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Feed additives in India have diverse compositions owing to the type of livestock and poultry. They come in these types:
Nutritional
The nutritional feed additives comprise vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that supplement animal feeds to boost growth, reproductive, and milk production. Dietary vitamin C is essential for collagen formation and boosts immune system health in poultry. Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are key to developing strong bones in young livestock and stable egg shells in laying hens. Amino acids such as lysine and methionine support protein synthesis, thus improving muscle development in meat birds.
Flavoring and Sweetening
Flavoring and sweetening animal feeds enhance feed palatability, ensuring birds and livestock consume the feeds well, minimizing chances of wastage and malnutrition. The flavors added include molasses, which gives feeds a sweet taste, thus appealing to the livestock tastes. It attracts the less palatable feeds to livestock, ensuring they consume the nutrients needed for growth and production. Vanilla and apple flavors are appealing to swine and poultry, hence boosting feed intake.
Texturizers
Texturizers in feed additives improve feed texture, thus affecting the rate at which the animals consume the feed. In poultry feed, for example, they help in the bonding process of the feed particles and the resultant production of pellets. It helps ensure the nutrients are digested easily within the gastrointestinal tract of the animals. Some texturizers like psyllium also help improve the shear force and moisture content of the feed, which reduces segregation and enhances the longevity of the feed within the market.
Binders
Binders such as wheat bran and indigester in feed additives help hold the feed together in whatever form it is presented, whether mash or pellets. In the pelleted feeds, the binders facilitate the binding of the feed particles to each other, which helps improve the texture and nutritional value of the feed. The consumption of water by the binders helps improve the moisture content of the pellet and reduce spoilage and wastage within the stable or poultry house. Furthermore, when included in mash feeds, binders help reduce the mash into smaller bits to make it easier for the animals to ingest it.
Color Enhancers
The color enhancers in feed premix are used mainly in poultry production to improve the skin color of the meat or the yolk of the eggs. For instance, alpha-carotene and lutein, which are derived from marigold and sorghum respectively, improve the color of egg yolks, thus enhancing consumer perception of the nutritional quality of the eggs. Red palm oil is used in broilers to enhance the production of reddish skin and thus argon market price. The color enhancers are also important in masking the consumers for the enhancers and improving the marketability of the egg and broiler meat.
Feed supplements have various applications in livestock and poultry production in India. They include:
Nutritional Improvements
Beefing up animal feeds with supplements adds various nutrients that ensure the animals derive the nutritional benefits from the feeds they eat. Vitamins, such as A, D, E, and B complex, boost the immune system, improve fertility, and enhance disease resistance. Minerals, principally calcium and phosphorus, enhance the skeletal structure of the growing animal and improve the egg quality in the poultry feed. Essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine enhance muscle growth in meat birds and improve protein content in milk.
Meat and Milk Quality Enhancement
In livestock, quality improvement entails improving the quality and quantity of meat and milk. Omega 3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid in the feed improve the nutritional value of the meat by increasing the fat deposits within the muscles and reducing the cholesterol content within the meat. In dairy animals, such as cows and goats, the milk contains higher protein and fat content due to the feed supplements added to the feed intake.
Waste Management
Certain additives in the feed help reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus within the manure produced and hence reduce environmental pollution due to the manure. Feed supplements such as yucca schidigera and probiotics help digest the feed better, reducing the nutrients available for excretion and hence absorption. Reduced nutrient excretion reduces nutrient concentration within the environment, thereby reducing the cost associated with treating or managing the animal waste.
Post-Harvest Handling Improvements
Feed supplements such as probiotics and prebiotics help improve gut health, hence improve disease resistance. This reduces post-harvest handling within a farming system as diseased animals are less likely to be found on a farm, meaning less disease and no widespread deaths of the remaining animals, thus improving handling costs. Such animals are also healthier at the time of sale, hence able to fetch higher sales on the market.
Meat Industry
In the meat industry, additives in animal feed enhance the quality, texture, and tenderness of meat. They help enhance the muscle formation and fat deposition rate within the meat, which contributes to the meat's juiciness and taste. They are also used in meat processing to improve the product's shelf-life and reduce wastage. For instance, antimicrobials like naturally occurring lactic acid help inhibit spoilage microorganisms within processed meat, increasing its lifespan and improving safety.
Dairy Industry
In dairy production, feed premixes help boost milk yield and dairy products' quality and nutritional value. The vitamins and minerals included in the feed help improve the quality of milk by enhancing the content of essential nutrients, such as proteins and fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Such enriched milk is better within the consumers and supports improved prices on the market. Moreover, rumen bypass fats in dairy cattle feed help improve fat content in milk, making it more appealing to the consumers.
Poultry Industry
In poultry production, feed supplements improve egg quality and meat appearance. Pigments such as lutein and canthaxanthin improve yolk color in eggs, enhancing the product's appeal and improving consumer perception for enhanced nutritional value. In broiler meat, color enhancers like red palm oil help improve the skin color of the meat, becoming appealing and attractive within the consumer market. The appearance of the poultry product is important since consumers tend to correlate color with overall quality and flavor.
Fish Farming (Aquaculture)
In aquaculture, fish feed additives are used to improve the immune system within fish and the rate of survival and growth. Omega 3 fatty acids and various fish oil and meal supplements improve the nutritional value of fish, making it a healthier consumer. Moreover, immune boosters within the feed help the fish develop and enhance disease resistance, decreasing mortality rates and enhancing overall productivity within fish farming. The improved rate of growth and better product quality together translate into better profitability for the aquaculture farmers.
When choosing good quality feed for animals, there are several factors that buyers need to consider. Here are the key ones:
Type of feed
Buyers should choose the feed type that is suitable for their livestock or poultry. There are feeds that are suitable for young animals; others are for pregnant or lactating mothers, and others are for animals that are meant to be breeders. There are feeds that are enriched with nutrients suitable for various diseases. Such feeds are mainly recommended for diseased animals to help them recover faster.
Meanwhile, there are feeds that are suitable for maintenance. They are mainly used by animals that are not reproducing, neither are they providing meat or milk. Finally, there are special type of feeds that are suitable for different animals. For instance, medicated feeds are only suitable for animals that require them. Buyers should avoid such feeds unless they are selling to customers that have specific medications for certain animals.
Form of feed
Buyers should choose the appropriate feed additive form such as pellets, liquids, and powders suitable for their livestock and poultry. For instance, pelleted feeds are ideal for large livestock as they are easier to digest. Powdered feeds, on the other hand, can be sprinkled on top of other feeds to entice poultry to eat, especially the dry mash. Liquid feeds are more suitable for livestock that require quicker intake such as cattle.
Brand reputation
There are certain brands that are well known for producing high quality and reliable feed premix. Buyers should do research to identify such brands and the type of feeds they offer. They should also look at the reviews and testimonials of other customers and the experiences they had with the brand. Buyers should avoid newly established brands, or those that have unknown history because they might deliver poor quality feed that will negatively affect the health of the animals.
Ingredient lists
Buyers should be on the lookout for specific ingredients that will be beneficial to the health of animals. They should settle for feeds with high fiber and protein content, particularly for beef cattle. Buyers should also look for feeds enriched with omega 3 fatty acids, fish meal, and flaxseed for producing premium quality meat. Other essential ingredients to look for are probiotics to support gut health, prebiotics for enhanced nutrient absorption, and natural preservation methods that improve the shelf life. Buyers should also ensure the feed is dermatologically validated to contain no harmful chemicals that may adversely affect the animals.
Pricing
Buyers should consider the pricing of different feeds and how it impacts their return on investment or profit margins. If the price is considerably high, they should consider the ingredients present and if they are worth such price. Likewise, if the price is low, they should consider the ingredients included. If they are quality and those that boost the health of the animals, then buyers can achieve great savings.
Yes. There are several feed additives such as digestive enzymes that improve the digestibility of cattle feeds and allow the livestock to derive maximum nutrients from the feeds.
Yes. Most feed additives are formulated using safe organic ingredients. To be sure, buyers can request the ingredient lists and settle for feed types that are dermatologically validated.
The only risk is settling for poor quality feed. It is, therefore, important that buyers conduct due diligence and research to get well established brands with quality feed.
Yes. There are certain feed additives such as prebiotics and probiotics that improve gut health in poultry. Improved gut health translates to high food conversion rates and enhanced immunity.
