Difference for Animal Feed Additives and Premixes

一.Premix

Definition: Premix is a homogeneous mixture of multiple trace ingredients (such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, drugs, etc.) mixed in a specific proportion. It is usually added to the basic feed in a small amount.
Composition:
Vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, K, etc.)
Minerals (such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, etc.)
Amino acids (such as lysine, methionine, etc.)
Other functional additives (such as antioxidants, mildew inhibitors, etc.)
Function:
Nutritional supplement: Provide the trace nutrients required for animal growth and make up for the nutritional deficiencies in the basic feed.
Balanced formula: Ensure that the proportion of various nutrients in the feed is reasonable to meet the nutritional needs of animals.
Improve feed utilization: Optimize the digestion and absorption rate of feed by adding ingredients such as amino acids.
Promote health: Add functional ingredients (such as antioxidants, immune enhancers) to enhance animal immunity.
Usage: Premix is usually added to the basic feed at a ratio of 0.5%-5%, and then mixed evenly before use.

Definition: Feed additives refer to single or compound ingredients added to feed to improve feed quality, promote animal growth or prevent diseases.
Classification:
Nutritional additives: such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc., directly supplement nutrition.
Functional additives: such as enzyme preparations, probiotics, acidifiers, etc., improve digestion or health.
Pharmaceutical additives: such as antibiotics, anthelmintics, etc., used to prevent or treat diseases.
Technical additives: such as antioxidants, mildew inhibitors, etc., extend the shelf life of feed.
Functions:
Improve feed quality: such as antioxidants to prevent feed deterioration, mildew inhibitors to inhibit mold growth.
Promote growth: such as enzyme preparations to improve feed digestibility, probiotics to improve intestinal health.
Prevent diseases: such as antibiotics, anthelmintics, etc. are used for disease prevention and control.
Improve production efficiency: reduce breeding costs by optimizing feed utilization.
Usage: Feed additives are added to feed in trace amounts according to their type and purpose, usually in low amounts (such as 0.01%-0.1%).

Characteristics	Premixes	Feed Additives
Composition	A mixture of multiple trace - components	Single or composite components
Function	Supplement nutrition and balance the formula	Improve feed quality, promote growth, prevent diseases, etc.
Usage Proportion	Relatively high (0.5% - 5%)	Relatively low (0.01% - 0.1%)
Addition Form	Directly added to the basal feed	Added to the feed as a single or composite component
Main Uses	Nutritional supplementation, formula balance	Functional improvement, disease prevention, technical optimization

Premixes and feed additives are usually used synergistically in feed formulation:
Premixes provide basic nutrition and ensure the trace components required for animal growth.
Feed additives further optimize feed quality and animal health and improve production efficiency.
For example:
In pig feed, premixes provide vitamins and minerals, while enzyme preparations (feed additives) help break down anti-nutritional factors in feed and improve digestibility.
In poultry feed, premixes supplement amino acids, while probiotics (feed additives) improve intestinal health and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

Premix: Mainly used to supplement micronutrients and balance feed formula, it is the "nutritional basis" in feed.
Feed additives: Mainly used for functional improvement, such as improving feed utilization, preventing diseases, extending shelf life, etc., it is the "functional enhancer" in feed.
The two complement each other in feed and jointly ensure the nutritional needs and healthy growth of animals.