Natural Products in Animal Feed and Production Systems

Antibiotics, anthelmintics and other drugs have been incorporated into animal feed for over 60 years. Combined with other advances, this has allowed animal production systems to become more concentrated, intensive, and productive. However, public perception is that use of antibiotics as growth promoters is linked to an increase in microbial resistance, and there is evidence that workers on farms that use feed antibiotics do carry more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As concerns mount, there has been an increase in regulations implemented that restricts usage. Moreover, resistance to both antibiotics and anthelmintics are an increasing problem for animal industries. In response, there has been a surge in work looking for effective compounds that can replace pharmaceutical antibiotics, drugs, and growth promoters for example as they become less effective and available. As animal production is asked to continually produce more with fewer tools, this is a topic that is of increasing interest on a global stage.

This aim of this Research Topic is to characterize existing or novel natural compounds that have the potential to advance livestock production efficiency.

Contributions are welcome that address or explore:
• Antibiotic substitute
• Anthelmintic substitute
• Anabolic steroid substitute
• Fly treatments
• Other compounds commonly used to promote sustainable livestock production
• Extension/socio-economic adoption of new compounds in existing productions systems