Feed Additives and Growth Promotants

1. Feed Additives and Growth Promotants Chapter 7

2. Objectives • Discuss the general use and purpose of feed additives and growth promotants • Describe the proper method of hormone implantation • Discuss the proper use of feed additives for various species of animals

3. Objectives (cont.) • Discuss labeling and regulation of feed additives • Discuss the proper mixing of feed additives in complete rations • Discuss health issues and concerns relating to the use of feed additives

4. Terminology • Feed additives: materials used in animal rations • Growth promotant: feed additives and hormone implants • Antibiotic: prevents the growth of bacteria • Antimicrobial: destroys or inhibits the growth of microorganisms

5. Terminology (cont.) • Anthelmintic: dewormer • Subtherapeutic: feeding drug below dose level to prevent disease • Chemobiotic: combination of an antibiotic and antibacterial in one compound • Nutrient sparing: a substance that allows animals to use nutrients more effectively

6. Terminology (cont.) • Subclinical diseases: present in the body at levels too low to cause visible effects • Hormones: help regulate body functions • Coccidiostats: added to rations to prevent the disease coccidiosis • Probiotics: change the bacteria to a more desirable type

7. Terminology (cont.) • Melengestrol acetate (MGA): a synthetic hormone similar to progesterone • Withdrawal period: period during which an additive cannot be fed before slaughter

8. Kinds of Feed Additives and Hormones • Antimicrobial Drugs • Antibiotic compounds • Kill or slow down growth of microorganisms, reducing threat of spreading in confinement • Used as feed additives for livestock, poultry • Conversion of feed to meat speeds up • Can produce healthier, more vigorous animals

9. Kinds of Feed Additives and Hormones (cont.) • Hormones and Hormone-Like Compounds • Hormones produced in animal’s body • Hormone-like compounds are synthetic and act like hormones in the body • Both produced commercially as feed additives • Use continues to be controversial • Banned in the EU

10. Kinds of Feed Additives and Hormones (cont.) • Anthelmintics • Compounds used to control worm infestations, such as large roundworms, nodular worms, and whipworms • Worms can reduce feed efficiency and rate of gain • Infestations usually affect groups of animals

11. Kinds of Feed Additives and Hormones (cont.) • Other Feed Additives • Coccidiostats • Used in cattle, sheep, swine, poultry • Prevents disease coccidiosis • Sodium bicarbonate • Regulates pH level, improves digestion • Probiotics • Encourage desirable bacteria in digestive tract

12. Beef Cattle • Antibiotics • Produce 3 to 5 percent improvement in rate of gain and feed efficiency • Hormones and Hormone-like Compounds • Rate of gain improves average of 10 percent • Feed efficiency improves 6 to 8 percent • Provided through feed or implants

13. Beef Cattle (cont.) • Implanting Procedure • Restrain head in squeeze chute • Do not use instrument with dull needle • Be sure needle, area, and site are clean • Injection site is the middle one third of the ear • When injecting be careful not to hit a vein • Withdraw needle slightly before injecting

14. Beef Cattle (cont.)

15. Beef Cattle (cont.)

16. Beef Cattle (cont.) • Using Combinations of Feed Additives and Hormones • Can promote growth, prevent diseases • Special-Purpose Additives • Worm treatment • Bloat prevention • Fly control

17. Dairy Cattle • Antibiotics • Used on improperly growing heifers • Improves growth rate, reduces stress • Used in calves to promote growth, improve feed efficiency, and to prevent diarrhea, liver abscesses, foot rot, respiratory diseases, and bloat

18. Dairy Cattle (cont.) • Other Additives • Anhydrous ammonia can be used as a forage preservative for low-quality feeds, wet hay • Improves digestibility of the fiber in the forage • Buffers, such as sodium bicarbonate, help preserve pH in the rumen • Isoacids may lead to more milk per day

19. Sheep and Goats • Fewer feed additives available • Antibiotics • Lead to improved feed efficiency, rate of gain • Special-Purpose Additives • Used to prevent gastrointestinal worms • Hormone Implants • Available, but not often used

20. Swine • Widely used in swine rations • Antibiotics • Improves rate of gain, feed efficiency • Can increase conception rate and litter size • Anthelmintics • Treatment provided during infestations

21. Poultry • Feed additives are primarily used for feed efficiency and growth in broiler chick and market turkey rations • Can also improve egg production • Prevention and control of diseases • Good management practices need to be followed to reduce disease, antibiotic use

22. Poultry • Primarily used to improve feed efficiency and growth in broiler chick and market turkey rations • Can also improve egg production • Prevention and control of diseases • Good management practices need to be followed to reduce disease, antibiotic use

23. Horses • Antibiotics typically not used for low-level feeding • Feed additives may be used for fly or gastrointestinal worm control

24. Regulation of the Use of Additives • Use of additives and implants is strictly regulated in the United States by FDA • Information on regulations can be found in the Feed Additive Compendium • Many additives only used within specified levels, and for specific animals • Some mixes require a withdrawal period

25. Regulation of the Use of Additives (cont.) • Feed Label Requirements • Any feed containing any level of one or more drugs is defined as medicated • FDA requires all feed manufacturers to provide information on labels relating to use of the feed • All labels on medicated feeds are assigned a lot/control number for batch identification

26. Mixing and Residue Avoidance • Mixing medicated feed properly is important for safe use • Failure can result in negative impacts • USDA conducts targeted, routine testing in slaughter plants • A regular procedure should be set up and followed when mixing medicated feeds

27. Keeping Records • Up-to-date records on medicated feed use can help farmers avoid problems with feed contamination, drug residues in livestock • A long-term plan for the use of feed additives should be established

28. Health Concerns • Concern that antibiotic use adversely effects both human and animal health • Concern of development of resistant strains • If antibiotics were banned, overall cost of consumer products would rise • If carcinogenic effects became present, additive would be withdrawn by FDA