Correct methods for using chicken feed additives
Feed additives are materials inevitably used in the modern feed industry, and they have obvious effects in strengthening the nutritional value of basic feed, improving animal production performance, ensuring animal health, saving feed costs, and improving the quality of livestock products. Below, let us take a look at how common chicken feed additives are used!
Antibiotic additives
Antibiotics have antibacterial effects. When some antibiotics are added to feed as additives, they can inhibit the activity of harmful bacteria in the chicken intestine, have effects against many respiratory and digestive system diseases, improve feed utilization, and promote weight gain and egg production. The effect is especially obvious when chickens are under stress. Commonly used antibiotic additives include penicillin, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, neomycin, tylosin, and others. When using antibiotic additives, attention should be paid to alternating several antibiotics to avoid harmful microorganisms in the chicken intestine developing drug resistance and reducing the control effect. To avoid drug resistance and excessively high product residues, they should be used at intervals, and the added amount should be strictly controlled. Antibiotics shared by humans and animals should be used less or with caution.
Deworming and health-care additives
Among parasitic diseases of chickens, coccidiosis has a high incidence rate and causes great harm, so special attention should be paid to prevention. Commonly used anticoccidial drugs include furazolidone, amprolium, salinomycin, monensin, robenidine, and others. They should also be used alternately during use to avoid developing drug resistance.
Antioxidants
During feed storage, adding antioxidants can reduce the oxidative loss of nutrients such as vitamins and fats. For example, adding 200 grams of ethoxyquin per ton of feed and storing for one year results in a 30% loss of carotene, while without adding antioxidants the loss is 70%. Adding antioxidants to fish meal rich in fat can maintain the original digestibility of crude protein, and the digestion, absorption, and utilization efficiency of various amino acids is not affected. Commonly used antioxidants include ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, and others. The general addition amount is 100-500 mg per kg.
Mold inhibitors
During feed storage, to prevent feed from becoming moldy and deteriorating and to maintain good palatability and nutritional value, mold inhibitors can be added to the feed. Commonly used mold inhibitors include sodium propionate, calcium propionate, sodium dehydroacetate, and Mold-Check, among others. The addition amounts are 1 kg of sodium propionate per ton of feed, 2 kg of calcium propionate per ton of feed, and 200-500 grams of sodium dehydroacetate per ton of feed.
Egg yolk coloring agents
After adding egg yolk coloring agents to feed, the color of the egg yolk can be improved, that is, the color of the egg yolk changes from light yellow to deep yellow. Commonly used egg yolk coloring agents include lutein, Lucantin, red chili powder, and others. For example, adding 200-300 grams of red chili powder per 100 kg and feeding continuously for half a month can maintain a deep yellow egg yolk for 2 months. At the same time, it can also enhance the chicken's appetite and increase the egg production rate.