FEED ADDITIVES OF SPECIAL INTEREST FOR VE TERINARY PRACTITIONERS

In the production of complete diets or supplements by the feed industr y the use of feed additives is very common. Substances of different gr oups are inserted to influence the value and composition of the feed, the quality of food and/or to achieve favourable effects in the animal (feed conversion, daily gains). Due to their manifold effects, influe nces, and interactions (physiology, pharmacology, food science, enviro nment) basic informations about those feed additives belong to the ess entials in the field of animal nutrition for veterinarians. Misdosing of trace elements or vitamins, growth promoters (like quinoxalines or ionophores) or anticoccidial agents may result in severe intoxications of animals. Further-on, risks of incompatability (feed additives and therapeutical drugs), of potential residues in food and effects on the environment should neither be neglected nor overemphasized. Intoxicat ions of herds caused by feed additives - of special interest for clini cians - were the consequences of an inconsiderate, careless handling, results of technical faults in the feed mixing process or of confoundi ng diets for different species and were not the effects of deliberate illegal use of these substances in general. Therefore, it was the aim of this contribution to make veterinarians sensitive for the risks of some feed additives without neglecting their manifold advantages they have in stabilizing the health and performance of animals and in the p rotection of environment.