N. A. Lyubimova, G. Yu. Rabinovich
Federal Research Center Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Pyzhevskii per., 7, str. 2b, Moskva, 119017, Russian Federation
Abstract. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of humic substances on the organisms of farm animals and birds, the productivity and quality of meat, as well as their biological activity and methods of application. Humic substances introduced into feed or drinking water for farm animals (pigs, ruminants) and birds (broilers, laying hens, and quails) can become a promising biologically active feed additive to the main diet. The use of this method almost always increases the daily weight gain of animals (by 100–300 g), the feed conversion ratio (by 0.03–0.06 points), and productivity. Humic substances have a positive effect on the immunity and stress resistance of animals and birds. In particular, the mass of the birds’ bursa fabricii increases 1.5–2.0 times and the titer of antibodies against Newcastle disease rises 1.5–2.0 times. They increase the moisture-holding capacity of meat; its market quality improves due to a decrease in brightness and redness. However, today there is no obvious explanation of the positive effect (or mechanism of action) of humic substances on the animal organism. They affect the biochemical parameters of the blood (for example, lower the level of cholesterol), due to their chelating properties, they bind metals and, thereby, reduce their concentration in the blood, protect the animal body from the action of infections and toxins, ensuring the destruction of pathogenic microflora. Humic substances not only have a positive effect on the intestinal microflora, inhibiting the growth of pathogens, but also contribute to an increase in the number of useful microflora, i.e., lactic acid bacteria, the number of which in the experimental groups increased, compared with the control group, on average by 0.5 CFU/g. Since they are extracted from various raw materials, when using humic substances as feed additives, it is necessary to take into account their origin, structure, and methods of adding them to the diet.
Keywords: humic substances; humic acids; fulvic acids; feed additive; premix; broiler chickens; laying hens; quail; pigs; ruminants.
Author Details: N. A. Lyubimova, Cand. Sc. (Chem.), research fellow (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); G. Yu. Rabinovich, D. Sc. (Biol.), branch director (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.).
For citation: Lyubimova NA, Rabinovich GYu. [Humic substances as components of feed additives (review)]. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2020;34(9):77-84. Russian. doi: 10.24411/0235-2451-2020-10914.