ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2023 “The optimization of farm animal diets and nutrition should also consider the various aspects of gastrointestinal functionality that contribute to improvement of animal health and reduction of the use of antibiotics (Allen et al., 2013; Cheng et al., 2014). Therefore, functional properties of feed ingredients and additives related to gastrointestinal health need to play a more central part in diet formulation.” WHAT IS "GUT HEALTH" IN ANIMAL NUTRITION? Pietro Celi DSM Animal Nutrition While gut health is an increasingly important and popular topic in animal nutrition, a clear scientific definition is still lacking (Kogut and Arsenault, 2016). A definition is needed in order to evaluate the effects of any nutritional intervention on animal health and performance. GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTIONALITY We propose the definition of gastrointestinal functionality as “a steady state where the microbiome and the intestinal tract exist in symbiotic equilibrium and where the welfare and performance of the animal is not constrained by intestinal dysfunction” (Celi et al., 2017). This definition combines the principal components of gastrointestinal functionality, namely diet, effective structure and function of the gastrointestinal barrier and normal and stable microbiota, with effective digestion and absorption of feed and effective immune status (Figure 1). All these components play a critical role in gastrointestinal physiology, animal health, welfare and performance. Clarity of understanding of gut health will require the characterization of the interactions between these components. DIET As the ingested nutrients can play a significant role in the development and functionality of the GIT, diet composition (ingredients, nutrients and additives) can influence the development and function of the digestive system, including the immune system and the microbiota (Conway, 1994). A large body of evidence has highlighted the potential of using feed supplements, functional foods and ingredients in sustaining animal production performances while maintaining health and welfare (Van Loo, 2007; Pluske, 2013; Starkey, 2014; Hoste et al., 2015). Moreover, the use of functional ingredients seems to support the immune system and to modulate the redox balance and the inflammatory response. The optimization of farm animal diets and nutrition should also consider the various aspects of gastrointestinal functionality that contribute to improvement of animal health and reduction of the use of antibiotics (Allen et al., 2013; Cheng et al., 2014). Therefore, functional properties of feed ingredients and additives related to gastrointestinal health need to play a more central part in diet formulation.
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