Plant antibacterials suit modern production

摘要

Since the European ban of most traditional antimicrobials and growth promoters in animal feed, many alternatives have been discovered, tested and commercialised. Safe, innovative and powerful plant extracts can fit perfectly into the sustainable husbandry practices of the future. For many years, a variety of antimicrobials have been added to feed to treat and prevent infections in animals in order to obtain improved zootechnical results. However, many bacteria have become resistant to one, and in some cases, to multiple antimicrobials. Moreover, this resistance is proving fatal for thousands of people every year and results in high medical and economic costs. From the point of view of modern consumers, meat should be free from (resistant) pathogens, but also from antimicrobial residues. Therefore, research into possible alternatives to traditional antimicrobials and growth promoters is necessary in order to control infections caused at feed level. All the alternatives currently available cause noor limited microbial resistance, but a common disadvantage is that improved animal performance parameters are not always predictable.