Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 4 May 2021

SPECIAL STORY 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2021 when properly applied in monogastric diets. The as- tringency properties of hydrolysable tannin would be able to reduce the speed of intestinal peristalsis thus improving feed digestibility and absorption which leaves less undigested feed for pathogen utilisation thus reducing toxin secretion and diarrheal issues. BUTYRATE ACID DERIVATIVES + HYDROLYSABLE TANNIN: THE ALTERNATIVE TO ZINC OXIDE Given the pros of butyric acid derivatives and hy- drolysable tannin described above, using the two compounds together could produce a synergistic effect (Figure 1). When considering diarrhoea re- duction, hydrolysable tannins’ astringency properties which re- duces digesta flow rate combined with butyr- ic acid’s properties to improve hindgut villi morphology which in- creased water and sodi- um reabsorption would be able to reduce wa- ter content in faeces. When considering gut health promotion, hy- drolysable tannin is hydrolysed into tannic acid in the stomach and ileum which contributes to its bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects. Butyric acid on the other hand plays a role in secondary acidification which increas- es the amount of butyric acid in the gut, also con- tributing to bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects in the gut. An experiment was done in Fujian, China where zinc oxide usage has already been restricted since July 2018. The experiment compared the effects of using antibiotics versus using a combination of butyric acid derivatives with hydrolysable tannin in weaned piglets (Graph 1). It can be seen from the graph below that diarrhoea incidences were reduced Figure 1. Synergistic effects of hydrolysable tannin and butyric acid derivatives on diarrhoea and wet droppings. Graph 1. Effects of supplementing butyric acid derivatives and hydrolysable tannin on physical appearance and diarrhoea percentage of weaned piglets.