Animal response to this category of feed additive depends on the feeding conditions at the time they are used, so it is difficult to quantify the actual response that can be expected. For these reasons a positive financial return derived from the use of antibacterial feed additives is not guaranteed. There are several production responses that can be achieved through appropriate use of anti-bacterial compounds. Compounds approved for low-level use in feedlot cattle diets to enhance gain and feed efficiency are shown in Table 1. Liver abscesses can be prevalent in cattle with erratic feed intakes fed high concentrate diets.
Antibiotics are ubiquitous in nature.
Many are normally produced in organisms found naturally in the soil and other places. Therefore, people and animals have been exposed to antibiotics for centuries. Their judicious use in livestock production results in healthier animals. In over 40 years use in livestock production, bacterial resistance to antibiotics resulting from their use as feed additives has not appeared to result in any increased risk to people or animals. As long as the presence of bacteria reduces feedlot performance and bacteria continue to respond to antibiotics, proper use of anti-bacterial compounds will provide performance benefits.