As we know, drinking water is an ideal medium for pathogenic germs and for this reason it is the main transmission route for disease in racing pigeon farming. For this reason, over 10 years ago, a reduction in the pH value of drinking water in the supply of racing pigeons became common practice.
The reduction to a pH value of 4.5 means that, for example, trichomonads cannot multiply in the drinking water and thus the treatment of these scourges with medicines can be reduced to a minimum.
Conventional preparations for acidifying drinking water develop their effect reliably and safely in the drinking water and in the anterior digestive tract. An effect on the intestinal tract was initially not sufficiently possible because they are neutralized by special buffer substances after passing through the stomach. In order to achieve an effect deep into the small intestine, since this year it has been possible to extend the effect with the help of special fatty acids. This mixture of short and medium chain fatty acids has a traditional pH-lowering effect and an innovative intestinal action against bacteria that are difficult to fight, such as streptococci, staphylococci and clostridia.
The way the new medium chain fatty acids work is simple but very effective. They are not neutralized by the buffer substances and reach the pigeons' small intestine unchanged. The pathogenic germs want to use the fatty acids as an energy source and therefore absorb them into the cell interior. Inside the cell, the medium chain fatty acids then have an antibacterial effect and render pathogenic germs harmless. This renders the pathogens in the intestine harmless and at the same time reduces the risk of a new infection via the drinking trough. Furthermore, the new acid combination protects the positive intestinal flora and optimizes nutrient absorption.
The use of butyric acid has proven to be particularly recommended as an addition to the short and medium chain fatty acids, because butyric acid is a main source of nutrients for the epithelial cells of the intestinal mucosa and is therefore extremely useful for intestinal regeneration after illnesses have been overcome.
These new acid combinations are therefore ideal for the prevention of intestinal imbalances. In order to achieve the optimal effectiveness of this combination, it has proven useful in practice to use it over a longer period of time in stressful phases, such as the beginning of the training phase of the young animals.
