Several mechanisms have been proposed through which organic acids feed can produce beneficial effects on the state of health and the growth performance of pigs; however, the following seem to be the most important:
These actions are favoured and implemented by the presence of orthophosphoric acid (inorganic acid) which favours a decrease of the gastric pH and especially in piglets, it allows a good conversion of the Pespinogen to Pepsin, the reaction which occurs for pH close to 2.
This very point turns out to be the most important in order to make proper use of organic acids in feedstuffs. In fact, acids must be used for the purpose of improving digestion animal, improving the digestibility of feeds helps prevent diarrhea.
All of this acts at the origin of the problem: a pig that ingests an indigestible product can go against an INTESTINAL FLOGOSIS (if ingestion is minimal) or shows INTESTINAL VOLUMES (if ingestion is abundant). Therefore, it is essential to use organic acids that act at stomach level.