What function do feed additives serve in animal nutrition?

Feed additives are substances added to animal feed to improve the overall health, growth rates, and performance of livestock. This is achieved through various mechanisms, such as providing essential nutrients, enhancing digestion, and promoting gut health. Certain additives can also modulate the immune response or reduce the incidence of specific diseases, contributing to better overall health in animals. By improving these factors, feed additives play a significant role in enhancing the efficiency of animal production and ensuring that the animals reach their growth potential in a healthy manner.

While other options have elements of truth, such as improving flavor or potentially influencing longevity and hydration, they do not represent the primary function of feed additives. The central goal of these additions is to achieve better growth and health outcomes for the animals.