As the use of organic acids is becoming more widely accepted by feed Manufacturers, animal producers and the public, there is a developing interest in using them as substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters. However, the mode of action of organic acids and salts is not always completely understood. In this article we delve into the mechanisms of organic acids and salts to gain a better insight into what they are and how they work.

The use of organic acid salts or acid blends showed positive results in a wide variety of aquaculture species worldwide. In this article, Christian Lückstädt addresses how the use of acidifiers can be an efficient tool to achieve sustainable and economical production in modern aquaculture.

Many years' experience in testing and application have convinced Yasser Dergham that supplements based on humic acids could prove sustainable growth promotants, provided they will be permitted as feed supplement by the EU.

The anti-microbial activity of organic acids is thought to be the main reason for the positive responses in nursery and finisher pigs. The increasing interest in the use of organic acids made companies search for acids that are easier to handle than conventional organic acids while still maintaining the biological effectiveness within the pig.

Choosing between various growth-promoting feed additives in broilers requires extensive testing, also under challenged conditions. Ángela Gutiérrez del Álamo Oms, Gerard Santomá and Marko Schuring explore their effects in three trials.

Livestock require a constant supply of high-grade nutrients. Christian Lückstädt, Gwendolyn Jones and Walter Nies believe that combining of organic acids with their salts and phytobiotics have proved promising in economic antibiotic-free feeding, via improved feed safety, digestion and intake.

Pig meat is not the first culprit that springs to mind when thinking of he salmonella risk to human consumers. But it is still a risk and most contamination arises at the farm level. Sarah Mellor caught up with Hendrix UTD's Maarten van der Heijden in Amsterdam, where he was presenting new data on salmonella control for pig farms.

The efficacy of organic acids against Salmonella depends on their concentration and degree of dissociation. Combining different organic acids can have synergistic effects. Attention should also be focused on using a carrier that ensures liberation of the acids at their site of action and avoids problems related to corrosion.

Much has been discussed about achieving biosecurity on farms and how feed can best be treated to prevent its recontamination. Water - the most important nutrient of them all – however, is the most neglected and so the water supply has become a weak link. Securing the water supply, says Ifor Philipps, can be as simple as dropping in a tablet.

When it comes to controlling microbial growth, Selko have years of experience. Well known for acidifiers for water, they have turned their attention to inclusion in feed and found one type of acidifier exerts a familiar activity.