True or False: A feed additive is classified as an antibiotic if it enhances the growth of bacteria.

A feed additive is classified as an antibiotic based on its ability to inhibit or kill bacteria, rather than enhancing the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are used in livestock nutrition primarily to prevent and treat bacterial infections and to promote growth by influencing the gut microflora in a favorable way, often reducing harmful bacteria.

In this context, if a feed additive enhances the growth of bacteria, it would not be categorized as an antibiotic. Instead, it might be considered a prebiotic, which is known to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Thus, stating that a feed additive is an antibiotic simply because it enhances bacterial growth is inaccurate, making the assertion false.

This distinction is crucial in livestock nutrition, as the use of antibiotics has specific regulatory and health implications, particularly concerning antibiotic resistance and animal health management practices.