Hydrolyzed proteins are widely utilized in the food industry to enhance the nutritional value of various products. This process creates formulations that are both nutrient-rich and tailored to meet specific dietary needs across multiple market sectors, including food and beverage industries aimed at malnourished individuals or those with digestive issues. Additionally, hydrolyzed proteins play a crucial role in managing allergies, formulating animal feeds, and developing nutritious supplements, offering easily digestible proteins and nutritional enhancement.
The enzymatic hydrolysis process modifies the biological properties of proteins under mild conditions, maintaining a near-neutral pH, and achieving high specificity and efficiency. This results in shorter amino acid chains that form well-defined peptides, as we'll explore later. Moreover, hydrolysis enhances both the nutritional and functional qualities of food by altering its chemical, physical, and immunological characteristics.
So, what exactly is enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins? How does this enzymatic process work, and why is it particularly beneficial for animal feed formulation? These questions guide our research and decisions regarding the incorporation of hydrolyzed proteins into various organisms' diets.
Understanding the Hydrolysis Process
To fully appreciate the advantages of hydrolyzed proteins, it's essential to understand how this process occurs. Various techniques exist to produce richly formulated proteins for nutritional purposes. However, the enzymatic approach stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and minimal reliance on harsh chemical methods.
The enzymatic hydrolysis process follows a sequence of steps: raw materials of animal origin are collected, milled, and processed with uncontaminated water. Adjustments are then made to pH levels, temperature, and reactor pressure before introducing a controlled enzyme for a specific duration. An inactivation method follows, transforming the raw material into hydrolyzed protein. Subsequent stages involve filtration, centrifugation, separation, sterilization, drying, and packaging, ultimately yielding hydrolyzed protein as the final product, intended for diverse industrial sectors (SOARES, 2019, p. 22) [1].
As noted earlier, converting raw materials into hydrolyzed protein involves carefully timed phases designed to yield a low-mineral, low-fat material enriched for specific needs. This process aims to break down proteins into shorter amino acid chains, creating a low molecular weight product that enhances nutrient absorption, improves digestibility, and facilitates passage through the intestinal membranes of animals (AKSNES et al., 2006) [3].
We've established that hydrolyzed proteins serve multiple roles in the food industry. Now, let's focus on their application in animal nutrition, particularly within the farming sector where balanced and nutrient-rich diets are increasingly important for improved digestion, animal health, and cost-effectiveness for producers while promoting environmental sustainability.
According to Aquaculture Brasil magazine (2021) [4], hydrolyzed proteins derived from animal co-products are obtained by processing intestines and offal. This practice represents a sustainable solution because it maximizes the use of animal byproducts, reducing waste and minimizing environmental pollution, especially in aquaculture settings.
"Utilizing the byproducts generated by animal processing industries is a means of offsetting the social and environmental impacts caused by this sector," notes Soares (2019, p. 20) [1].
Challenges in the Food Industry
It's critical to address the challenges faced by producers in the animal nutrition field, particularly concerning investments in animal feed and ingredients, which constitute significant costs across various domains—whether in aquaculture (including shrimp farming and pisciculture), pig farming, or pet feeding.
To grasp the magnitude of nutritional challenges for farmed animals, consider the UN's Agenda 2030, which predicts that aquaculture production in captivity will soon equal wild fishing output. This growth poses logistical challenges for producers who must ensure adequate nutrition for diverse species.
As highlighted by Soares (2019), intensified farming practices rely heavily on balanced diets that enhance animal physiology and productivity. Producers face the challenge of finding affordable yet nutritionally robust feeds that meet evolving requirements, ensuring optimal performance and health outcomes.
Innovation has provided answers, exemplified by BRF Ingredients' development of formulations enriched with bioactive peptides. Their product, Chicken Hydrolyzed Proteins (CPH) BioActio Health & Performance, addresses these concerns effectively.
Why Choose BioActio Hydrolyzed Proteins?
Designed to boost animal feed efficacy, BioActio Hydrolyzed Proteins are functional foods created via enzymatic hydrolysis. This process yields shorter amino acid chains known as bioactive peptides, offering numerous advantages to animals.
BRF Ingredients offers a range of formulations catering to specific nutritional needs, adding value to agricultural outputs. Products like BioActio Health & Performance Chicken Hydrolyzed Protein and BioActio Health & Palatability Chicken Liver Hydrolyzed Protein feature high protein content, excellent digestibility, and palatability. Produced using fresh feedstock from poultry and swine byproducts, they boast low molecular weights, balanced amino acid profiles, and bioactive peptides.
For instance, BioActio Health & Performance demonstrates an apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) exceeding 90% in tilapia, dog, and cat diets. Functional properties like enhanced intestinal health, disease resistance, improved immunity, and stress reduction make BioActio formulations stand out.
What Are Bioactive Peptides?
Bioactive peptides arise from breaking down proteins using water, resulting in smaller amino acid chains. This improves nutrient and vitamin absorption, optimizing essential amino acids within the animal body. These peptides enter the bloodstream directly, enhancing feeding efficiency, accelerating growth, boosting immunity, and alleviating stress-related ailments.
Bioactive peptides from BioActio Health & Performance Hydrolyzed Proteins exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory properties, improving feed conversion ratios.
Conclusion
The benefits of hydrolyzed proteins are scientifically validated, supported by extensive research and innovative formulations from BRF Ingredients. Incorporating BioActio Hydrolyzed Proteins into aquaculture, pig farming, and pet diets improves zootechnical performance while contributing to environmental sustainability.
Enzymatic hydrolysis not only reduces waste but also adds value for producers, optimizing cost-efficiency. Explore the full potential of the enzymatic hydrolysis process and discover the unique benefits of BioActio Health & Performance and BioActio Health & Palatability Hydrolyzed Proteins.
References
[1] SOARES, M. Evaluation of chicken and pork protein hydrolysates in shrimp nutrition. Thesis (Ph.D. in Aquaculture). University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, pp. 99. 2019. Available at:
[2] PASUPULEKI, V. K., DEMAIN, A. L., editors. Protein hydrolysates in biotechnology. New York: Springer Science, p. 11–32, 2010. Available at: Protein Hydrolysates in Biotechnology | SpringerLink. Accessed: Aug. 2022.
[3] AKSNES, Anders et al. Inclusion of size-fractionated fish hydrolysate in high plant protein diets for Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. Aquaculture, [s.l.], v. 261, n. 3, p.1102-1110, Dec. 2006. Elsevier BV. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.07.038. Accessed: Aug. 2022.
[4] Aquaculture: Chicken Hydrolyzed Protein in Tilapia Larvae Feeding. Available at:
[5] FAO – United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018. Available at:
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