Book Review: Enzymes in Farm Animal Nutrition (2001)

ISBN 0 85199 393 1

In 2001 Michael R Bedford and Gary G Partridge edited Enzymes In Farm Animal Nutrition, a book dedicated to the use of enzymes within the animal feed Industry, although enzymes have only recently been included in animal feeds as early as 1984. The use of exogenous enzymes in animal nutrition dates back to the mid 1920s, this rapidly expanding field is becoming increasingly multi-disciplinary as more is understood of the mode of action of feed enzymes.  

Chapter one, written by C Sheppy, looks at the current markets and the likely trends. In this chapter Sheppy covers global animal feed production and the background to enzyme technology. As well as why use enzymes in animal feed and how they work and are used in animal feeds. The current feed enzyme market is look at along with future needs and opportunities.

Chapter two written by MK Bhat and GP Hazlewood looks at the enzymology and other characteristics of cellulases. Looking at the structure of cellulose and hemicellulose and the enzymology of cellulase and xylanases also the architecture and classification they also look at the wide range of other applications for  cellulase and xylanases.

In chapter three written by D D Maenz, enzymatic characteristics of phytases as they relate to their use in animal feeds. The author cover the structure of phytic acid in animal diets, and their effects and the occurrence of phytic acid in plants. Digestion and Utilisation of phytate and improving the digestibility of phytate through in feed supplementation.

In Chapter four B V McClearly, look at the analysis of feed enzymes, some of the procedures used for assays will be described and also some of the problems and limitations of the current assay procedures will be looked at and discussed.

In chapters five, six, seven and eight the subject covered will be maize factors affecting its digestibility and variability in its feeding value and vegetable protein meals  and the effects on enzymes  along with enzyme supplementation of poultry diets based on viscous cereals. Also the role of efficacy of carbohydrase enzymes in pig nutrition.

In later chapters the subject material covered is the interaction between cereal identity and fat quality and content in response to feed enzymes in broilers, digestion of phosphorus and other nutrients and the role of phytases and factors influencing their activity. Enzymes in ruminant diets, microbial interactions in the response to exogenous enzyme utilization. Enzymes: Screening, expression, design and production along with liquid application systems for feed enzymes Process stability and methods of detection of feed enzymes in complete diets and future horizons.

This publication looks at the use of enzymes in animal feeds, to improve digestibility and the current state of knowledge (2001) of such enzymes, including their mode of action and the interaction with the intestinal physiology, economic and environmental impacts and applications of enzyme technology into the diets of different animal species. I feel this book would be a good source of information to the many scientist who work in the feed industry and the development of new feeds for agricultural livestock. Its would also be a valuable resource to students and lectures.

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers