Rationale for using immunopotentiators in domestic food animals.

Abstract

In the production of domestic food animals several situations exist where disease decreases production efficiency. Some of these diseases are exacerbated by a lowered or compromised immune response of the host. If immunomodulators can be used to augment immune function at critical periods during the production of food animals, such as the neonatal period, and prior to or during exposure to stressors or pathogenic organisms, then the economic loss caused by infectious disease should be reduced.