Recent perspectives of growth promoters in livestock: an overview
Dhevahi Niranjan, N.B. Sridhar, U.S. Chandra, S.S Manjunatha, A. Borthakur, M.H Vinuta, B.R. Mohan
Abstract
Growth promoters are substances that are added to the feed as supplements or injections to improve feed conversion ratio and growth in livestock.They mainly help improve the distribution of fat and protein and increase the conversion rate of feed into muscle.The growth promoting effect of antimicrobials was discovered in the 1940s when animals fed with dry Streptomyces aureofaciens mycelium containing residual chlortetracycline exhibited improvement in growth.Its benefits include prevention and treatment of animal diseases, improved production of edible animals, increased milk and egg production and improved environmental and rumen health.Antimicrobial peptides are used in place of antibiotic growth promoters.It promotes the digestibility of nutrients, the gut microbiota, and the morphology of the intestine and the activity of immune function.Phytochemicals are cheap and ready-to-use alternatives which leave no toxic residues in milk and meat.They pose a risk of public health concerns such as antibiotic resistance, side effects, and residual risk.The use of alternative growth promoters should minimize the use of traditional antibiotics.Research in this area is still needed and the ultimate goal would be safe, clean and hygienic milk and meat production.