Application and substitution of antibiotics in animal feeding

Abstract

The addition of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics to feed as antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) can effectively inhibit or eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, reduce the incidence of livestock diseases, optimize feed conversion efficiency, and improve livestock growth performance. Antibiotics play a vital role in ensuring the supply of animal products and enhancing the economic benefits of animal husbandry. Nevertheless, global attention has been drawn to issues such as bacterial resistance, drug residue, and environmental pollution caused by antibiotic misuse – including excessive dosage, prolonged administration, and broad application scope. With the growing emphasis on food safety, an increasing number of countries have prohibited the addition of antibiotics to feed as growth promoters for livestock. To ensure a sustainable and healthy development of the feed industry, research on efficient and low-side-effect antibiotic substitutes has become a focal point. This paper provides a review and summary of both the advantages and disadvantages of adding antibiotics to feed, as well as the alternative research.