Boosting performance, health and product quality

摘要

Additives are added to poultry feed for three basic reasons: disease control, performance enhancement and improving final product quality. Graham Cruickshank reviews the large range of performance enhancing products, which includes the following product areas: antibiotic based growth enhancers; probiotics; oligosaccharides; organic acids; plant extracts; essential oils; nucleotides; enzymes; coccidiostats/blackhead treatments; immunostimulants / metabolic enhancers; mineral/vitamin supplements. Some products are combinations of different ingredients which are said to act synergistically. The mode of action of the various products is varied but generally fall into one or more of the following categories: metabolic stimulants; manipulating gut microflora; improving availability of nutrients; improving immune status; boosting the nutritional status of meat or eggs. In recent years there has been a move away from antibiotic based products with alternative 'natural' products being preferred. However earlier this year the Assured Chicken Production standards were amended to allow the use of antibiotic growth promoters on the specific recommendation from the responsible veterinarian in response to specific welfare problems such as necrotic enteritis.