Positive effects of protected organic acids on nutrient digestibility and faecalmicroflora in lactating sows

摘要

Among a variety of candidates for the replacement of antibiotics, organic acids have been broadly applied worldwide with a reasonable success rate (Mroz 2005). Organic acids may influence the physiology of the intestinal mucosa by their action on thevilli, by maintaining their integrity, promoting an increase in the number of cells, preventing its flattening, as well as serving as a substrate in the intermediary metabolism of the citric acid-cycle (Partanen and Mroz 1999). Organic acids can also reduce the diets buffering capacity, inhibit the proliferation and decrease colonization of undesirable microorganisms, act on the physiology of the gastrointestinal mucosa by improving the availability of nutrients in the diet, and improve their digestion,absorption, and retention (Costa et al. 2011). It was hypothesised that blends of different organic acids with medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) in a matrix coating could play an influential role in improving growth performance, microbial population, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and faecal gas emission of lactating sows.