FERMNUTRAL: A POSTBIOTIC INNOVATION TO MAXIMIZE GUT HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY IN POULTRY PRODUCTION

Gut Health: The Key to Modern Poultry Production
The expression of the genetic potential of poultry largely depends on intestinal health. The gastrointestinal tract houses nearly 70% of the immune cells and constitutes the primary barrier against enteric pathogens. However, during the early stages of life, immune immaturity increases susceptibility to infections and microbiota imbalances, particularly under intensive production systems.

Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have been used to improve productive performance and reduce health-related challenges. However, their continuous use has been associated with antimicrobial resistance, intestinal dysbiosis, and concerns regarding food safety and public health.

In this context, postbiotics have emerged as a sustainable alternative. They are defined as preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their bioactive components, including short-chain fatty acids, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides, peptides, and cell

wall fragments. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics offer greater stability, safety, and consistency, making them an effective alternative to AGPs (Zhong et al., 2022).

Postbiotics vs. Probiotics: A Real Competitive Advantage
The probiotics most commonly used in poultry production, such as Lactobacillus spp. and spore-forming Bacillus spp., present certain limitations when compared with postbiotics.

Lactobacillus species are heat-sensitive microorganisms; therefore, their survival during feed pelleting and storage may be compromised. In addition, factors such as chlorination of drinking water can reduce their viability and, consequently, their biological efficacy.

In contrast, Bacillus spp. exhibit high resistance to elevated temperatures due to spore formation. However, their beneficial effects may depend on successful intestinal germination and on the physiological and microbiological conditions of the host. Furthermore, these bacteria do not permanently colonize the gastrointestinal tract, meaning that their biological impact may depend on continuous administration through feed or drinking water.

Postbiotics exhibit high stability during feed processing and storage, as well as in chlorinated drinking water, because they do not rely on cell viability. Moreover, their bioactive compounds can exert their effects immediately upon ingestion, without requiring germination or intestinal colonization. This allows for a faster, more reproducible, and more consistent response (De Marco et al., 2018).

FermNutral: Bioactive Profile of a Full-Spectrum Postbiotic
FermNutral is a postbiotic developed and manufactured by CPBIO through the controlled biological fermentation of the Clostridium butyricum CPBIO3000 strain using natural raw materials. (Figure1)

The product is supplied as granules with demonstrated stability at temperatures exceeding 80°C (simulating the feed pelleting process). The recommended inclusion rate for poultry is 300–500 g/t of feed. FermNutral is produced under FAMI-QS, FDA-cGMP, and ISO 9001/14001/18001 certifications, which have been maintained since 2001.

FermNutral contains a diverse range of bioactive compounds generated during the fermentation process, including teichoic acids, lipoteichoic acids, butyricin, antimicrobial peptides, and exopolysaccharides.

Within its short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) fraction, butyric acid represents approximately 40% of the total SCFAs. Other SCFAs are present at lower concentrations, including acetic acid (21.6 mg/kg) and propionic acid (81.6 mg/kg).
The vitamin fraction includes vitamin E (13.9 IU/kg), vitamin B1 (17.2 mg/kg), vitamin B2 (5.08 mg/kg), vitamin B5 (57.3 mg/kg), vitamin B6 (98.3 mg/kg), vitamin B12 (0.34 mg/kg), folic acid (30.9 mg/kg), and vitamin K3 (1.97 mg/kg). The mineral profile provides calcium (15.2%), total phosphorus (0.76%), iron (760 mg/kg), zinc (42 mg/kg), magnesium (3,600 mg/kg), and chromium (11.67 mg/kg). Additionally, FermNutral contains 17 amino acids, including glutamic acid (1.37%), alanine (0.59%), valine (0.46%), leucine (0.50%), and lysine (0.29%). Altogether all amino acids are between 10-12% in product.

This unique combination of bioactive metabolites, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids supports intestinal integrity, microbial balance, immune function, and productive performance in poultry.

Figure 1: A postbiotic product derived from biological fermentation of Clostridium butyricum CPBIO3000 using natural raw materials

FermNutral: Bioactive Compounds
FermNutral contains a wide range of bioactive compounds generated during the fermentation process, with butyric acid being the predominant short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), representing approximately 40% of the product. Butyrate serves as a major energy source for enterocytes and promotes epithelial renewal, mucin synthesis, and the expression of tight junction proteins. These effects contribute to maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and reducing intestinal permeability.
In addition, butyrate exhibits immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties through its ability to regulate epigenetic processes, promote goblet cell differentiation, and stimulate the activation of regulatory T lymphocytes. It may also enhance intestinal serotonin release, which has been associated with the gut-brain axis and productive performance. Acetic and propionic acids complement these effects by regulating the intestinal environment and inhibiting undesirable microorganisms.

FermNutral also provides teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids, which are recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) on the intestinal mucosa. These components modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses, promoting a balance between immune defense and tolerance while helping to control intestinal inflammation (Pasquina et al., 2013; Muhammad et al., 2021).

Furthermore, FermNutral supplies butyricin (a bacteriocin), bioactive peptides, and antimicrobial peptides produced during fermentation, which contribute to the control of undesirable microorganisms and the modulation of intestinal microbiota. Exopolysaccharides are also present and have been reported to stimulate secretory IgA production and strengthen the mucosal barrier. In addition, the product’s vitamin and mineral profile acts synergistically to support immune function, antioxidant status, intestinal integrity, and productive performance.

FermNutral in poultry production
Several experiments conducted in China and Thailand have demonstrated the efficacy of FermNutral in poultry production. In a study at Guizhou University (China) comparing a control diet with additives such as FermNutral, Clostridium butyricum, protected sodium butyrate, and tributyrin in broiler chickens, the postbiotic (FermNutral) was confirmed to improve weight gain (+13%) and reduce feed conversion ratio (-11.68%) compared with the control and other experimental treatments.

In addition, another experiment carried out in a commercial broiler farm in China found that FermNutral reduced the feed conversion ratio (1.73 vs 1.77) and improved viability (+1.94) and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF; 338.70 vs 315.30) in relation to the control diet.
Likewise, in a commercial broiler farm in Thailand, the use of FermNutral increased weight gain (+4.2%) and EPEF (+11.70%) and reduced feed conversion ratio (-7.69%). Furthermore, other trials conducted at Guizhou University (China) showed that FermNutral increased villus height in the duodenum (+9%), jejunum (+4%), and ileum (+8%), and improved the villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) in the duodenum (6.92 vs 6.27) and jejunum (5.71 vs 5.04).

Figure 3 : FermNutral effect on Immunoglobulins

Additional results from this experiment reported that FermNutral decreased the population of Escherichia coli in the duodenum (0.014 vs 0.234) and jejunum (0.0004 vs 0.013). Moreover, it promoted the growth of Lactobacillus in different intestinal segments, as determined by the relative abundance of microorganisms through 16S rDNA sequencing. (Figure 2) Finally, the inclusion of FermNutral in the diet improved the concentration of IgA (+13%), IgG (+19%), and IgM (+24%) compared with the control diet. (Figure 3)

Figure 2 : 16S rDNA sequencing to determine relative abundance of microorganisms in Poultry Intestine

Other trials conducted on a commercial farm in China with 48-week-old laying hens showed that FermNutral improved laying rate (+1.4) and shell thickness (+0.05 mm), while reducing feed conversion ratio (-0.06) and broken eggs (-2.6%), without affecting other productive performance parameters.

Likewise, in an experiment carried out at Henan Agricultural University, China, using 50-week-old laying hens, FermNutral increased egg weight (61.63 vs 59.77 vs g) and improved feed conversion ratio (2.08 vs 2.11 vs), while reducing dirty eggs (0.17 vs 0.45 %), broken eggs (0.32 vs 0.47 %), and unfit eggs (0.15 vs 0.28 %). These results demonstrate that FermNutral is an innovative and differentiated alternative within the new generation of postbiotics.

References
De Marco S, et al. (2018). Probiotic cell-free supernatants exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Liu H, et al. (2023). Postbiotics modulate gut health and laying performance in laying hens. Animal Nutrition, 14, 244–256.
Muhammad I, et al. (2021). Lipoteichoic acid from Bacillus subtilis improves immune function of broiler chickens. Antioxidants, 10(9), 1414.
Pasquina LW, et al. (2013). Teichoic acid biosynthesis as an antibiotic target. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 16(5), 531–537.
Zhong R, et al. (2022). Gut microbiota and its interactions with postbiotics in animal production. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 831495.
About CPBIO – A Global Biotech Company, Based on the global practice of Charoen Pokphand Group in the agricultural, animal husbandry and food industry chain, CPBIO has extensively and deeply participated in the health cause of animals, the earth and human beings with the thinking of the whole industry chain. Organizations and individuals in large-scale validated products and solutions.

About CPBIO – A Global Biotech Company, Based on the global practice of Charoen Pokphand Group in the agricultural, animal husbandry and food industry chain, CPBIO has extensively and deeply participated in the health cause of animals, the earth and human beings with the thinking of the whole industry chain. Organizations and individuals in large-scale validated products and solutions.

Dr. Natthanan Nukitrangsan,
Ph.D, Feed Nutritionist & Technical Consultant
CP BIO

Introduction
Imbalances in the intestinal microbiota are linked to the development of various diseases. As a result, there has been growing interest in using prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to modulate the gut microbiome. Postbiotics refer to substances released or produced through the metabolic activity of microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host, either directly or indirectly. Since postbiotics do not contain live microorganisms, the risks typically associated with their consumption are significantly reduced.

In this review, we critically examine current literature on postbiotics, focusing on their mechanisms of action and potential applications in performance trials. We highlight their distinct benefits compared to live probiotics, with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness of postbiotics in target animals. The review explores their key components and advantages related to diet and gut health, emphasizing their role in supporting animal production—particularly in poultry. Relevant studies are referenced to illustrate the immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of postbiotics, as well as their overall impact on productivity and health in animal systems.

How to distinguish postbiotics and their benefits compared to live probiotics?

Postbiotics are metabolic by-products produced by bacteria (exogenous postbiotics). They include non-viable bacterial components and substances such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), peptides, bacteriocins, proteins, and amino acids, all of which can confer health benefits to the host. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics are more stable during feed processing and under various environmental conditions. This enhanced stability, along with their enriched nutrient profile, makes postbiotics a promising alternative to probiotics in animal feed applications.

The use of postbiotics as a tool for improving the health of livestock and poultry shows great promise, owing to their numerous benefits and several advantages over probiotics and prebiotics. As metabolic byproducts or components derived from probiotic bacteria, postbiotics are less sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and processing methods (Hossain et al., 2021). This enhanced stability allows them to retain their functional and beneficial properties over time, making them well-suited for diverse applications in animal health and nutrition (Thorakkattu et al., 2022).

Furthermore, we provided the information of postbiotics that can offer more advantages than live probiotics; for instance, (Rafique et al., 2023),

(a) Live probiotics may struggle to adhere to the gut mucosa due to the presence of a mucous layer that limits direct contact between bacteria and the epithelial surface. In contrast, postbiotics can more easily penetrate this mucous layer.
(b) Postbiotics pose no risk of infection from bacterial translocation from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream, which is particularly important for immunocompromised or susceptible individuals. Additionally, they do not carry the risk of acquiring or transferring antibiotic resistance genes.
(c) Postbiotics offer practical advantages—they are easier to dose, transport, standardize, and store. Moreover, they have significant potential to support intestinal barrier function and may serve as an effective alternative to probiotics (Liu et al., 2023).

The benefits of postbiotics for gut health.
Postbiotics can inhibit the growth of pathogens and strengthen gut barrier function through the action of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). For instance, butyrate serves as an energy source for colon epithelial cells and the intestinal mucosa, thereby supporting gut integrity and reducing intestinal permeability.
In addition to enhancing gut barrier function, butyrate plays a role in immunomodulation and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects while helping to improve growth performance, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Functions of postbiotics

Butyric acid has demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus suis) and Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, Campylobacter jejuni) (Kovenda et al., 2019).

The mode of action of sodium butyrate involves its conversion to butyric acid, which can penetrate bacterial cell walls primarily through diffusion. Once inside the cell, butyrate induces cytoplasmic toxicity by lowering the intracellular pH. This acidification disrupts key metabolic processes, depletes energy reserves, and leads to the excretion of protons (H⁺), which further diffuse into the bacterial cell and contribute to toxicity. The increased proton concentration interferes with ATP synthesis by impairing the bacterial cell’s ability to maintain proton gradients essential for energy production and metabolism. Ultimately, the drop in pH and metabolic disruption result in bacterial cell death (Ahsan et al.,2016).

Maximize the effectiveness of postbiotics in target animals.
Based on researches, postbiotic can be able to target gut-brain axis influence on serotonin to improve growth performance (Sofie et al., 2021; Ishii et al.,2019), gut health and nutrient digestion (Ahmed et al., 2014; Kumar et al., 2014), antimicrobial (Mantziari et al., 2020; Fong et al., 2020), anti-inflammation and Immune-microflora balance (Torino et al., 2015; Miyazawa et al., 2015; Maghsood et al., 2018;) including postbiotic/probiotic as an alternative ATB/ZnO (Ali et al., 2023).

FermNutral® derived from the biological fermentation of the probiotic strain Clostridium butyricum, the main components of the product include amino acids, minerals, and beneficial metabolites classified as postbiotics. Rafique et al. (2023), writing in the Journal of Agriculture & Food Research, reviewed the principal classes of postbiotics with health-promoting effects:

1. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) –
Butyrate supports gut integrity, reduces intestinal permeability, modulates immunity, exerts anti-inflammatory actions, and suppresses pathogens. In broilers, butyrate also raises apparent total‑tract crude‑fat digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy (AME), enhancing overall digestion and nutrient absorption.
2. Antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) – These peptides display activity against common pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Escherichia coli.
3. Quorum‑sensing (QS) interference – Certain postbiotics inhibit pathogen biofilm formation by disrupting QS signaling, thereby curbing colonization and persistence.
4. Polysaccharides (e.g., teichoic acids) – Contribute anti‑ inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, further supporting host health.
5. B‑complex vitamins, proteins, and amino acids – Provide additional nutritional and functional benefits that complement the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory actions of other postbiotic fractions.

Postbiotic product in poultry trials
FermNutral (FN)® is a postbiotic product consisting of non-living microorganisms (inactivated bacteria) or their components that provide health benefits to the host. It also includes byproducts of probiotic activity in the gut, such as fermentation metabolites.

The main ingredient is calcium butyrate, which makes up 50% of the product. Other components include short-chain fatty acids (butyric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid), 18 amino acids, vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, E, and K), and minerals (Ca, Fe, Zn, Na, Mg, P, Mn, Cr).

Based on our trial data and correlated research publications, we can confidently say that FN improves productive performance and reduces feed costs, which contributes to higher profits and effective solutions in animal production.

Typically, we focus on both performance and economic returns in animal production, especially for pigs, poultry, and aquatic species. Through extensive research conducted by CP BIO, we have found that using FN in aquatic animals such as Tilapia, Ruby fish, Penaeus vannamei, and Micropterus salmoides significantly enhances growth performance, feed efficiency, survival rates, and overall economic returns, as shown in Table 1.

Conclusions
FermNutral (FN) is a biological fermentation product derived from the probiotic strain Clostridium butyricum. It primarily contains short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate, along with amino acids, minerals, and beneficial metabolites acting as postbiotics. Essentially, FN functions through the diet-gut-microbe axis to provide effective animal health solutions. Butyrate mainly supplies energy to the epithelial cells of the colon, improving digestion and nutrient absorption while controlling pathogens, maintaining immune balance, and reducing inflammation. Therefore, the multi-modal actions of FN help support gut function, enhancing animal performance and profitability.

References available on request.