There are several possibilities to influence gut health. Feed additives such as probiotics, phytogenics, acids, etc. are one option available to the animal producer. Among these feed additives, one possibility is butyric acid. Butyric acid is produced in the large intestine of monogastric animals or in the rumen of ruminants due to microbial degradation of carbohydrates.

Advantages

• It is known that protected butyric Protected acids improving pig Optimising gut health is a key to improving animal performance. Animals need support to develop and maintain a healthy micro-flora in their intestinal tract. Butyric, caprylic and capric acids strengthen the intestine and therefore improve animal performance and protect the gut against the effects of pathogens. By Nataliya Roth, Biomin, Herzogenburg, Austria acid is a good growth promoter as it is an efficient nutrient for the intestinal mucosa increasing the density and length of villi, enlarging the absorptive surface of the intestine (Galfi and Bokori, 1990).
• Butyric acid is also known as an antibacterial agent against pathogenic micro-organisms including Salmonella, Clostridia, Escherichia coli, Brachyspira etc. and as modulator of the intestinal flora supporting useful micro-organisms such as Lactobacilli (Galfi 1990).
• Butyric acid improves digestibility by increasing activity of intestinal enzymes (Claus, 2006).
• Moreover, butyric acids upregulates the expression of tight junction proteins, thereby enhancing the barrier function of the epithelium (Bordin, 2004).
• Overall, butyric acid fortifies the gut of the animal, which leads to improved performance and increased protection against many pathogens.