For acidic organic compounds, the term organic acid is used. The structure of organic acids is based on the carbon skeleton. The most common organic acids are buturic, fumaric, formic, probionic, sorbic, cetic, citric and malic acids and their salts. Organic acids are present in pure plant and animal organisms. However, it is also obtained naturally. When organic acids are used and metabolized in the animal body, carbon dioxide and water are released. Based on this feature, today organic acids are used as preservatives and productivity enhancing additives in animal nutrition and compound feed production. In recent years, antibiotics have been banned and organic acids have taken their place in animal nutrition.

In general, organic acids are in the group of weak acids. They do not completely dissolve in water as strong mineral acids do. Organic acids such as formic and lactic acid, which are smaller in molecular form, are mixed into water. However, many organic acids are well soluble in organic solvents. Therefore, it is widely used in organic chemistry.

Organic acids are mostly used to prevent mycotoxin growth in feed and raw materials. Mycotoxins reduce the yield of animals and cause health problems and even death. Organic acids also increase the storage time of feed and raw materials in warehouses. Compound feed raw materials are generally contaminated with yeast, fungi and bacteria. Once they find the appropriate environment, they multiply rapidly, reducing the yield of animals fed with these feeds, and even causing serious health problems in the animals.

Organic acids also have an antibacterial effect on the digestive system of animals and accelerate growth in animals.

In authorized laboratories, organic acid determination studies are carried out in feed and raw materials within the scope of chemical tests and the highest performance of liquid chromatography (HPLC) device is used in analysis. This method provides reliable results in the separation of non-volatile or easily degradable chemical compounds at temperature.