Emerging opportunities for alternative feed additives

Two classes of feed additives have received considerable attention for their potential to improve gut health and animal performance; these are butyrate and botanically derived products. Trials have evaluated their optimal use as a feed additive in both separate and combined applications. Butyrate is recognised to be an important signalling molecule that can trigger a variety of responses in animal cells and intestinal bacteria, depending on where in the digestive tract it is released. It has be