Incorporation of functional feed ingredients to substitute antimicrobials in animal nutrition: Opportunities for livestock production in developing countries

Livestock including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and poultry are kept under traditional farming systems producing manure, supporting crop production, insurance financing emergency cash needs, improving social status. The livestock feed resource base is mostly natural graze residues whose quality supply dependent upon unreliable rainfall patterns. Due to rising demand for cropland, overgrazing, bush encroachment burning, grazing supplies being depleted. Grazing supplemented using commercial feeds heavily infused with antibiotics contributing antimicrobial resistance. Feed constitutes the largest expenditure, thus incorporating functional ingredients favored. study serves increase farmers’ awareness substituting antimicrobials ingredients. A systematic review of literature was done keywords related animal nutrition, resistance were used identify relevant articles. Results revealed that feeding offers a potential diversity production may profitability in husbandry ventures. Functional improve productivity vigor by enhancing digestibility, preserving stabilizing beneficial gut microflora, having favorable impact on environment. Probiotics, plant phytogenic compounds, prebiotics, have replace as environmentally-friendly therapeutics growth promoters.     Key words: Animal resistance, developing countries, feeds, production.