed and remain stable during pelleting processes under controlled conditions.
Alpha-galactosidase enzyme in animals
Many plant-based ingredients used in animal feed (such as soy, chickpeas, or lupin) contain non-digestible oligosaccharides like raffinose or stachyose. These compounds can ferment in the gut and cause digestive discomfort.
Alpha-galactosidase breaks down these oligosaccharides, preventing unwanted fermentations and increasing the energy value of the food.
Benefits:
- Improves the utilization of legumes and vegetable flours.
- It reduces digestive problems such as gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
- It allows the use of alternative protein sources without affecting intestinal health.
Glucose Oxidase enzyme in animals
Glucose oxidase converts glucose into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. This reaction has a natural antimicrobial effect that can be applied in animal nutrition to control the microbial load of the intestinal tract or the feed itself.
Applications:
- Reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gut.
- Improvement of the oxidative stability of the feed.
- Stimulation of the immune system thanks to the more controlled environment in the gut.
- It is especially used in sensitive phases such as weaning, where the intestinal flora is immature and the risk of infectious diarrhea is high.
Xylanase enzyme in animals
Xylans are polysaccharides found in the cell walls of cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye. They are difficult to digest and can have an antinutritional effect by increasing the viscosity of intestinal chyme.
Xylanase breaks down these polysaccharides, reducing viscosity and releasing sugars that can be used as a source of energy.
Benefits:
- Improves feed conversion and weight gain.
- It increases the digestibility of starch and proteins.
- It reduces variability between feed batches when lower quality raw materials are used.
Practical examples
Broiler chickens
A wheat- and soy-based feed formula can be supplemented with phytase and xylanase to improve phosphorus utilization and reduce intestinal viscosity. This use of phytases in poultry results in a better feed conversion ratio, lower mortality, and reduced antibiotic use.
Growing pigs
In oat-rich diets, xylanase and alpha-galactosidase are used to reduce intestinal fermentation and improve energy content. The addition of glucose oxidase has also shown benefits in microbial control without the need for conventional antimicrobials.
Weaned piglets
The use of phytases in pigs is also applicable at early ages. Glucose oxidase and alpha-galactosidase in piglets help stabilize the gut microbiota, prevent digestive disorders, and improve the transition to solid diets. This is reflected in a better growth rate and a lower incidence of diarrhea.
Young ruminants or laying hens
Although adult ruminants naturally ferment phytates in the rumen, young animals or birds benefit from the addition of phytase, which improves mineral absorption at key stages of growth or egg production.