Growth promoting use of antimicrobial agents in animals.

ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial growth promoter includes varieties of chemotherapeutics agent to be used for improving feed conversion efficiency, body weight gain and overall health. Now a day due to increased pressure of augmenting productivity, the animal husbandry industry is favorably inclined to professional use of antimicrobial growth promoters. AGP are administered at very low dose and they modify the bacterial quality and quantity in animal body towards favorable outcome with respect to reduced incidence of some diseases and infections. Today, non inophore group of compounds are being used widely for the purpose. These compounds alter the cell membrane permeability and causes death of bacterial cells. Wide varieties of compounds are available with specific purpose. The most ideal characteristic of AGP desired is minimum tissue residue and no cross resistance with human pathogens. The total amount of AGP used is difficult to estimate. The present review discusses the detail aspect of AGP at length.