Feed additives are non-nutritive products
used in swine diets to improve production
efficiency and performance. If chosen
carefully and used properly, feed additives
can be effective and can help increase the
profitability of pig production. Not all
feed additives are the same or provide a
beneficial response and, therefore, choosing
a product will depend on the farm’s specific
situation and needs.
This series of fact sheets includes some of
the major classifications of products used
as feed additives. Every effort has been
made to ensure that all the information
in every fact sheet is current and based on
the latest scientific publications available at
the time of writing. The objective of these
fact sheets is to discuss some of the basic
concepts to help producers improve their
understanding of these products. They also
aim to promote more responsible and judicious
use of feed additives. Beneficial claims from dietary inclusions of acidifiers include
control of bacterial growth in feed, increased growth performance,
improvement in nutrient digestibility, and control of harmful
bacteria in the gut. Antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, have been used in pig
production for over 50 years. Early studies indicated significant
improvements in pig growth performance when antibiotics were fed.
With the improvements in production practices and health status
of pig herds, positive responses to in-feed antibiotics may not be as
large in today’s modern facilities. Additionally, the magnitude of
response differs with the stage of pig growth. Use of antibiotics as
feed additives is subject to regulatory policies to prevent residues and
enhance public health. It is therefore important to be aware of the
current information available concerning the effects of commonly
used in-feed antibiotics in pig production.
