The Different Types of Resistant Starch as Prebiotic in Livestock Nutrition

After public concerns about antibiotic resistant pathogens, antibiotic alternatives such as prebiotics has widely used in animal feeding. Prebiotics may be carbohydrates or non-carbohydrates. Resistant Starch (RS) is a product with prebiotic potential. Because of reaching resistant starch to the large intestine, it can be fermented by the gut microflora. Resistant starch is into 4 types consist of Resistant Starch type 1 (RS1), Resistant Starch type 2 (RS2), Resistant Starch type 3 (RS3) and Resistant Starch type 4 (RS4). Different types of resistant starch have different digestibility in small intestine. The feeding of resistant starch increases the concentrations of beneficial bacteria. It modulates the intestinal bacteria that are associated with improved health. It can increase the Ca and Mg absorption. The fermentation products of resistant starch by intestinal microflora also provide benefit by decreased intestinal pH which suppresses pathogenic bacteria. Eventually, it can promote the colonization of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.