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Review
. 2022 Dec;42(1):68-94.
doi: 10.1080/01652176.2022.2073399.

The effect of metal-containing nanoparticles on the health, performance and production of livestock animals and poultry

Izabela Michalak  1 , Katarzyna Dziergowska  1 , Mahmoud Alagawany  2 , Mayada R Farag  3 , Nahed A El-Shall  4 , Hardeep Singh Tuli  5 , Talha Bin Emran  6 , Kuldeep Dhama  7
Affiliations
Review

The effect of metal-containing nanoparticles on the health, performance and production of livestock animals and poultry

Izabela Michalak et al. Vet Q. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

The application of high doses of mineral feed additives in the form of inorganic salts increases the growth performance of animals, but at the same, due to their low bioavailability, can contaminate the environment. Therefore, there is a need to find a replacement of administering high doses of minerals with an equally effective alternative. The application of lower doses of metal-containing nanoparticles with the same effect on animal production could be a potential solution. In the present review, zinc, silver, copper, gold, selenium, and calcium nanoparticles are discussed as potential feed additives for animals. Production of nanoparticles under laboratory conditions using traditional chemical and physical methods as well as green and sustainable methods - biosynthesis has been described. Special attention has been paid to the biological properties of nanoparticles, as well as their effect on animal health and performance. Nano-minerals supplemented to animal feed (poultry, pigs, ruminants, rabbits) acting as growth-promoting, immune-stimulating and antimicrobial agents have been highlighted. Metal nanoparticles are known to exert a positive effect on animal performance, productivity, carcass traits through blood homeostasis maintenance, intestinal microflora, oxidative damage prevention, enhancement of immune responses, etc. Metal-containing nanoparticles can also be a solution for nutrient deficiencies in animals (higher bioavailability and absorption) and can enrich animal products with microelements like meat, milk, or eggs. Metal-containing nanoparticles are proposed to partially replace inorganic salts as feed additives. However, issues related to their potential toxicity and safety to livestock animals, poultry, humans, and the environment should be carefully investigated.

Keywords: Nanoparticles; health; livestock; nanotechnology; performance; poultry.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that there exist no commercial or financial relationships that could, in any way, lead to a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Manufacturing methods for nanoparticles synthesis.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The number of papers on (a) type of nanoparticles used as feed additives for animals and (b) the species of animal supplemented with nanoparticles as feed additives (Web of Science, September 9, 2021).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Beneficial effects of nanoparticles on animal health and performance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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