Classification of Feed Additives Used in Poultry and Livestock Production: A Review

Abstract

Feed cost accounts for between 65 and 75% of the total cost of production in any commercial poultry and livestock enterprise. Several approaches have been recommended towards solving the high feed cost problem including the use of unconventional local feed raw materials, manipulation of feed forms and feeding methods and use of feed additives. Nutritionists and experts in animal production have advocated for inclusion of feed additives as a means of optimizing the uptake of nutrients from alternative feed raw materials to improve production. Feed additives are substances added to feed to improve efficiency of feed utilization and acceptance, or for enhanced metabolism and animal health. Feed additives tend to fall into certain categories which describe their action in the feed or in the animal which serve as a guide to farmers in their applications. This paper presents a review of the classifications of feed additives with some as alternatives to antibiotics in promotion of health and performance in poultry and livestock. These feed additives have been classified into feed manufacturing, performance enhancing, nutritional feed additives and feed additives that improve animal health.