Non-nutrient feed additives

NON-NUTRIENT FEED ADDITIVES

This group of feed additives do not have any direct nutritional role, but are added to the feed to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by various diseases and stress factors; to improve feed efficiency by better digestion, absorption and utilisation of nutrients; to enhance colour, flavour, consistency and quality of feed, and to improve the shelf life of the feed by curbing, caking, moulds, mustiness, oxidation and other physical, chemical and micro-biological degradation.

Classification, Uses and Examples

  • Non-nutrient feed additives are classified as follows, based on their nature and functions:
    • Antibiotic feed supplements: Used to control sub-clinical bacterial infections and thereby boost the performance. Examples are tetracyclines, tiamutin, lincomycin, tylosin, erythromycin, colistin, doxycycline, bacitracin, flavomycin, virginiamycin, etc. It is advisable to use antibiotics which are not used in the treatment of human and animal diseases. Introduction of probiotics with favourable microbes has now limited the usage of antibiotics in feed.
    • Non-antibiotic anti-microbial feed supplements: Check bacterial infections and promotes performance. Examples: Furazolidone, chlorhydroxy-quinoline.
    • Antimycotic agents: Prevent mould growth and production of toxins. Examples: Gentian violet, copper sulphate, propionic acid, calcium propionate and sodium benzoate.
    • Coccidiostats: Prevent outbreaks of coccidiosis. Examples: Dinitro-ortho-toluamide, salinomycin, robenidine, nicarbazine, monensin and maduramycin.
    • Anti-parasitic additives: Check various parasitic infestations. Examples: Dichlorophan, Niclosamide and Praziquantel.
    • Anti-oxidants: Prevent oxidative rancidity of fats and oils. Examples: B.H.T., B.H.A. and Ethoxyquin.
    • Enzymes: Help in better digestion of the food. Examples: Protease, lipase, cellulase, amylase, phytase and pectinase.
    • Hormones: Promote growth rate, feed efficiency and egg production. Examples: Caseated iodine, melengestrol acetate, ethylestranol and stanazol.
    • Arsenicals: Promote growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass finish.Examples:3 Nitro-4-hydroxy phenyl arsanilic acid.
    • Adsorbents: Adsorb or bind toxins and prevent their absorption from the intestine. Examples: Zeolites, activated charcoal.
    • Pellet binders: Used for pelleting the feed in preparation of crumbled feed for broilers. Examples: Bentonite, sodium alginate, carboxy methyl cellulose, gelatine, lignosulphonate, carragenan and guargum.
    • Deodorising agents: Reduce the ammonia production in the litter. Example: Yucca extract.
    • Flavouring agents: Improve feed flavour and thereby feed intake, growth rate and production. Examples: Essential oils, fish oils,etc.
    • Pigments: Impart attractive colour to the feed as well as to the products like egg yolk and skin. Examples: Canthaxanthin, leutin, zeaxanthin,etc.
    • Herbal preparations: Tone up the liver, improve the appetite and increase disease and toxin resistance power of the birds. Examples: Extracts of herbs.
    • Performance boosters: Improve overall performance of the birds by various means. Examples: Nitrovin,avoparcin,etc.
    • Immuno-stimulants: Stimulate anti-body production, cell-mediated immunity and general resistance to disease. Examples: Tetrahydrophenylimidazole, immogen, levamisole,etc.
Last modified: Sunday, 3 June 2012, 6:43 AM