Unit 10: Feed Additives in Animal Nutrition

These flashcards cover key concepts related to feed additives used in animal nutrition, including their purposes, examples, and effects.

What are feed additives?

Non-nutritive substances added to animal feeds to improve feed utilization, digestion efficiency, and provide protection from disease.

List three reasons why feed additives are included in animal feeds.

1. Improve feed utilization

2. Enhance palatability

3. Provide protection from disease.

What is the role of anti-fungal agents in animal feeds?

To prevent the growth of molds on feeds while being stored, reducing the risk of mycotoxins.

Give an example of a commonly used anti-fungal agent.

Gentian violet or ammonia treatment.

What is the purpose of antioxidants in animal feeds?

To prevent the oxidation (rancidity) of fat in feeds.

What can the oxidation of fats in feeds lead to?

It can damage fat-soluble vitamins and result in feed refusal due to reduced palatability.

Name a commonly used antioxidant in animal feeds.

Ethoxyquin.

What are feed flavors used for in animal feeds?

To enhance the palatability of feeds for animals under nutritional stress.

Which animals typically benefit from added sweeteners in feed?

Newly weaned animals and lactating animals.

What are digestion modifiers?

Substances added to animal diets that assist in the digestive processes to improve efficiency.

What is the role of microbial-origin enzymes in feed?

They assist in digesting components of feed that the animal cannot digest on its own.

What do buffers in animal nutrition do?

They resist changes in pH by binding or releasing acidic hydrogen ions to maintain proper pH levels.

What are ionophores used for in animal nutrition?

To improve feed conversion efficiency and manage coccidiosis in chickens.

What is a commonly known effect of ionophores in cattle?

They encourage the formation of propanoic acid, improving nutrient utilization.

Define probiotics in the context of animal nutrition.

Direct feeding of microbial cultures to animals to promote a healthy microbial population in the gastrointestinal tract.

Give an example of a commonly used probiotic.

Lactobacillus acidophilus.

What is the effect of organic acids on weaned pig diets?

They reduce the pH of stomach contents, helping to control enteric infections.

Why are sub-therapeutic dosages of antibiotics no longer allowed in animal feeds?

They can lead to antibiotic resistance and are associated with increasing growth rates without therapeutic need.

List two commonly used antimicrobials in animal feeds that are now disallowed for prophylactic use.

Bacitracin and Chlortetracycline.