ISSUE FOCUS 52 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 Mode of action and synergy: Understanding how additives work—whether antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, or antioxidant—and their potential synergistic effects helps optimize gut health. Recent research shows that AGPs’ primary mode of action is their anti-inflammatory effect rather than direct antimicrobial activity. Physiological stage: Different life stages have unique gut microbiota and nutritional needs influencing additive choice. For example, young animals have a relatively simple, immature gut microbial population which is still undergoing colonization and succession and is more sensitive and susceptible to environmental influences and diet. Probiotics in young animals can help shape the initial establishment of a healthy and balanced gut microbiota, competitively excluding pathogens and promoting beneficial microorganisms. In contrast, mature animals have a well-established, stable, and complex microbial ecosystem that is more resilient and less responsive to external probiotic interventions. Stability and delivery: Additives must remain stable during feed processing and storage in order to be delivered effectively to targeted sites in the gut. Cost-effectiveness and producer goals: Always weigh the cost of additives against the expected improvements in health, performance, and antibiotic reduction. Environmental and management conditions: Feed hygiene, litter quality, housing, and stress levels play a crucial role in gut health and must be managed alongside nutritional solutions to maximize their effectiveness. NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT GUT HEALTH I see several nutritional strategies that enhance gut health, including: Conditionally essential amino acids (CEAAs): Their role becomes especially important when formulating low crude protein diets, which are increasingly common to reduce nitrogen excretion and environmental impact. Unlike essential amino acids, which must always be provided in diets, CEAAs are synthesized by animals but may be insufficient during stress or disease. They perform critical functions beyond basic protein synthesis. For example, cysteine and glycine contribute to glutathione production, a major antioxidant protecting gut cells. Serine and proline are key components of mucin, maintaining the gut mucus barrier’s structural integrity. With arginine it supports nitric oxide synthesis, an important immune signaling molecule. Mycotoxins: They damage the gut barrier, making animals more susceptible to infections. A recent study in broilers demonstrated that the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) increases antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in gram-positive bacteria, promoting horizontal gene transfer and potential spread of resistance traits. Regions contaminated by mycotoxins often overlap with those harboring high levels of antibiotic resistance, suggesting these threats coexist in the same environment. Moreover, many mycotoxins and antibiotics contain fungal secondary metabolites, with similar structures and metabolism, potentially leading to cross-resistance. Bacteria exposed to mycotoxins can develop resistance mechanisms that also protect against antibiotics, encouraging the co-selection and spread of resistance genes. While I recognize that mycotoxin binders and deactivators play an important role in managing mycotoxins, I believe they should be part of a broader, integrated approach whenever possible. On the farm, I emphasize good agronomic practices like crop rotation, selecting resistant hybrids, and minimizing mechanical damage during harvest to reduce fungal contamination early on. After harvest, I focus on proper drying and carefully controlling storage conditions, particularly moisture levels and temperature, as these factors are critical to preventing mycotoxin formation. Dietary Fiber: Once considered merely a diluent and often overlooked and misunderstood, it is now recognized as an essential component for gastrointestinal development in poultry and pigs. It
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