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Microbial Beta Glucanases pp 73–83Cite as

Beta-Glucanases in Animal Nutrition

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Part of the book series: Interdisciplinary Biotechnological Advances ((IBA))

Abstract

Many nutrients such as proteins, lipids, and starch can be hydrolysed in the digestive tracts of animals. Although, due to a lack of hydrolysing enzymes, the majority of non-starch polysaccharides, such as beta-glucan, remain undigested. Beta-glucan rich cereals such as barley, oats, and wheat are used in animal feeds to boost immunological function, act as an alternative to antibiotics and improve the overall growth performances of animals. Apart from its positive effects, beta-glucan causes some negative effects in most animals and poultry. Beta-glucan content in animal feeds causes high digesta viscosity, sequentially it reduces nutrient digestibility and disruption of intestinal inhabitant microbiota. This can be overcome by the proper digestion of beta-glucan accomplished by the supplementation of exogenous beta-glucanase in animal feeds. Exogenous beta-glucanases efficiently eradicate the negative effects associated with beta-glucan and maintain the natural microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract. This chapter explains a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of beta-glucans in animal diets and the benefit of beta-glucanases as a feed enzyme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    Lekshmi K. Edison

  2. KSCSTE-Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    V. M. Ragitha

  3. KSCSTE-Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    N. S. Pradeep

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  1. Lekshmi K. Edison
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  2. V. M. Ragitha
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  3. N. S. Pradeep
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. KSCSTE-Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, Kozhikode, Kerala, India

    N.S. Pradeep

  2. Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    Lekshmi K Edison

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Edison, L.K., Ragitha, V.M., Pradeep, N.S. (2022). Beta-Glucanases in Animal Nutrition. In: Pradeep, N., Edison, L.K. (eds) Microbial Beta Glucanases. Interdisciplinary Biotechnological Advances. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6466-4_5

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