Animal Feed: Types and Importance
Animal feed is categorized into two types: simple and compound. Simple feed includes individual ingredients like plant or animal products, milk by-products, slaughterhouse leftovers, or fish meal. Compound feeds are a mixture of several simple feeds, with their nutrient content depending on the quality of the individual ingredients used. Regardless of the feed type, it must provide essential nutrients to ensure proper growth, health, well-being, and a strong immune system in animals. This ensures healthy animals, high-quality meat, and animal products, which are also safe for consumers.
The Impact of Genetically Modified (GM) Products on Animal Health
In sustainable agriculture, the use of genetically modified (GM) feed in livestock production is prohibited. Instead, legumes are cultivated for animal feed. These crops benefit livestock health, reduce environmental impact, and offer economic advantages. Legumes are rich in protein, starch, amino acids, and vitamins and require minimal care, water, and chemical inputs. Their nutritional value rivals that of soybean meal, a genetically modified product. While GM crops like soybeans are engineered to enhance resistance to environmental challenges, scientific studies indicate they do not negatively impact animal health or growth.
Nutrient-Rich Feed Additives
To improve feed quality, certain additives can be included, such as pomegranate extracts, seaweed, biofuel by-products, enzymes, yeast, probiotics, and essential oils. Pomegranate extracts enhance animal productivity and improve meat quality, while seaweed boosts the immune system and enhances milk quality by increasing beneficial fatty acids. By-products from biofuel production, like DDGS (distiller’s dried grains with solubles), offer a cost-effective, energy-rich feed option that improves meat and milk quality and reduces digestive disorders. Enzymes, yeast, and probiotics contribute to gut health, energy absorption, and stronger immunity in animals. Essential oils can promote heart health, digestion, and protection against diseases.
Are Antibiotics Safe in Animal Feed?
Antibiotics should only be used when necessary, as overuse can lead to resistant microbes that harm both animals and humans. A nutritious feed enriched with enzymes, probiotics, and essential oils can strengthen animals’ immune systems and reduce the need for antibiotics. Maintaining healthy living conditions for animals is equally important, as overcrowding and mixing of sick and healthy animals can lead to infections. Furthermore, the use of antibiotics solely for growth purposes is prohibited, and natural growth promoters, like essential oils, are preferred.
Sources
- http://www.teiep.gr/kte/pdf/dia_agro_zwwn/dia_agro_zwwn.pdf
- https://www.ypaithros.gr/ekdoseis/kalliergeia-ktinotrofika-fita-zootrofes/
- http://dspace.aua.gr/xmlui/handle/10329/7846
- http://eureka.teithe.gr/jspui/bitstream/123456789/13965/1/%CE%91%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CE%9C%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%B1%CE%AE%CE%BB.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017557/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16244918/
Further reading
Feeding Systems of Farm Animals
How Feed Materials Affect the Growth and Economic Production of Nile Tilapia
Livestock Feed selection – Evaluation of Feed Ingredients
Insect Meal in Sustainable Animal Feed
Choosing the right species for mass production of insects as animal feed
3-NOP Feed Additive: Mitigating Climate Change by Reducing Cattle Methane Emissions
How to prevent and control Salmonella in feed and feed ingredients?