ARTICLE 68 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2023 “The prohibition of antibiotics as growth promoters, concerns about antimicrobial resistance, and consumer demand for drug-free animals and high-quality food products present challenges for breeders in the search for alternative methods to control and prevent pathogenic infections. Nutraceuticals offer a valuable solution as feed additives, focusing primarily on their host-protective functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cell survival effects, with the aim of improving productivity.” INTRODUCTION These days, the use of nutraceuticals is receiving greater attention for the improvement of animal health, animal welfare, and productivity in herd health management. The term "nutraceutical" was coined in 1989 by Stephen DE Felice by combining the words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical." According to Felice, a nutraceutical refers to any substance that is derived from food or is a part of food, and it offers medical or health benefits, including disease prevention and treatment. These products can include isolated nutrients, dietary supplements, specific diets, genetically engineered designer foods, and herbal products. Nutraceuticals distinguish themselves from other dietary supplements in various ways, including their ability to improve animal well-being and health without leaving any residues in meat consumed by humans. As a result, nutraceuticals can be seen as a blend of drugs and food nutrients, falling somewhere in between. They are considered safe and are recognized as alternative natural feed additives. Nutraceuticals exhibit pharmacological and biological activities, which can help combat drug resistance to antibiotics and often produce synergistic effects. ROLE OF NUTRACEUTICALS IN LIVESTOCK FEED B.C. Mondal Professor and Head Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT Suyesha Kadam M.V.Sc. Scholar Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT
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