Selection guide

Butyrate Gut Health Programme

Choosing between sodium butyrate, calcium butyrate, monobutyrin and tributyrin by where in the gut the butyrate has to land.

The problem

Butyric acid is the main energy source for intestinal cells, but free butyric acid is impossible to handle: the odour contaminates a premix plant and it corrodes equipment. Every practical butyrate product is a compromise between where the butyrate is released and how easy the material is to dose.

Dry dosing, upper tract

Sodium butyrate powder at 98% min and calcium butyrate powder at 98% blend into a dry premix with no liquid addition equipment. Sodium butyrate adds sodium to the ration; calcium butyrate adds calcium at a pH of 7.0-10.0 instead. Both release mainly in the upper digestive tract.

Liquid dosing, early and fast

Monobutyrin at 90% min is a monoglyceride oily liquid. It releases short-chain fatty acids early and is the option aimed at diarrhoea incidence in young stock, where the problem sits before the hindgut.

Liquid dosing, sustained release

Tributyrin at 90% min is the triglyceride. It gives stable and sustained release of butyric acid further down the tract, which is what makes it the choice for hindgut condition and a longer antimicrobial effect.

How to decide

Start with the dosing equipment: no liquid line means a powder. Then decide the target: diarrhoea in young stock points to monobutyrin, hindgut condition and FCR point to tributyrin, and general gut development on a dry line points to sodium or calcium butyrate depending on whether the ration has sodium or calcium headroom.