Feed enzymes

Enzymes are proteins which can be found in people, animals, plants and microorganisms alike. Enzymes are natural tools to cut and paste all kinds of biological material and start key biological processes. For example, it is enzymes in our stomachs that break down food into a form that can be absorbed into our bodies and converted into energy. The use of enzymes in the production of foods is nothing new. Cheese, beer and wine are good examples of foods that cannot be made without enzymes.

To understand the action of enzymes, we can use the metaphor of a lock and key. Imagine a substrate (the molecule on which an enzyme acts) as a kind of lock and an enzyme as the only key which will open it. Put the two together, and a rapid reaction takes place which breaks the substrate into two or more smaller parts. The enzyme key is then removed intact to play its role in another reaction.

Feed enzymes have an important role to play in current farming systems. They can increase the digestibility of nutrients, leading to greater efficiency in the production of animal products such as meat and eggs. At the same time they can play a role in minimizing the environmental impact of increased animal production.