Medicated Feed: A Novel Way to Improve Health through Animal Feed Additives

Feed additives are added in animal diets to enhance the quality and characteristics of animal feed. It helps to improve overall digestive performance, palatability, and quantity of meat produced from them. In poultry feed, additives are used to improve laying capacity and feed utilization of birds as well as disease prevention. Demand for good quality of meat, outbreak of livestock diseases, and industrialization of meat production are factors responsible for growth of animal feed additives.

Insects as a source of protein in animal feed:

NuScience is researching on efficacy of insect larvae as a source of protein in feed for fish, pigs, and chicken as a part of PROteINSECT project. Poultry owners are relying on soybean meal as a source of protein. There is a protein deficit in EU poultry feed and they have identified fly larvae as a potential feed additive to meet protein demand. Various insects, such as housefly were considered to have a high nutritional value. They tested whether inclusion of extracted insect proteins and crude insect meal would affect zootechnical performance and address health issues of broiler chickens. Researchers found that replacing standard protein sources partially with insect proteins makes no difference in zootechnical performance in poultry. More trials will assess the conformity of these results. They will also assess whether full replacement of conventional protein sources by insect protein makes difference in improving health of broiler chicken.

MEP takes crucial step to medicate animals through feed:

Agriculture Committee of Members of European Parliament (MEP) voted with a large majority for new rules that enable an efficient, optimal, and responsible administration of medicines in animal feed. It allows doctors to treat sick animals by including approved medicines in animal feed. This step also provides an additional method to ensure safety and maintain health of animals. IFAH-Europe appreciates efforts of committee to improve the proposal and ensure that feed will be administrated along with other recognized oral means.

The implementation of rules about the usage of inclusion of feed in approved medicines is necessary to fight against antimicrobial resistance. Medicated feed is a route in which veterinary medicines are administrated through feed. It is the best method suited for food-producing and companion animals.

Roxane Feller, IFAH-Europe Secretary General, said, “IFAH-Europe supports the efforts to align key definitions with the proposed Veterinary Medicines Regulation – also currently undergoing a review - which will be important for the future smooth operation of the legislation. We welcome the measures put in place for anticipated production and changes to the method of distribution, which will permit the development of medicated feed for the treatment of chronic diseases in companion animals. This will bring real benefits to pets on long-term medication, and also to their owners in terms of ease of administration.”

Analysts studying the market have revealed a comprehensive information about changing market trends in research reports. Recently, Allied Market Research has published a report titled, “World Animal Feed Additives Market - Opportunities and Forecast, 2014 - 2021.” As per the report, the world animal feed additives market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.5% from 2015 to 2021 and estimated to reach $27.9 billion by 2021. The report provides an extensive analysis of drivers & opportunities, competitive scenario, and key manufacturers. Furthermore, the study offers value chain analysis, estimations from 2015 to 2020 for each segment of the industry, and SWOT analysis of key market players.

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