What is the Role of Organic Acids in Animal Nutrition?

Organic acids have been used in animal nutrition for a long time to preserve feed and grains. Various scientific studies have been conducted to establish standards for their use in such application areas.

The most significant characteristic of organic acids is that they occur as a result of microbial fermentation in foods. 2. The second most important feature is their natural presence in plants.

They have been used as food preservatives for thousands of years.

The fact that organic acids are natural substances has highlighted them as reliable materials in industry, production, and animal husbandry.

Molds and bacteria form in animal feed due to physical environmental conditions and the nature of the substance. Organic acids are used to prevent the formation of mold and bacterial pathogens in animal feed. Organic acids ensure hygiene in animal feed by suppressing these undesirable substances.

The use of organic acids in animal feed provides another advantage. Their low cost and the high yield obtained in feed quality make them unique.

The popularity of organic acids in animal nutrition fields is increasing over time.

Organic acids do not only have antimicrobial activities. That is, they do not only possess preservative properties. They protect the natural value of nutrients and improve them. In this way, they ensure that nutrients are digested by animals with maximum performance. This will have a positive effect on animal performance.

Benefits of Using Organic Acids in the Feed Industry;

• Hygiene improvement
• Reduction in the number of pathogens within the animal body
• Stabilizing intestinal eubiosis
• Feed digestion and Absorption
• Reduction of feed conversion
• For the reduction of diarrhea
• Increase in economic returns

Physical Properties of Some Organic Acids are as Follows

Formic Acid; Density 1.22 g/mol. Completely soluble.

Acetic Acid; Density 1.049 g/mol. Completely soluble.

Propionic Acid; Density 0.993 g/mol. Completely soluble.

Butyric Acid; Density 0.958 g/mol. Completely soluble.

Lactic Acid; Density 1.206 g/mol. Highly soluble.

Sorbic Acid; Density 1.204 g/mol. Slightly soluble.

Fumaric Acid; Density 1.635 g/mol. Slightly soluble.

Malic Acid; Density unknown. Completely soluble.

Tartaric Acid; Density 1.76 g/mol. Highly soluble.

Citric Acid; Density 1.665 g/mol. Highly soluble.

The chemicals most commonly used in feed preservation are propionic acid and formic acid. However, in addition to these two chemicals, lactic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, and sorbic acid are used in European countries. At the same time, salts of these chemical substances are also used. These are calcium formate, calcium propionate, and sodium benzoate.

How are Organic Acids Applied to Feeds?

Organic acids can be applied directly to feeds or feed mixtures. Preservative acids in liquid form and their mixtures are applied by the spraying method. Organic acids in solid form and their salts are applied by mixing with the blending method or in the form of special formulations.

Organic acids can also be applied for the preservation of silages. They can also be used as preservatives in drinking water.

The most widely used organic acids worldwide, by volume, are propionic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, and lactic acid. This ratio is around 4.5%.

The use of organic acids in poultry feed and feeds used in aquaculture has increased.

What are the Effects of Organic Acids?

• It increases the antimicrobial effect (yeast, bacteria, and fungi) by lowering the pH.
• It increases the efficiency of the pepsin enzyme, which converts albuminous nutrients into peptone by lowering the pH in the stomach. It has optimum efficiency between pH 2.5 - 3.5.
• It provides an antimicrobial effect by forming complexes with some metal salts. These include Ca+2, Mg+2, Fe+2.
• It acts as an energy source.

Recent studies on organic acids also use essential oils and specific modified chemicals.

The use of organic acids in some aquatic animal species has significant effects on the growth and health of the aquatic organism depending on the type of culture environment and the concentration of the organic acid.

Among the factors affecting the future of global aquaculture production, the use of organic acids instead of antibiotics during aquaculture production ensures sustainability. Organic acids such as formic acid are used to control intestinal microbiota and disease resistance in the production of seafood such as shrimp.

Organic acids can increase the digestion and absorption of nutrients by regulating the digestive system pH level and increasing the activity of digestive enzymes. This allows animals to utilize nutrients more effectively.

Organic acids can support intestinal health by maintaining the balance of intestinal microbiota and preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria. This can help prevent digestive system diseases and improve the overall health of animals.