The addition of drugs or other ingredients with unappetizing smells or tastes to feed can have a significant negative impact on feed intake by animals. Ingredients such as antibiotics, certain minerals (such as zinc sulphate or copper sulphate), specific vitamins and some gut health additives can have smells and tastes that are unpalatable to animals, which will reduce their willingness to consume the feed.
These ingredients are often added in situations where it is necessary to treat or prevent disease, correct nutritional deficiencies or improve the overall health of the livestock. However, by impacting consumption, they can negatively affect animal welfare and performance.
To mitigate these effects, the use of sweeteners or attractive flavours to counteract undesirable smells and tastes is recommended. Feed formulation should be carefully balanced to maintain palatability while ensuring that animals receive the necessary benefits from drugs or supplements.
