For a long time now, the use of antibiotics for rearing livestock and poultry has been a hot topic. The contentious debate has been summed up well by the American documentary makers Frontline on PBS, when they stated, “Meat producers have fed growth-promoting antibiotics to food animals for years. Recently, scientists have raised concerns that, in conjunction with the general overuse of antibiotics in humans, this use of ‘sub-therapeutic’ levels of antibiotics in food animals may lead to serious health risks for people. Banning the use of such drugs, however, would greatly reduce the efficiency of the feed industry, driving up the cost of meat. Some in the industry believe that the scientific evidence linking low-dose usage of antibiotics to drug-resistant illnesses in people is too inconclusive and does not justify banning their use.”
The subject even has its own Wikipedia page! Which importantly notes that, “The use of sub-therapeutic doses in animal feed and/or water to promote growth and improve feed efficiency was eliminated effective January 1, 2017, as a result of new FDA Veterinary Feed Directive.”
But now the debate has taken a further turn; and it could end the use of antibiotics forever.
This is because some agricultural academics are now promoting improved use and quality of feed additives, as a way to have healthier, more productive livestock and poultry. In doing so, they believe that the need for combative, low-dose antibiotic use is unnecessary.
This newer stance came to light when on the 10th of July 2017, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a 36-page report called ‘Alternatives to Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture’ (pdf).
As the industry journal Wattagnet reports, “The nonprofit, non-government organization teamed up a panel of external researchers from numerous U.S. universities and Belgium's Ghent University to develop a comprehensive review of antibiotic-alternative products.” Their goal was to review, “the animal feed additives categories available to animal feed nutritionists to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production.”
Karin Hoelzer, Senior Officer in health programs supporting Pew’s safe food and antibiotic resistance projects, explained the reason for writing the report, when he said, “There is currently no systematic and comprehensive assessment on the efficacy of alternative products that are close to or already in commercial use — that highlights the gaps in research. We see this study as filling a gap.”
As the report itself states, “While the results surrounding feed additives to replace antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) is promising, additional research needs to be conducted under realistic production scenarios. Emphasis needs to be given to on-farm antibiotic use data to tailor and prioritize future research efforts to areas of greatest antibiotic consumption.”
However, this research is not alone in trying to decide if antibiotics can be replaced. In fact, the list of experts promoting the use of feed additives an as alternative to antibiotics is long. Recent studies supporting increased use of feed additives include;
-
Jung Min Heo and Martin Nyachoti, both of the University of Manitoba, who in their study 'Feed Additives and Feeding Strategies to Replace Antibiotics’ (pdf), note that, “A considerable number of feed additives have been suggested as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in nursery pig diets. Despite the concerns and the variable nature of the responses to the use of some additives, there is ample evidence that many of these products have a role to play in the nutritional management of piglets raised in antibiotic-free feeding systems.”
The researchers continue by highlighting the potential gains of adding zinc oxide to piglet feed, stating, “In many studies and in practice, pharmacological levels (up to 3000 ppm) of Zn offer an effective dietary tool to ameliorate and (or) prevent post-weaning diarrhea thereby acting as a growth promoter in weaned pigs. Although not fully understood, these effects have been attributed to the ability of Zn to modulate the animal’s defense mechanisms (e.g. increased gene expression of antimicrobial peptides in the small intestine), and the intestinal microbial population (e.g. maintaining the stability and diversity of intestinal microbiota). Clearly, ZnO fed at pharmacological levels can be a cost-effective strategy for controlling post-weaning diarrhea, although at such high levels concerns about environmental contamination must be considered.”
If you are interested in food grade zinc oxide for animal feed, then please take a look at the AG CHEMI GROUP product catalogue.
-
Dr Ioannis Mavromichalis, of Kansas State University and the University of Illinois, holds a more sceptical eye on the benefits of feed additives, believing that it is not a simple matter of swapping one product for another. He said, “The focus remains on feed additives that can replace antibiotics, sometimes with little regard on the requirements for deeper changes.”
But he does continue to note the current trend for government policy away from antibiotics. Writing in a recent report for the industry journal, Maslina International Trade, he states, “It is no secret that the United States is following the path highlighted by the European Union, at least when it comes to banning growth-promoting antibiotics in broiler diets. In fact, in several well-known instances, the U.S. broiler industry is taking it a step further refusing to use antibiotics even for therapeutic purposes in what is known as the Never Ever 3 (NE3) marketing program. To make matters worse, coccidiostats are classed as antibiotics under U.S. rules, something the EU has carefully managed to avoid, so far.”
-
Other academics are more optimistic on finding replacements for antibiotics. L.A. den Hartog, C.H.M. Smith, and W.H. Hendrik, from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and Trouw Nutrition Research and Development, note in their research, 'Feed Additive Strategies for Replacement of Antimicrobial Growth Promoters and a Responsible use of Antibiotics’ (published on the animal feed encyclopaedia site Feedipedia), that “The Netherlands and Denmark have already implemented successful strategies to reduce antibiotic usage in animal production. Part of the success of the reduction in antibiotic use may be attributed to the wide application of selected feed additives and combinations thereof targeting intestinal microbiota and immunity.”
The researchers note the successful removal of antibiotics in the EU via, “various strategies [that] are followed to support animal health via drinking water and/or via the feed.” Adding that, “The role of additional supply of zinc and special forms of zinc has been studied and associated with various health parameters in animal studies, mainly related to immunity and skin condition parameters.”
In conclusion, they state that, “Overall, the stability of the intestinal microbiota and a strong mucosal barrier are key targets of feed additives to realize the desired effects in productivity and health.”
-
In a recent report in the industry journal Poultry World, Dr Steve Collett, Clinical Associate Professor at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, University of Georgia, said, “Changing the paradigm of 60 years of antibiotic use is quite difficult. As a lone voice for some time, I tended to get pushed down.”
Collett was speaking at Alltech’s annual breakfast at the 2016 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) when he said, “Development is quite slow, but from what I’ve seen in the last year, the industry has picked up phenomenally. Very big companies are adding these technologies and starting to see good results.”
The Poultry World report continues by explaining a more holistic approach to farm animal welfare. One that is promoted by companies such as Alltech. “Collett describes the process he has been using as the ‘Seed, Feed and Weed’ approach. This consists of seeding the gut with the right bacteria, feeding them and maintaining a proper environment for them to survive, and weeding the unfavourable microorganisms before they colonise the intestinal tract.”
Clearly there are a great number of opinions on what is the correct path towards animal feed without antibiotics, or even if this path is necessary at all.
Naturally, one of the largest challenges is the changing nature of the problem. As different antibiotics are developed, and different diseases arise.
Similarly, each breed is different, each farm is different, and each animal is different. So, in many ways, each feed supplier must coordinate with each farmer to find what feed mixture is right for them. In all probability, some middle way will need to be found, even if it is on a case by case basis.
As Nyachoti and Heo conclude, “Whereas there is more work required to better understand how the majority of the available additives can be effectively utilized, there is ample evidence to support the use of some of the additives in this regard. It clearly evident from several studies that for many of the additives and feeding strategies available, the most effective application will be achieved when used in combinations.”
Photo credit: wakeupworld
If your are interested in knowing more about the animal feed additives that can improve your feed, then please contact one of AG CHEMI GROUP's feed additive experts.
