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SUSTAINABLE FEEDING CONCEPT WITH NOVEL, INNOVATIVE INGREDIENT

SUSTAINABILITY & GUT HEALTH IN ANIMAL NUTRITION 

By Dr. Charlotte M.E. Heyer, PROVITA SUPPLEMENTS GmbH

Sustainability, raw material availability, and gut health are key concerns in animal feeding strategies today. Fungal fermentation products, derived from solid-state fermentation (SSF) of plant substrates, offer a viable solution by improving nutrient digestibility, enhancing animal performance, and strengthening gut integrity through functional metabolites. This allows for reformulating diets with lower crude protein content and reduced reliance on traditional protein sources.

Figure 1: Fungal fermentation products increase nutrient digestibility and animal performance.

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SSF has been used for centuries in food processing, such as fermenting rice to extend shelf life and improve nutritional value. Now, in animal nutrition, SSF products like MAXFERM/Pro target the release of proteins in monogastric diets (Figure 1). These products exhibit diverse metabolic activities, breaking down complex carbohydrates and releasing previously inaccessible cell wall-bound proteins, improving nutrient and energy utilization.

Figure 2: Postbiotic Effects of SSF Products Promoting Gut Integrity and Reducing Ammonia Levels

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The postbiotic effects of SSF products include strengthening gut health by maintaining the intestinal barrier and enhancing wound healing in the gastrointestinal tract. The improved protein digestibility also leads to a reduction in nitrogen excretion, lowering ammonia levels in barns and contributing to environmental sustainability (Figure 2). The combination of economic and ecological benefits makes SSF products a promising tool for modern animal production.

Read the whole article in the current special issue of All About Feed here (p. 44 f.): 

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