Strategic application of exogenous enzymes to enhance nutritive and functional value of fibrous feedstuffs for monogastric farm animals

在人口迅速增长和随之而来的粮食需求的背景下，饲料供应受到自然资源有限、气候变化压力和食品-饲料-生物燃料竞争的挑战。越来越多的单胃动物被喂食大量具有成本效益的替代高纤维饲料，这些饲料不适合人类食用。限制使用抗生素也更加强调促进和维持健康和功能性胃肠道的饮食策略。本研究将研究纤维降解酶的应用，以制定营养策略，指导胃肠道健康和功能，以提高营养物质的利用率和动物生产性能。该研究计划将追求两个主题：1)纤维增溶以提高营养物质的利用和发酵能力，以及2)纤维水解以产生具有益生元效应的水解产物。正在研究的创意和创新将改善营养物质的利用，肠道健康，从而全面减少抗菌药物的使用。对加拿大人的直接好处包括降低农民和饲料制造商的饲料成本，增加使用生物乙醇和碾磨工业的副产品，减少抗生素的使用，通过减少农场的营养物质排泄来实现可持续的动物生产，以及培训高素质的研究人员，这些研究人员将继续在学术界和工业界传授他们的知识。

In the context of burgeoning human population and attendant demand for food, feed supply is challenged by limited availability of natural resources, climate change pressure and food-feed-biofuel competition. Monogastric animals are increasingly being fed significant quantities of cost-effective alternative high fiber feedstuffs unacceptable for human consumption. Restriction on use of antibiotics is also placing greater emphasis on dietary strategies for promoting and maintaining a healthy and functional gastrointestinal tract. The proposed research will investigate application of fiber degrading enzymes to develop nutritional strategies to steer gastrointestinal health and function for enhanced nutrients utilization and animal performance. The research program will pursue two themes: 1) Fiber solubilization for enhanced nutrients utilization and fermentability, and 2) Fiber hydrolysis for generation of hydrolysates with prebiotic effects. The ideation and innovation to be investigated will improve nutrients utilization, gut health and therefore overall reduction on antimicrobial use. Direct benefits to Canadians will range from feed cost reduction for farmers and feed manufacturers, increased use co-products from bioethanol and milling industries, reduced use of antibiotics and sustainable animal production through reduced nutrients excretion on farms, and training of highly qualified researchers who will continue to impart their knowledge in both academia and industry.