Because the application of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) causes accelerated adverse effects on the animal diet, the scientific community has taken progressive steps to enhance sustainable animal productivity without using AGP in animal nutrition. Organic acids (OAs) are non-antibiotic feed additives and a promising feeding strategy in the swine and broiler industry. Mechanistically, OAs improve productivity through multiple and diverse pathways in: (a) reduction of pathogenic bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) by reducing the gut pH; (b) boosting the digestibility of nutrients by facilitating digestive enzyme secretion and increasing feed retention time in the gut system; and (c) having a positive impact and preventing meat quality deterioration without leaving any chemical residues. Recent studies have reported the effectiveness of using encapsulated OAs and synergistic mechanisms of OAs combinations in swine and broiler productivity. On the other hand, the synergistic mechanisms of OAs and the optimal combination of OAs in the animal diet are not completely understood, and further intensive scientific explorations are needed.
Acid | Chemical Name | Registration Number | Molecular Weight/GE (MJ/Kg) | Odor | pKa |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Butyric | Butanoic Acid | - | 88.12/24.8 | rancid | 4.82 |
Citric | 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic Acid | E 330 | 192.1/10.2 | odorless | 3.13 |
Propionic | 2-Propanoic Acid | 1a297 | 74.08/20.6 | pungent | 4.88 |
Sorbic | 2,4-Hexandienoic Acid | E 200 | 112.1/27.85 | mildly acrid | 4.76 |
Formic | Methanoic Acid | E 236 | 46.03/5.7 | pungent | 3.75 |
Acetic | Ethanoic Acid | E 260 | 60.05/14.6 | pungent | 4.76 |
Lactic | 2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid | E 260 | 90.08/15.1 | sour milk | 3.83 |
Malic | Hydroxybutanedioic Acid | E 296 | 134.1/10.0 | apple | 3.40 |
Fumaric | 2-Butenedioic Acid | 2b08025 | 116.1/11.5 | odorless | 3.02 |
Benzoic | Benzenecarboxylic acid | - | - | - | 4.20 |