ARTICLE 70 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2023 somatic cell count in milk, which is indicative of udder health. Furthermore, they have been studied as potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in livestock. Probiotics, specifically used as nutraceuticals, primarily aim to improve animal health in the face of various infectious agents, rather than solely focusing on normal nutrition. These probiotics have shown promise in enhancing gut morphology, gut health, and nutrient absorption. As a result, animal owners are increasingly considering the supplementation of probiotics to support intestinal health and improve production performance in farm animals. Probiotics have been observed to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, resulting in significant alterations to the gut microbiota composition. PREBIOTICS AS NUTRACEUTICALS Prebiotics refer to non-digestible food ingredients that have a positive impact on the host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of bacteria in the colon, thus promoting overall host health. These compounds are not absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to their chemical nature. One category of prebiotics includes non-digestible carbohydrates found in various food ingredients. Specific types of prebiotics, such as galactooligosaccharides, mannan-oligosaccharides, and fructo-oligosaccharides, are commonly used as feed additives to modify gut microbes and stimulate the intestinal immune system. Oligosaccharides can stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, particularly lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. These beneficial bacteria utilize oligosaccharides as substrates, promoting their own growth. Furthermore, the stimulation of bifidobacteria by providing oligosaccharides may help prevent the attachment and colonization of the gut epithelium by pathogenic bacteria. In summary, prebiotics, particularly oligosaccharides, serve as non-digestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, thereby enhancing the host's health and contributing to the prevention of pathogenic bacterial attachment and colonization in the gut. SYNBIOTIC AS NUTRACEUTICALS The combination of prebiotics and probiotics has been shown to have synergistic effects, surpassing the individual effects of probiotics or prebiotics alone. This combination promotes the survival and deposition of viable beneficial microorganisms, helping to maintain a healthy natural microbial environment in the rumen. In the context of synbiotic fermented milk, which contains specific strains such as S. thermophilus, L. acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum, the addition of active ingredients from herbal hydrosols and honey (such as apple acid) has been evaluated. The effects of this synbiotic combination on sexual activity, semen characteristics, and testosterone levels were examined. The findings revealed enhanced libido and improved semen physical characteristics when compared to control groups. Overall, the use of synbiotic combinations, where prebiotics and probiotics work together, has demonstrated greater efficacy in various aspects such as rumen health and reproductive function when compared to the isolated use of either prebiotics or probiotics alone. DIETARY LIPIDS AS NUTRACEUTICALS Dietary lipids play crucial roles in nutrition and biological functions. They serve as sources of essential fatty acids and energy, while also enhancing the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. In the case of dairy cows, their diet primarily consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs serve as precursors for prostaglandin synthesis, which in turn modulate key enzymes involved in prostaglandin and steroid metabolism. This modulation leads to improved male reproductive performance, as PUFAs are vital for maintaining sperm membrane integrity and have beneficial effects on sperm motility, viability, and testis development. Consequently, fertility parameters in ruminants are enhanced.
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