Antibiotic-Free Farming 02: Phytogenics from the Treasure Trove of Chinese Herbal Medicine Help Animals Fight Oxidative Stress

(Continued from the previous article) In recent years, health foods for humans made from natural plants have become increasingly popular, and a "phytogenics" trend has likewise swept through the livestock industry. Numerous international studies show that adding plant essential oils, plant extracts and plant powders to feed brings many benefits to animals, helping them fight bacteria, boosting immunity and antioxidant capacity, promoting intestinal health and improving nutrient utilization.

According to a June 2016 market research report by the global market research company MarketsandMarkets, the market for plant-based feed additives will grow from 2016 to 2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1%, and by 2021 is estimated to reach USD 769.5 million. In addition, the results of a large-scale survey released in 2018 by the Austrian feed additive company Biomin also showed that more than 60% of livestock farmers said they would increase their use of phytogenics in the coming year.

Phytogenics are all the rage, Eastern Chinese herbal medicine is a treasure trove, helping piglets calm down and preventing diarrhea

Spice plants commonly used in the West, such as oregano leaf and rosemary, are all used as raw materials for phytogenics, while the East has a rich foundation in Chinese herbal medicine and has even greater potential in this field. Yu Bi once collaborated with China Medical University to add Chinese herbal medicines plus lactic acid bacteria to feed, improving the thorny problem of piglet diarrhea in the livestock industry. She used Chinese herbal medicines that treat human diarrhea and have antibacterial effects, supplemented with probiotics she screened out, which can transform plant components, making the antibacterial effect stronger and achieving a synergistic effect.

Chinese herbal compound formulas used on humans can also be used on animals. Yu Bi said that, for example, after weaning, piglets have to be regrouped in pens, and because they switch to feed and move to a new environment, they easily become stressed and run around wildly, and nutritional diarrhea often occurs; this is a point in time when pig farming can very easily suffer losses. She used a Chinese herbal compound formula with a calming effect plus lactic acid bacteria to help piglets soothe their emotions and relieve diarrhea. "Treatment is not just about the body, but also about the mind."

Mushroom stem bases and garlic stalks: agricultural waste transformed into excellent animal health remedies

At present, most domestic phytogenic feed additive products are still imported and expensive. Yu Bi gave an example: "Echinacea is used a lot in Germany, and Taiwan, China has grown it too. It really works on animals, but the problem is it is very expensive, more than 1,000 yuan per kilogram." Even the everywhere-available large-flowered beggarticks, after extraction, still costs a lot.

In order to reduce the cost of phytogenics, one of Li Zitai's research directions is to look for resources in agricultural by-products or waste. The mushroom stem bases left in the space bags after mushrooms are harvested, the garlic stalks left after garlic is trimmed, and the mulberry leaves that silkworms cannot finish eating all become treasures for feed supplementation in his eyes.

"Mushroom stem bases contain polysaccharides, triterpenoids and phenolic compounds, and in broiler experiments they helped with antioxidant capacity and immunity," he said; this year he will continue experiments on laying hens and laying ducks.