Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production
2011
LIU Hua-wei, TONG Jian-ming, ZHOU Dao-wei (School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
The experimental knowledge on efficacy, possible modes of action and aspects of application of Chinese herbs as feedadditives for animal production are reviewed in this article. Chinese herbs commonly contain protein, carbohydrate, fat,vitamins, and mineral which are necessary nutrients to the growth of animal. Polysaccharide, organic acid, alkaloids, andessential oils involved in Chinese herbs can improve the immune function of livestock. Currently, numerous studies havedemonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-microbial efficacy and the assumption that Chinese herbs may improve the flavor ofmeat, which has been confirmed by some observations, but the mode of this action is still unclear. Moreover, severalobservations support the hypothesis that herbal feed additives may favorably affect gut functions (e.g., enzyme activity,microbial eubiosis) in vitro. Such effects may explain a considerable number of practical studies with livestock reportingimproved production performance after providing herbal feed additives. In summary, available evidence indicates thatherbal feed additives may have the potential to add to the set of non-antibiotic growth promoters for use in livestock, suchas organic acids and probiotics. However, a systematic approach toward the efficacy, mode of action and safety of herbalcompounds used as feed additives for animal production seems to be required in the future.
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