Feed additives play a central role in modern animal nutrition. They are intended to improve feed quality, promote animal health, and—in the case of farm animals—promote the efficiency of animal production. But what exactly does this term mean, what types of additives are there—and why are they so important?
What are feed additives?
Feed additives are substances that are deliberately added to feed to achieve specific effects. They usually do not directly provide energy or nutrients such as proteins or fats, but rather perform specific functions: for example, they support digestion, strengthen the immune system, or have a preservative effect.
Feed additives are strictly regulated – in Europe, for example, by EU Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003 – to ensure safety for animals, humans, and the environment. https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/feed-additives/search
Important categories of feed additives
- Nutritional additives: These substances supplement feed with essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids. The aim is to prevent deficiency diseases and ensure optimal animal growth.
- Zootechnical additives: They improve animal performance or well-being. Examples include probiotics that stabilize the intestinal flora or enzymes that optimize nutrient utilization.
- Technological additives: These additives influence the physicochemical properties of feed, for example, preservatives, antioxidants, or emulsifiers. They extend shelf life or improve the mixability of feed.
- Sensory additives: Flavors and colors fall into this category. They improve the taste or appearance of feed, thus increasing feed intake. Coccidiostats and histomonostats: These substances are used to prevent parasitic diseases, but their use is strictly regulated. Future trends in feed additives.
- Coccidiostats and histomonostats: These substances are used to prevent parasitic diseases, but their use is strictly regulated.
Future trends in feed additives
- Natural additives such as plant extracts or organic mineral compounds are gaining importance.
- Personalized animal nutrition is becoming increasingly interesting, similar to personalized nutrition in humans.
- Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role, e.g., through additives that reduce methane formation in ruminants.
Feed additive vs. feed material
Feed materials do not require approval and are primarily used to provide energy and nutrients and serve as the primary source of nutrition. Examples: Meat/fish and their products, vegetables/fruit and their products, cereals.
Feed additives are strictly regulated by EFSA, undergo strict approval, and are used in feed in small quantities. Examples: Vitamins, minerals, and many plant extracts.
How do I find out if a raw material is a feed additive??
This information is provided without guarantee, and we do not guarantee its accuracy.
- Check the feed additive database:
- https://ec.europa.eu/food/food-feed-portal/screen/feed-additives/search
- If the raw material is listed, note any restrictions related to animal species, approval periods, or raw material specifications.
- If the feed is not listed there, check the list of feed materials:
- You can also check the feed register: https://feedmaterialsregister.eu/
- Tip 1: If necessary, search for the English and Latin/scientific versions of the raw material you are looking for.
- Tip 2: Be sure to check the "rejected notifications" - this lists the products that EFSA has rejected as feed.
- Tip 3: If a product is rejected because it is a feed additive and you cannot find it in the list of approved feed additives, then the raw material is almost certainly no longer approved.
Our Feed Additives
If you inquire about products that you want to use in feed, we usually check their marketability beforehand. If the product is not approved for animal feed, we will inform you accordingly. We must report sold feed additives to the relevant authorities.
A List of some of our Feed Additives
Share
Wait a minute...
...don't miss the latest food trends, new products, and company updates. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.