In recent years, the side effect from using antibiotics feed additives is becoming very obvious. There is a trend of reducing and limiting the use of antibiotics additives.

Therefore, the research on antibiotics substitute products is very necessary, and this concept is being accepted and favored by more experts in the science world and farm industry. Pronutrient is something that attracts more attention from experts and farmers.

In 1950s, pronutrient was defined by Dr. Gordon Rosen to be a micro additives in animal feed. He divided pronutrient into 4 groups: microbial pronutrients, antimicrobial pronutrients, feed conditioners and prophylactics. This is first time that the resource of pronutrient was defined into bacteria, plant and mineral.

In terms of classification, the original concept of pronutrient was modified a little, thus, today, we have the following classification of different pronutrients:

Intestinal conditioner

Intestinal optimizer,

Hepatic protectors

Immune modulator,

Mineral absorption promoters

Feed conditioners

Anti free radicals,

Epithelium optimizers

Hypophyseal conditioners

Ruminal and intestinal prebiotics

We will talk briefly about each pronutrient in different classification

What is the difference between intestinal conditioner and intestinal optimizer?

1.     Intestinal conditioner

Interstinal conditioner has capability of maintain biology condition of intestine and its digestibility. Moreover, it also increases absorption of nutrients in the intestine content, this is an efficient way to prevent pathological microorganism’s colony on intestinal cells. Because pronutrient doesn’t break balance of intestinal flora, it doesn’t require any withdraw period. Therefore, this is a nice alternative choice apart from antibiotics.

2.     Intestinal optimizer

Basically, intestinal optimizer increases local immunity on intestinal mucosa. As it has no resistant to drug or poisoning side effect, this is a nice composition to substitute chemical anticoccidiosis medicine.

What works for liver?

1.     Hepatic protectors

This pronutrient accelerates de-toxic function and antioxidant function of liver, it makes sure liver maintains its best function and effectively de-toxic. This is a way to avoid harms from mycotoxin or other toxins from contamination, such as antibiotics, anticoccidiosis etc. Therefore, this is a product to protect liver.

2.     Immune modulator

Immune modulator works together with vaccine to reach a better vaccination function.

What works in feed?

1.     Feed conditioners

This is a pronutrient works through flavor, enzymes or phenol preservatives to maintain or optimize flavor and characters of feed

2.     Anti –free radicals

Anti free radical pronutrient combines with free radicals, that’s how it serves as natural product to substitutes synthesized anti-inflammatory products. 

What works for other systems or ruminant animals?

1.     Epithelium optimizers

Epithelium optimizer stimulates biological function of main epitheliums, such as skin, respiratory tract, tubular (kidney) and pelvis etc.

2.      Hypophyseal conditioners

This pronutrient stimulates biological synthesis of trienoic fatty acids forebody in prostate. This is natural hormone substitute.

3.     Ruminal and intestinal prebiotics

Ruminal and intestinal prebiotics can motive growth of bacteria inside of rumen. The function of intestinal bacteria is to increase growth of bacteriocin and lactic acid. Ruminal bacteria works to resolve cellucose, and increases the quantity of TVFA and proponic acid.