Innovation in Natural Extracts, Prebiotics & Parabiotics for Pet Nutrition

Within this context, several scientific terms have moved beyond academia and now feature prominently on health-oriented product labels, driving innovation in animal-feed formulations:
 

• Prebiotics: substrates that are selectively utilised by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit.
• Probiotics: live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
• Postbiotics: preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit.
• Parabiotics: non-viable microbial cells, cellular structures or fermentation extracts devoid of live organisms.
   

These functional ingredients not only promote gastrointestinal health but also reduce the need for antibiotic interventions, improve feed conversion ratios and potentiate immune responses —thereby lowering disease incidence. The upshot is higher productivity together with a growing consumer preference for safe, antibiotic-free, 'naturally derived' animal products. Pets likewise benefit from functional diets that support health, growth and longevity.
 

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The Gut-Skin Axis: A Postbiotic Strategy

At 3A BIOTECH, we fully embrace this paradigm, designing natural extracts and formulations that safeguard the food chain and care for both livestock and companion animals. Our portfolio contains numerous prebiotic solutions. Among the botanical extracts with proven prebiotic activity that we incorporate are rosemary, green-tea, olive-fruit (and co-products) and soybean extracts. Beyond their well-documented antioxidant properties, these materials supply prebiotic molecules and serve as natural alternatives to conventional aroma and fat stabilisers, preventing rancidity during drying processes and extending product shelf life.
 

A flagship example is our proprietary Tocotyrosol™ range —an all-natural substitute for synthetic additives that unites technological functionality with prebiotic activity to support a balanced diet. The formulation synergises tocopherols from oilseeds, hydroxytyrosol and other olive derivatives, plus rosemary and green-tea extracts. Health benefits stem from the bioactive principles within these extracts. For instance, rosemary-derived rosmarinic acid is metabolised by gut symbionts into compounds capable of suppressing pathogenic bacteria while stimulating beneficial microbes.
 

Available in lipid- and water-soluble formats, both liquid and powder, these solutions extend the shelf life of dry pet food, stabilise organoleptic properties and texture, and enrich formulations with essential nutrients. All products are backed by quality certifications such as GMP+, IP-Non-GMO, Kosher, Halal and CAAE.
 

Beyond our current prebiotic portfolio, 3A BIOTECH is actively developing parabiotic formulations derived from proprietary fermentative strains, with promising preliminary results. Parabiotics are particularly valuable where probiotic viability cannot be guaranteed —e.g., high-temperature pelleted feeds or products requiring long storage. Multiple studies demonstrate that parabiotics fortify the intestinal barrier, attenuate inflammation and modulate both innate and adaptive immunity across animal species, thereby improving overall health status.
 

The convergence of biotechnology and animal nutrition now enables unprecedented diet personalisation, lowering antimicrobial use and optimising resource efficiency. Microbiome sequencing, intestinal metagenome analysis, bespoke fermentation platforms and in-vitro digestive models are revealing intricate microbe–nutrient–host interactions. In this light, our products are far more than 'additives': they are microbial-engineering tools that help cut antibiotics, boost gut health, improve feed efficiency and shrink the environmental footprint of animal production.
 

We invite industry partners to join us on this journey, embracing technological solutions that transform animal nutrition into a lever for value creation, sustainability and profitability. At 3A BIOTECH, we remain committed to research, development and the transfer of innovations that make a tangible difference in the field.


By 3A BIOTECH
Source: All Pet Food Magazine