INTRODUCTION
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Feed remains the most important cost of animal production. Therefore, efficient feeding programs and maximum utilization of nutrients from feedstuffs are of primary concern to industry. |
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The use of supplementary feed enzymes is a promising means of achieving these goals. Commercial application of feed enzymes is common and this technology promises to play an even more important role in the future by improving the efficiency of animal feeding and reducing pollution associated with manure. |
FEED ENZYMES : GENERAL APPLICATIONS
Enzymes are protein catalysts for chemical reactions in biological systems. Made up of long chains of amino acids with a highly complex molecular structure, they play a key role in digestive process. Although enzymes are produced by the animal itself and/or by the microbes naturally present in the digestive tract, specific activities necessary to break down some compounds in feed are not found or are at low levels in the digestive tract. Therefore, exogenous enyzmes are added to the diet to break down these compounds. Enzymes used as feed additives are produced through large-scale fermentation processes.
The use of feed enzymes can be categorised into four :
1. Removal of Anti-Nutritional Factors (ANFs)
2. Increasing the digestibility of existing nutrients.
3. Increasing the digestibility of Non-Starach Polysaccharides
4. Supplementing host endogenous enzymes.
In the case of monogastric animals, digestive ability changes with age and may be inadequate in young poultry and pigs. Dietary constituents may also affect the amount of effective edogenous enzyme output, necessitating supplementation. Know more about Enzymes from our articles.
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