Potassium diformate is a mixture of potassium formate and formic acid, which is one of the alternatives to antibiotics in pig feed additives and the first batch of non antibiotic growth promoters allowed by the European Union.

1、 Main functions and mechanisms of potassium diformate

1. Reduce the pH value in the intestine. Potassium formate is relatively stable in acidic environments and easily decomposes into formic acid in neutral or alkaline environments. Therefore, it is easy to decompose in the weakly alkaline environment of the pig intestine, and its products can significantly reduce the pH value of the chyme in the pig duodenum, and also promote the activation of gastric protease.
2. Regulate the gut microbiota. Adding potassium formate to the diet of piglets can produce low levels of Escherichia coli and Salmonella, as well as high levels and diversity of lactobacilli in their intestines. At the same time, studies have shown that feeding piglets with a diet supplemented with potassium formate significantly reduces Salmonella in their feces.
3. Improve digestion and utilization efficiency. Adding potassium formate to the diet can promote the secretion of gastric protease, thereby enhancing the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the diet by animals.
2、 The role in pig feed.
1. The effect on pig production performance. Research has shown that adding 1.2%, 0.8%, and 0.6% potassium formate to the diets of large pigs, breeding pigs, and weaned piglets, respectively, did not significantly affect the daily weight gain and feed utilization efficiency of pigs compared to adding compound antibiotics.
2. The effect on carcass quality. Adding potassium formate to the diet of growing and fattening pigs can reduce the fat content in the pork carcass and increase the lean meat content in the thighs, side abdomen, waist, neck, and waist.

3. The effect on diarrhea in weaned piglets. Weaned piglets are prone to diarrhea two weeks after weaning due to a lack of antibodies provided by the mother pig and insufficient secretion of stomach acid. Potassium formate has antibacterial, bactericidal, and reducing harmful gut microbiota effects, and has a positive effect on preventing piglet diarrhea. Experimental results have shown that adding potassium diformate to piglet diets can reduce diarrhea rates by 30%.