ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2025 53 OLIVE BIOACTIVES AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE ANIMAL INTESTINAL INTEGRITY Dr. Jose J. Pastor Head of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lucta Olive Bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity help improve intestinal health and resilience in livestock. They modulate cytokine expression, enhance oxidative balance, and support tight junction proteins, improving nutrient absorption. Olive by-products rich in polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol offer environmental and nutritional value. Studies show reduced crypt depth and inflammation with dietary inclusion, supporting gut integrity and production efficiency. When analyzing the main challenges in animal production, it is not difficult to identify the factors that will pose significant handicaps for this industry in the future. The continuous changes in feeding practices, driven by the search for alternative ingredients, anti-nutritional factors and mycotoxins, unresolved digestive diseases within the intestinal environment (e.g., coccidiosis), and extreme temperatures caused by climate change all contribute to increasing difficulty in meeting the requirements for animal welfare, efficiency, and the quality of livestock products that reach the consumer’s table. In addition to a high-level biosecurity status and an optimal preventive program, the key lies in maintaining the intestinal environment free from unnecessary inflammatory processes and avoiding oxidative imbalance, which can lead to poor digestive function. In a few words, it is necessary to increase the resilience to face the continuous challenges. Olive Bioactives, with well-described antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, can play a beneficial role in this context. Lucta, a Spanish company specializing in animal nutrition, has developed feed additives based on Olive Bioactives. OLIVE AND OLIVE OIL PRODUCTION Spain is the largest producer of olives and olive oil, according to data provided by the International Olive Council. This fact also leads to an extraordinary production of olive by-products (leaves, pomace, olive mill wastewaters, etc.), which may pose an environmental threat. However, these by-products, still rich in Olive Bioactives, are now regarded as a potential source of valuable products in various human sectors, as well as in the animal feed industry, representing an example of a circular economy. The benefits of olive oil are well known, as it is a key component of the Mediterranean diet, recognized for its protection against heart problems, a lower incidence of cancer-related diseases, and improved intestinal health.
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