Natural Ingredient Fructo Oligosaccharide for Healthier Animal Nutrition Solution

As the global livestock industry actively seeks safe and effective alternatives to antibiotics, functional oligosaccharides—star ingredients developed based on modern nutrition and health concepts—have emerged as a focal point in the next generation of health products.

Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), a natural prebiotic ingredient, is increasingly gaining favour in international markets. It is a fermentable natural raw material compliant with international feed and food additive regulations, capable of improving animal gut health, enhancing feed conversion rates, and effectively optimising the farming environment.

Green Spring Technology'です Fructo Oligosaccharide ingredient offers excellent processing performance and can be widely applied in animal nutrition, health supplements, beverages, infant formula, confectionery, baking, and other fields, helping businesses develop the next generation of more market-competitive health products.

What is fructooligosaccharide?

Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a natural functional carbohydrate composed of 2–5 fructose units and 1 glucose unit linked by fructose bonds. Since its industrialisation by Meiji Seika in Japan in 1980, it has become an important functional ingredient widely used in the food and health supplement industries, particularly suited for products seeking ‘clean label’ and health-focused formulations.

Recent studies have shown that functional oligosaccharides have positive effects on regulating the microbial community and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, helping to maintain intestinal microecological balance and providing good support for daily health. As a recognised ‘prebiotic,’ it is increasingly attracting widespread attention from the nutrition and consumer markets.

1 Core Physical and Chemical Properties of Fructooligosaccharides

1.1 Sweetness and Viscosity

· Mild and refreshing sweetness: approximately 30%-60% of sucrose, making it ideal for low-sugar and sugar-reduced products.

· Moderate viscosity for easy processing: viscosity is similar to corn high-fructose syrup within the 0-70°C range and decreases with increasing temperature, facilitating pipeline transportation and process control.

1.2. Excellent Stability

· Highly stable in neutral pH environments and at temperatures below 120°C, suitable for most heat-processed foods such as baked goods, dairy products, and neutral beverages.

· Notes: May decompose under acidic conditions (pH < 3) and high temperatures (>70°C) (e.g., in juice beverages or acidic sauce sterilisation processes). Process protection or post-addition is required to maintain activity.

1.3. Wide processing applicability

· Good solubility: Easily soluble in water, convenient for use.

· Resistant to starch aging: Effectively extends the shelf life of baked products and maintains a soft texture.

· Moisture retention, alkali resistance, and shaping ability: Helps improve product texture and processing adaptability.

· Non-colouring: Does not affect the final colour of the product.

· Low moisture absorption: Convenient for storage and packaging, but requires storage in a dry environment.

2 .オリゴフルクトースの生理機能

Oligofructose (FOS) is a carbohydrate that is not easily broken down by digestive enzymes, allowing it to reach the intestines intact and become an efficient nutrient source for beneficial bacteria. Research indicates that it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria and plays a positive role in maintaining intestinal microecological balance.

In animal nutrition studies, supplementation with FOS has been found to provide the following supportive effects:

· Helps create a more acidic intestinal environment conducive to the growth of beneficial bacteria;

· Improves feeding condition and reduces the production of harmful metabolic byproducts;

· Has an auxiliary regulatory effect on lipid metabolism;

· Promotes mineral absorption and vitamin synthesis;

· Helps enhance the body's defensive capabilities.

Fructooligosaccharides can be efficiently and selectively utilised by beneficial bacteria, helping to establish a healthier digestive microenvironment and making them suitable for the development and application of various functional foods and animal nutrition products.

3 Application of fructooligosaccharides in feed for farmed animals such as pigs and chickens

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a green and safe feed ingredient that have seen increasing application in the livestock industry, particularly in pig and chicken farming, in recent years. In the industry's active search for alternatives to antibiotics, oligosaccharides have emerged as a promising new ingredient in animal nutrition due to their excellent functional properties.

They demonstrate multiple application values in livestock production, including improving animal growth performance, enhancing feed utilisation efficiency, and contributing to a healthier and cleaner rearing environment. Currently, oligosaccharides are being gradually incorporated into various feed formulations, offering new solutions for healthy livestock production.

3.1 Application of Fructooligosaccharides in Pig Farming

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), as a natural green feed additive, have demonstrated significant application potential in pig farming. Research indicates that adding appropriate amounts of fructooligosaccharides to feed can improve intestinal health in pigs, enhance growth performance, and have positive effects on the farming environment.

Adding FOS to the diet of weaned piglets can support the enhancement of amylase activity, help optimise the intestinal microecology, and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli. Multiple trials have shown that adding FOS at levels ranging from 0.2% to 1.5% can moderately increase average daily weight gain and feed utilisation efficiency in piglets, while also helping to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and improve overall production performance.

FOS is also applied in sow nutrition. Some reports indicate that it demonstrates positive effects in promoting lactation, increasing litter size, enhancing weaning weight of piglets, and supporting immune health in sows and piglets. For example, a farm observed improvements in litter size and weaning weight in practical applications. However, other studies suggest that the efficacy of FOS may vary depending on the age of pigs, additive dosage, and adaptation status.

3.2 Application of Fructooligosaccharides in Poultry Farming

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a promising green feed additive with diverse applications in poultry farming. Research indicates that they play a positive role in promoting poultry growth, supporting immune health, and improving production performance.

In broiler chicken farming, adding appropriate amounts of fructooligosaccharides helps improve weight gain and feed efficiency.Some experiments have shown that adding 0.25%–0.75% FOS to the diet can moderately increase breast muscle percentage and overall body weight while optimising the feed-to-weight ratio. Additionally, oligosaccharides have been reported to positively influence metabolic indicators in chickens, including changes in T3, T4, and insulin levels, thereby indirectly supporting metabolic health.

In laying hens and breeding chickens, FOS also shows promising application prospects. Studies have found that it can help improve egg production rates and exert positive effects on immune organ indices, suggesting its potential to support poultry's immune function. Additionally, trials indicate that FOS helps reduce the colonisation of pathogens such as Salmonella in the caecum, thereby providing a potential auxiliary measure for group health management.

3.3 Application of Fructooligosaccharides in Other Animal Diets

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), as a natural and safe feed additive, have been included in China's ‘Feed Additive Directory,’ with applications spanning various livestock species. In addition to pigs and chickens, FOS also demonstrates promising potential in cattle, sheep, aquatic animals, and experimental animals.

In ruminants, studies have shown that adding 0.3% FOS to the diet of weaned lambs helps regulate rumen microbial composition, promotes the growth of specific fibre-degrading bacteria (such as R. flavefaciens and F. succinogenes), and has certain positive effects on lamb health.However, dairy cow trials have shown that adding 0.75% FOS did not significantly affect milk production, milk fat content, or body weight, indicating that specific application effects may vary depending on animal species and feeding conditions.

In aquatic feed, FOS has also been proven to promote growth performance in certain fish species, improve survival rates, and reduce ammonia nitrogen levels in excrement to some extent, supporting the environmental sustainability of aquaculture water bodies.

Additionally, some studies on dairy and functional foods have mentioned that formulations containing oligosaccharides can positively influence immune markers such as macrophage activity in experimental animals, reflecting the potential value of FOS in promoting overall animal health.

Overall, oligosaccharides demonstrate functional application potential across different animal species, providing scientific basis and practical references for their broader adoption in feed systems.

4展望

As a green and safe feed additive, FOS is increasingly attracting widespread attention in the livestock and pet food industries. With the continuous rise in demand for healthy and sustainable production in the livestock industry, as well as the growing emphasis on pet health and nutrition among consumers, FOS, with its natural origin and functional advantages, demonstrates broad market prospects.

Under the trend of ‘reducing or replacing antibiotics,’ the industry is actively seeking safe and effective nutritional solutions. FOS helps optimise animal gut health and improve production performance, aligning with the development direction of modern livestock farming. Additionally, the domestic pet market continues to expand, and pet owners' demands for functional and health-oriented food attributes are constantly upgrading, creating new opportunities for FOS applications in the pet nutrition sector.

In the future, with further research and technological advancements, oligofructose is expected to play a significant role in more animal species and niche markets, providing new growth momentum and development directions for the feed and pet food industries.

If you are seeking safe, compliant, and efficient prebiotic ingredients for feed, health supplements, or functional foods, our fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are an ideal choice. We offer products that meet international standards, technical support, and customised solutions, and can arrange sample shipments and compliance consultations at any time. Please contact us at  helen@greenspringbio.com  or WhatsApp:  +86 13649243917 to collaborate on developing more competitive and healthy products.

参照

[1] jiang, z . m . functional oligosaccharidesの開発と応用[j]。^『官報』第2849号、大正9年(1920年)10月28日。

【2】ミン・リー、リウ・リヒョン、徐蘭皎機能性オリゴ糖の研究[j]。^『週刊ファミ通』2012年9月号(18-22面)より。

【3】胡学之、呉建峰。フルクトオリゴ糖の生理機能,生産と応用[j]。china food additives, 2007(06): 148-157。

[4] wang shihua, bai wenzhao, luo jinhua et al。オリゴフルクトースの飼料への応用[j]。2002年(平成14年)3月25日-26日。

【5】江伯、王章。機能性飼料添加物-オリゴフルクトース[j]。穀物と飼料産業,1997(07):27-29。

[6]ファン作業です。畜産における機能性オリゴ糖の応用[j]。『穀物と飼料産業』(2000年)、11頁。

[7] dandan l, et al。食用ごぼうから抽出したイヌリンの生体前作用。2008年(平成20年):29-34号。

[8]郭兴化。ビフィズス菌间学[M] .北京科学出版社(2002年)。

【9】黄海清、王儀珍。オリゴフルクトースの動物栄養への応用研究[j]。^ a b c de f g h i f g h i(2002) 26-28頁。