Lecture 8 Food Sources and Feed Additives for Swine and Poultry As far as food sources for monogastrics, including swine and poultry, we need only to revisit the concentrate and protein sources already described in our discussion of ruminant diets. Corn, wheat, sorghum, oats and a number of cereal grains can be used to provide the energy in swine and poultry diets. By far, corn is the grain of choice, due to its relatively economic value and widespread availability. In most cases, soybean meal is the primary protein source used in these diets, especially for growing, finishing, and adult swine, and all stages of poultry growth.
Soybean meal is generally cheaper than other protein sources with similar amino acid qualities.
We will describe the use of these sources for formulation of swine diets in an upcoming lecture. A number of additives are often included in swine and poultry rations. Additives are non-nutritive compounds added to diets to improve performance, increase resistance to disease, enhance palatability, or increase efficiency of nutrient uptake. As veterinarians, you are mostly familiar with these products for therapeutic use. However, in the US, antibiotics and similar products are sometimes included at subtherapeutic levels in feeds for their positive effects on growth and performance.