Precision nutrition in livestock: a new frontier for food safety

Precision nutrition in livestock refers to the targeted adjustment of dietary composition and intake to match the specific requirements of individual animals or groups, based on real time data, growth models, and health monitoring. Beyond enhancing productivity and efficiency, this approach has emerged as a critical lever for improving food safety by influencing the gut microbiota, reducing colonization of food‑borne pathogens, and limiting the need for antimicrobial interventions. By optimizing protein, amino acid, carbohydrate, mineral, and additive profiles, precision feeding systems can decrease the shedding of Salmonella, E. coli, and other zoonotic agents along the production chain. This article examines how precision nutrition interacts with food‑safety objectives, reviews current technologies such as automated feeders, sensors, and decision‑support systems, and proposes a practical framework for veterinarians and farm managers to integrate precision nutrition strategies into routine health management. The goal is to demonstrate that what goes into the animal’s ration is not only a determinant of growth and efficiency but also a direct contributor to the safety and quality of animal source foods reaching the consumer.