Feed additive

A feed additive is an additive of extra nutrient or drug for livestock. Such additives include vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, pharmaceutical, fungal products and steroidal compounds. The additives might impact feed presentation, hygiene, digestibility, or effect on intestinal health.[1][2]

United States

Prior to the Animal Drug Availability Act 1996, animal feed was available in two fashions: over-the-counter transacted, and by prescription from a veterinarian. Its associated regulation introduced the concept of a medicated feed, which is also available over-the-counter. The terminology for Veterinary Feed Directive was introduced by the Act.

EU

According to EU Regulation 1831/2003,[3] all feed additives to be placed on the market within the European Union have to undergo a thorough approval process. Those who seek approval for the products as livestock food additives must submit them to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Reference Laboratory, the European Commission and the member states. Evaluation criteria include safety for the animals, consumers and factory workers. For additives claiming an increase in zootechnical performance, sufficient empirical data must be presented to confirm those claims.

1. A feed additive shall be allocated to one or more of the following categories, depending on its functions and properties, in accordance with the procedure set out at Articles 7, 8 and 9:

  1. technological additives: any substance added to feed for a technological purpose;
  2. sensory additives: any substance, the addition of which to feed improves or changes the organoleptic properties of the feed, or the visual characteristics of the food derived from animals;
  3. nutritional additives;
  4. zootechnical additives: any additive used to affect favourably the performance of animals in good health or used to affect favourably the environment;
  5. coccidiostats and histomonostats.
    — Article 6, [3]

The last category was banned in 2009 by the EU, and replaced with probiotic alternatives.[4]

See also

References
  1. Merck Manual October 2014 Nutritional Requirements of Beef Cattle Page accessed March 18, 2015
  2. Merck Manual March 2012 Requirements of Beef Cattle Page accessed March 18, 2015
  3. "REGULATION (EC) No 1831/2003 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition". Official Journal of the European Union.
  4. "WHAT ARE FEED ADDITIVES?". Sustainable America.
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