Can I Add Vine Tea Extract to Animal Feed?

The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in animal feed has been increasingly restricted worldwide due to concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The European Union banned AGPs in 2006, followed by stricter regulations in the U.S. in 2017 and China's 2020 ban on growth-promoting antibiotics in feed. This has driven demand for natural alternatives, including plant extracts with antimicrobial and growth-enhancing properties.

Plant-derived feed additives are gaining attention for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and immune-boosting effects. Common examples include essential oils (e.g., oregano, thyme), polyphenols, and flavonoids. These compounds improve gut health, enhance nutrient absorption, and reduce reliance on synthetic additives.

Vine Tea Extract, rich in dihydromyricetin (DHM) and flavonoids, is emerging as a promising natural feed additive due to its:

a. Antibacterial & Anti-inflammatory Effects: Effective against E. coli, Salmonella, and other pathogens.

b. Antioxidant Properties: Reduces oxidative stress, improving meat quality and shelf life.

c. Growth Promotion: Enhances digestion and nutrient utilization, leading to improved weight gain in livestock and poultry.

d. Safety & Residue-Free Benefits: Unlike synthetic antibiotics, vine tea powder is non-toxic and leaves no harmful residues in animal products.

 

Vine tea powder is increasingly used as a natural feed additive due to its bioactive compounds, particularly dihydromyricetin (DHM), which contribute to improved animal health and production efficiency. Below are its key roles and effects:

 Growth Performance Enhancement

a. Increases daily weight gain by 10%: Vine tea powder enhances nutrient absorption and metabolism, promoting faster and healthier growth in livestock and poultry.

b. Reduces feed-to-weight ratio by 6%: By improving gut health and digestion efficiency, animals convert feed into body mass more effectively, lowering production costs.

 Antibacterial & Gut Health Benefits

a. Reduces diarrhea rate by 50%: The extract strengthens intestinal barrier function and inhibits harmful bacteria, decreasing digestive disorders in piglets, poultry, and calves.

b. Strong antibacterial effects against E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus: DHM disrupts bacterial cell membranes and inhibits biofilm formation, reducing infections without antibiotic resistance risks.

 Antioxidant & Meat Quality Improvement

a. Increases SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity by 10%: Enhances the body's antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative stress in animals.

b. Decreases malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 25.38%: Lower MDA levels indicate reduced lipid peroxidation, improving meat quality and shelf life.

 Additional Benefits

a. Immune modulation: Flavonoids in vine tea stimulate immune responses, reducing disease susceptibility.

b. Anti-inflammatory effects: Helps mitigate chronic inflammation linked to poor growth and metabolic stress.

 

 

The short answer is no, vine tea powder cannot fully replace antibiotics in all scenarios, but it can significantly reduce reliance on them, especially for growth promotion and disease prevention. Here's a detailed analysis:

 Where Vine Tea Powder Can Replace Antibiotics

a. Growth Promotion: Studies show vine tea powder improves weight gain (by 10%) and feed efficiency (reducing FCR by 6%), making it a viable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs).

b. Preventive Health: Its antibacterial (effective against E. coli, Salmonella, etc.) and anti-inflammatory properties help prevent infections, reducing the need for prophylactic antibiotics.

c. Gut Health Management: By lowering diarrhea rates (up to 50%) and enhancing gut microbiota balance, it can replace certain antibiotic uses in weaning piglets and poultry.

 Where It Falls Short

a. Therapeutic Treatment: In severe bacterial infections (e.g., clinical outbreaks of Salmonella or Strep. suis), vine tea powder alone may not be as fast or potent as antibiotics.

b. Broad-Spectrum Coverage: While effective against some pathogens, antibiotics still have wider coverage for acute infections.

 Best Approach: Combination & Prevention

a. Synergy with Other Additives: Combining vine tea powder with probiotics and acidifier can enhance its antimicrobial effects.

b. Preventive Use > Curative Use: It works best as a long-term health booster rather than an emergency treatment.

 Industry Trends & Future Potential

a. Regulatory Push: With global bans on AGPs (EU, China, etc.), vine tea powder is gaining traction as a natural alternative.

b. Ongoing Research: New formulations (e.g., nano-encapsulated DHM) may improve its efficacy, potentially closing the gap with antibiotics.

 

Vine tea powder can affect feed taste, but the degree depends on dosage and animal species. With proper adjustments, its benefits (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory) can be harnessed without compromising palatability:

 Taste Profile of Vine Tea Powder

Vine tea powder contains:

a. Polyphenols (e.g., dihydromyricetin/DHM): Contribute to bitterness and astringency.

b. Flavonoids & Tannins: Can impart a dry, puckering sensation.

c. Trace Volatile Compounds: May add mild herbal or grassy notes.

At low concentrations (e.g., 0.1–0.5% of feed), the taste impact is usually minimal. However, higher doses (>1%) may make feed noticeably bitter, reducing palatability.

 Species-Sensitive Responses

a. Poultry (Chickens, Ducks): Generally tolerate mild bitterness but may reject strongly astringent feed.

b. Swine: More sensitive to bitter tastes; may reduce intake if extract levels are too high.

c. Ruminants (Cattle, Sheep): Less affected due to saliva buffering and rumen fermentation.

d. Aquatic Animals (Fish, Shrimp): Bitterness can deter feeding; may require encapsulation or flavor masking.

 Mitigation Strategies

If taste becomes an issue:

a. Gradual Introduction: Start with low doses (0.05–0.1%) and increase slowly.

b. Flavor Masking: Use sweeteners (e.g., sorbitol), flavors (e.g., vanilla), or fats to offset bitterness.

c. Microencapsulation: Coating the extract can reduce direct taste exposure.

d. Fermentation/Palatable Carriers: Mixing with molasses or fermented substrates can improve acceptance.

 Practical Recommendations

a. Conduct Palatability Trials: Test different doses with target animals before full-scale use.

b. Monitor Feed Intake & Growth Performance: Ensure no negative effects on consumption.

c. Balance with Other Ingredients: Combine with aromatic herbs (e.g., oregano) to improve acceptability.

 

 

The optimal dosage of vine tea powder varies by animal species due to differences in metabolism, digestive systems, and tolerance to bioactive compounds like dihydromyricetin (DHM). Below are evidence-based recommendations for poultry, swine, aquaculture, and ruminants.

 Poultry (Broilers, Layers, Ducks)

A. Recommended Dosage: 50-300 mg/kg feed (0.005-0.03%)

B. Effects:

a. 50-150 mg/kg: Improves antioxidant status, immune function.

b. 150-300 mg/kg: Enhances growth performance, reduces lipid oxidation in meat.

C. Considerations:

a. Doses >300 mg/kg may slightly reduce palatability due to bitterness.

b. Layers may show improved egg quality (yolk oxidative stability) at 100-200 mg/kg.

 Swine (Piglets, Growing-Finishing Pigs)

A. Recommended Dosage: 100-500 mg/kg feed (0.01-0.05%)

B. Effects:

a. 100-300 mg/kg: Supports gut health, reduces diarrhea in weaned piglets.

b. 300-500 mg/kg: May improve meat quality (reduced lipid peroxidation).

C. Considerations:

a. Pigs are sensitive to bitter tastes; doses >500 mg/kg may reduce feed intake.

b. Microencapsulation or mixing with sweeteners (e.g., saccharin) can improve acceptance.

 Aquaculture (Fish, Shrimp)

A. Recommended Dosage: 100-400 mg/kg feed (0.01-0.04%)

B. Effects:

a. 100-200 mg/kg: Enhances immunity, disease resistance (e.g., in tilapia, carp).

b. 200-400 mg/kg: Improves antioxidant capacity, stress resistance in shrimp.

C. Considerations:

a. Aquatic animals are highly sensitive to feed taste; start with 50-100 mg/kg and gradually increase.

b. Water-soluble forms or extracts blended with attractants (e.g., fish oil) improve uptake.

 Ruminants (Cattle, Sheep, Goats)

A. Recommended Dosage: 200-800 mg/kg feed (0.02-0.08%)

B. Effects:

a. 200-500 mg/kg: Supports rumen stability, reduces methane production.

b. 500-800 mg/kg: May enhance milk quality (antioxidant effects in dairy cows).

C. Considerations:

a. Rumen microbes can degrade some polyphenols, so higher doses may be needed.

b. Tannin-tolerant breeds (e.g., goats) tolerate up to 1,000 mg/kg.

 General Guidelines for Application

a. Start Low, Increase Gradually: Begin at the lower end of the range and adjust based on animal response.

b. Monitor Feed Intake: Ensure no reduction in consumption due to bitterness.

c. Combine with Palatability Enhancers: Use molasses, flavors, or fats to mask bitterness if needed.

d. Test Stability in Feed Processing: Ensure the extract remains active after pelleting or extrusion.

 

Vine tea powder can generally be used alongside probiotics and acidifiers, but interactions must be considered for optimal efficacy.

 Probiotics (Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Yeast, etc.)

A. Compatibility: Generally Synergistic

B. Effects:

a. Vine tea's antimicrobial properties (moderate) may help control pathogens while sparing beneficial bacteria.

b. Polyphenols (e.g., DHM) can act as prebiotics, promoting growth of certain probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus).

C. Recommended Use:

a. Space dosing (e.g., probiotics in the morning, vine tea powder in the evening) if high doses (>500 mg/kg) are used.

b. Encapsulated probiotics may improve survival in combination.

 Organic Acidifiers (Formic, Citric, Lactic Acid, etc.)

A. Compatibility: Neutral to Positive

B. Effects:

a. Vine tea's antioxidant effects complement acidifiers' antimicrobial action.

b. No major chemical interactions, but very low pH (from high acidifier doses) could slightly degrade polyphenols.

C. Recommended Use:

a. Safe at typical acidifier doses (e.g., 0.5-2% in feed).

b. Avoid direct premixing of concentrated acidifiers with vine tea powder (may cause clumping).

 

Whether you're formulating feed for better disease resistance, oxidative stability, or sustainable farming, Vine Tea Extract provides a natural, effective solution. To explore customized applications or request samples, reach out to our team for expert guidance at april@inhealthnature.com.