Acidifiers . other alternative feed additives are being adopted in order to fill the gap from the antibiotics. thus decreasing the stomach pH level.Definition Acidifiers are organic or inorganic chemical that either produce or become acid. These chemicals increase the level of gastric acid in the stomach when ingested. not only as a prevention of enteric infections. is the decrease of microbial intestinal fermentation. It is known that this intestinal fermentation reduces the nutritive value of the feed considering. the risk of endotoxin formation. . in addition. but also allowing an improved feed utilization.Introduction • The use of anbiotics at intensive animal production. During decades these treatments were maintained as they exerted a positive effect. not only intended as therapeutics but also as common additives of continuous use in animal feeding started approximately 50 years ago. • One of the most important benefits of this antibiotic use. that each time are more severe.Before arriving to the year 2000. in benefit of human health. . however the animal production yield became seriously affected. the animal food industry has been obliged to abandon the use of these antibiotics and look for alternatives to accomplish the new food regulations. according to application : feed. Systemic acidifiers. Urinary acidifiers.Classification according to medical uses: Gastric acidifiers. water. . protecting feed from microbial and fungal destruction. .Benefits • A Solution for Antibiotic-Free Feeding of food animals. • Control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms both in the feed and in the animal digestive tract. • Acidifiers can be part of the feeding concept to replace antibiotic growth promoters. • Feed preservation . • Control the mycotoxins both in feed and in the animal digestive tract . ( ￬ FCR) .The addition of the balanced acidifier product. increases in the absence of anti-biotic growth promoters the performance of broiler chicken. containing an organic acid blend based on an inorganic carrier. and thereby inhibiting microbial growth and thus lower the uptake of possibly pathogenic organisms and their toxic metabolites by the farmed animals.Role of acidifiers in feed hygiene Under favourable conditions such microbes multiply rapidly during storage. especially at higher moisture levels )%14>(in a warm environment. . Acidifiers function as conserving agents by reducing the pH of the feed. Role of acidifiers in intestinal tract Involves two different ways: Reduce the pH-level in the stomach and particularly in the small intestine. HOW ?… . Decrease absorption of mycotoxins in GIT. Inhibit growth of gram negative bacteria through the dissociation of the acids and production of anions in the bacterial cells. providing acidifiers in the feed tackles this problem and aid in feed digestion. or when the feeds are high in protein. free hydrochloric acid levels in the stomach are reduced. This reduction negatively impacts pepsin activation and pancreatic enzyme secretion and impairs digestion . .During periods of high feed intake such as when the animals are young. coli or Salmonella spp. especially pathogens. like E. . Low pH also forms a natural barrier against ascending microbes from the ileum and large intestine. Moreover. Growth rates of many gram-negative bacteria.lower duodenal pH. This reduction alters cell metabolism and enzyme activity thus inhibiting growth of intraluminal microbes. are reduced below pH 5. improved nitrogen retention and overall increased nutrient digestibility. . small acids are lipophilic and can diffuse across the cell membrane of gramnegative bacteria. In the more alkaline cytoplasm they dissociate and cause pH reduction. Short chain acids can be used in various metabolic pathways for energy generation. Organic acids are generally absorbed through the intestinal epithelia by passive diffusion. for instance for ATP generation in the citric cycle. .Role of acidifiers in metabolism Most organic acids have a considerable amount of energy. For example. .As the energy content of organic acids is completely used in metabolism it should be considered in the energy calculation of feed rations. propionic acid contains one to five times more energy than wheat. Gross energy content of selected organic acids and their salts (Freitag 2007): Organic acid/salt Formic acid Acetic acid Propionic acid Lactic acid Fumaric acid Citric acid Calcium formate Sodium formate Calcium propionate Solubility in Water Very good Very good Very good Good Low Good Low Very good Good Gross energy (kcal/kg) 1385 3535 4968 3607 2747 2460 931 931 3965 Calcium lactate Low 2436 . A.Team work Mohamed Ahmed M. El Sherif Karim Mohamed Hasan Ali Abd EL Rahman Ragab Ali Shaban Mohamed Mostafa Ahmed . Reference ( Textbook ) •Acidifiers in animal nutrition. . •Feed acidifiers – global market trends. Thanks .