María de Lourdes Angeles

By María de Lourdes Angeles and Sergio Gómez-Rosales

The effects of some functional amino acids (AAs) such as arginine, threonine, and methionine on the development of immune and digestive capacities in poultry were reviewed. The information was examined analytically to identify the source of the AA requirements, growth potential, type of housing, and type and degree of immune challenge applied. Regardless of these factors, the level of functional AA required to stimulate the immune or digestive response was higher than that required to maximize the productive performance. The implications section describes the main obstacles to integrating and applying the concept of functional AA in conventional diet formulation, and its use in birds raised under commercial conditions experiencing different types and degrees of immune stressors. It is necessary to develop a profile of functional AAs and establish their strategic use during or after immunological challenge situations to aid in the recovery of productive parameters to prechallenge levels.

Part of the book: Broiler Industry

By Jesús A. Maguey-González, Sergio Gómez-Rosales, María de Lourdes Ángeles and Guillermo Téllez-Isaías

In recent years, there has been a surge in antibiotic resistance in both humans and animals, as well as increased public concern over medication residues in animal products. As a result, the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in chicken has been banned in the European Union, and consumer pressure is likely to lead to their removal in other countries. More recently, the United States of America adopted the same restriction in 2017. Different alternatives to antibiotics have been proposed as a measure to eliminate pathogens or to improve growth and feed conversion in poultry, such as probiotics, enzymes, bacteriophages and antimicrobial peptides, herbal compounds and organic acids. These substances exert their effects on the gastrointestinal biota and digestion processes, directly or indirectly. Humic substances (HS) in animal applications have shown improved live-weight, growth rates and feed intakes by improving immune functions and gut health. In poultry nutrition as an alternative to growth-promoting has been proven with promising results on the growth and health of birds. Additional research suggests that HS can increase gut integrity and performance when combined with good nutrition, management, and biosecurity policies. Therefore, recent results of HS extracted from vermicompost in poultry will be described in this chapter.

Part of the book: The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemic

By María de Lourdes Angeles, Sergio Gómez-Rosales and Guillermo Téllez-Isaias

A review of the latest research on the addition of humic substances (HSs) in the drinking water or feed of farm animals including poultry, pigs, dairy cows and calves, goats, and rabbits was carried out. The results reinforces the promoted protective action of HS on the digestive mucosa, their antioxidant properties, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory attributes, the suggested microbial shift to a probiotic-type bacteria in the gut, including antiparasitic and antifungal effects, as well as their influence on the higher efficient of minerals, proteins, and lipids utilization within the body. The outstanding improvements in health, productivity, and meat and milk quality obtained from animals supplemented with HS are common features in the majority of available research. The main benefits in the gastrointestinal tract stem from the formation of protective barriers on the epithelial mucosa due to its colloidal properties and stimulation of mucin production. HS also promotes the development of probiotic microbiota and positive changes in bacterial fermentation patterns, which results in improved intestinal health and integrity. As a result, a cascade of benefits is derived within the body, reinforcing antioxidant protection responses, immunomodulation, and anti-inflammation mechanisms, as well as improving nutrient utilization efficiency. However, the truly molecular mechanisms of action of HS in the intestine and throughout the body remain unknown.

Part of the book: Humus and Humic Substances