Adding feed additives to water: benefits, challenges

Water is an undervalued medium for additives administration. | Kadmy, Dreamstime.com

After medications, additives are the next ingredients that can be administered through the water system, but not without their own hurdles.

This article appears in the November/December issue of Pig International. View all of the articles in the digital edition of this magazine.

Many farms already use a water medication system. For some farms, this is the logical consequence of the antibiotics ban that has forced many feed plants to deny handling any and all drugs. For others, it is simply easier and more efficient to control medication treatments through the water than through the feed. Once the hurdles of the water medication system are addressed, one cannot but observe the many benefits and not do the same with other additives. Indeed, some additives are already available in water-soluble forms for use through the water system.

It is important to mention that simply adding any water-soluble product into a water tank is no longer considered the best way to use such products. It is better to invest in a robust water dosage system that has many benefits, except for its higher cost. Nevertheless, the “water tank” approach is still used in some farms that use water-soluble products on an occasional basis.

Additives in the water system

Today, some additives are already part of what veterinarians prescribe along with medications to be administered through the water system. The best examples are vitamins and organic acids, but there is scope for considering adding even more additives to this short list. In fact, any additive that is already soluble in water (some mineral salts) or can be loaded onto a water-soluble carrier can be considered for this very interesting market. The voices to do so are many.

First, the feed mills would like to pass on the responsibility of selecting additives to use in the feed from their own in-house professionals to farm consultants, be it veterinarians or consultants. This way, feed mills can focus on making feed while handling less feed codes and a smaller inventory of ingredients.

Second, nutritionists and veterinarians already appreciate that feed is an imperfect vehicle to administer any medication or additive. The reason is very simple: animals require the intervention now, but the feed takes time to be ordered, manufactured, delivered and finally offered to the animals. In the mean time, animals continue to suffer or lose potential from the lack of the specific product. Water administration is much faster!

Third, farm personnel always appreciate the fact that with water administration of any additive they can control the duration, dosage and intensity of treatment. They can even change products without waiting for the next feed delivery, whereas where there is the possibility of having two separate lines, quick farm observation trials are not difficult to design and implement.

Sick animals stop eating feed, but they do keep on drinking water.

Fourth, the animals themselves seem to respond better to water treatments than to feed supplementation. This is due to the old adage that says “sick animals stop eating feed, but they do keep on drinking water.” There is a peril here, in that animals will increase their water intake right before the onset of some diseases, but this is something that can be addressed through management that will regulate dosage of all water-soluble ingredients.

There are negatives, too

We have already discussed that a good water dosaging system is an extra investment that one does not need to make if additives continue to be included in the feed. Plus, it takes time, labor and training to make sure the system is operating and maintained properly. And some farms will object to the transfer of the logistics hassle from the feed mill to their own storage facilities.

Problems do not stop there. Not all additives can be dissolved easily into water. To make them water-soluble, their price must increase. And, even then, there is always the risk of subpar products that will cause considerable damage to equipment. Here it merits mentioning the problem of clogged drinkers (mostly of nipple design) and of course the issue of biofilm (sludge) inside the pipelines every time we use organic material in the water.

Finally, we should not forget that additives that have already been registered for use in the feed might need to be registered again for use through the water. Unless there is a great chance for a successful sales outcome, any additive supplier is sure to shy away from such “investment.”  This is a shortsighted approach to the future that calls for fewer additives in feeds or more controlled usage of most additives that may have a negative impact on anything other than their target.

What to do?

Additives suppliers, at least those concerned about their future, already look into ways to enter the water-soluble market. It is not an easy task even for those that possess already water-soluble additives. At least there is interest towards this direction where some years ago were considered the exclusivity of medications.

Feed mills can only anticipate developments, and perhaps they can help by educating their customers. For some premix manufacturers this might not be considered as a welcome development, but we must move on from the era of “additives equal nutrition,” use additives for what they are (tools) and get back to providing sound nutrition the way it needs to be (complete and thorough).

Finally, farmers should evaluate water dosaging systems and any water-soluble products already available. With the help of their consulting veterinarian and nutritionist they can decide which products should be moved into the water system and which ones should remain in the feed. It is good also to have a deep discussion with equipment suppliers regarding operation and maintenance of their systems, because this is not as easy a proposition as it may sound in the beginning.

Learn more: 8 common technical additives in commercial animal feeds

Ioannis Mavromichalis, Ph.D., is Nutrition Editor for WATTAgNet and Editor-in-Chief of Pig International.