Encapsulation of bioactive compounds for the formulation of functional animal feeds: The biofortification of derivate foods

•Bioactive compounds feed’s supplementation improves the derived product quality.•Some bioactive compounds are easily degraded and confer unpleasant taste to feeds.•Microencapsulation offers the possibility to protect sensitive compounds.•Microencapsulation increases the bioavailability and mask the compounds taste. Microencapsulation is a technology that has increasing application in animal nutrition. This technology provides the possibility to protect sensitive compounds through the feed process and the storage conditions. Furthermore, the application of this technique affords the possibility to increase the bioavailability of compounds and to mask the unpalatable compounds taste. Different are the compounds to consider for microencapsulation include certain vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids and live microorganisms. Understanding the interdependence between bioactive compounds, coating, technology and environment is the key to successful application of microencapsulation also in animal nutrition. In this review, a focus on the use of microencapsulated bioactive compounds for the feed supplementation and the related effects on the derivate animal product is given.