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Microbial Poly‐3‐Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a Feed Additive for Fishes and Piglets
Author(s) -
Wang Xuan,
Jiang XiaoRan,
Wu Fuqing,
Ma Yiming,
Che Xuemei,
Chen Xiyue,
Liu Ping,
Zhang Wenbing,
Ma Xi,
Chen GuoQiang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.201900132
Subject(s) - bioplastic , biodegradation , food science , fish <actinopterygii> , biocompatibility , polyhydroxyalkanoates , feed conversion ratio , animal feed , biology , biocompatible material , petrochemical , microbiology and biotechnology , body weight , chemistry , bacteria , fishery , organic chemistry , ecology , biomedical engineering , medicine , genetics , endocrinology
The large‐scale use of petrochemical‐based plastics is damaging our environment. Discarded plastics are harmful to both marine and land animals, sometimes causing death when ingested. Biodegradable plastics have gained attentions from the public and the academia to reduce environmental burdens. Poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB), the simplest and the best‐studied bioplastic member of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family synthesized by many bacteria, has been studied as a feed additive for large yellow croaker fish and weaned piglets. The fish grow faster and gain more weight when 1% and 2% PHB is added as a feed additive, accompanied by increased survival rates. Weaned piglets are found to grow normally and showed no significant change in average daily weight gains, average daily feed intakes, feed efficiency, and organ developments when 0.5% PHB is added to the feed. It can therefore be concluded that biodegradable and biocompatible PHB is not harmful as a feed additive for marine large yellow croakers and sensitive weaned piglets. PHB therefore holds great promise as a plastic that combines biodegradability and biocompatibility with good tolerability as a feed supplement for animals.