Food safety for your animals

Food safety is essential in the human food chain and is also important when it come to your animals too! Some animal feeds are surprisingly dangerous to non-target species, so it pays to read and understand feed labels.

Coccidiostat safety

Coccidiostats are often found in calf, lamb, chick, dairy and some rabbit feeds and are included to prevent coccidiosis in these species, a common parasitic issue. There are different forms of coccidiostat, including; Bovatec ® , Rumensin ® , Deccox ® and Cycostat ® . If a feed contains a coccidiostat it should be stated on the label along with clear feeding instructions. Coccidiostats are classed as ACVM registered additives, so they can only be fed to approved species and may have withholding periods. Some animals are very sensitive to coccidiostats and sickness or even death can occur if consumed. These animals include dogs, horses, donkeys and camelids such as alpacas and llamas. It is important to not allow these animals access to feeds containing a coccidiostat. If accidental ingestion occurs, contact your vet. Dogs need to be kept a close eye on around calf feed as this seems to be the biggest occurrence of non-target animal coccidiostat toxicity.

Macrominerals

Calcium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus are classed as macrominerals and the level required per day can differ depending on physiological state. For example, a laying chicken making an eggshell a day requires more calcium than an animal not producing eggs. Growing animals also need the correct balance of macrominerals to support skeletal growth. If an animal is fed too much of a macromineral it can cause health issues. For example, too much calcium to an animal that doesn’t require it is not ideal for bone development and can cause kidney damage. Too little of a macromineral can also cause issues – for example, low calcium in a dairy cow diet causes milk fever. It’s therefore important to give an animal the correct feed for its current physiological state. Be wary of calf feed with calcium levels more suited to laying chickens. MPI have warned

| Selecting the right feed for both the type and age of the animal is critical for ensuring the correct nutrients are being ingested. there may be a connection between feeding higher rates of magnesium oxide to dairy cows and susceptibility to salmonella, so it’s best to avoid feeding too much magnesium oxide.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients include trace elements such as cobalt, copper, selenium, iodine, zinc and manganese, as well as vitamins such as vitamins A, D and E. These nutrients need to be consumed in small quantities per day but have a big impact on health. The requirement for micronutrients varies with species and physiological state. A good example of this is copper requirements. Cattle require more copper per kilogram of body weight compared to sheep, so if cattle feed with a high level of copper is fed to a sheep for an extended period it can cause toxicity. Even within species, requirements may be different. For example, lactating cow feed will often contain high rates of copper, which makes it inappropriate for feeding to calves – especially at a higher percentage of their diet. Some multi-feed options such as NRM MultiFeed Nuts have a safe level for a wider range of species. Always check labels to ensure a feed is approved for use for your target animal. Small differences can make big differences, so be aware of this when making feed choices for your animals to ensure they are healthy and performing optimally.

Give NRM Customer Services a call on 0800 800 380 if you are considering feeding something which is not detailed on a product label.

Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, NRM Nutritionist.