A Review of the Behavioral and Physiological Responses to Elfazepam, a Chemical Feed Intake Stimulant

Summary

Elfazepam, a benzodiazepine, is a potent feed intake stimulant when administered intravenously or orally in horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, pigs, cats and rats. The central nervous system site and mechanism of action have not been established. Administration of elfazepam can induce animals to eat large meals. Elfazepam will override the inhibitors of feeding caused by amphetamine, heat stress, diet bulk, protein deficiency and an additive with aversive flavor characteristics. While rumen fermentation per se is not influenced by elfazepam, ruminal and abomasal motility and secretory functions are reduced. Digestibility of some diets may be improved by the chemical. Elfazepam added to the feed of cattle (.5 to 2.0 ppm) and of sheep (4 ppm) improved feed efficiency, under a variety of conditions, but the response was variable. It has improved performance of young animals during the transition from milk to solid feedstuffs and has been used successfully in the treatment of anorexias associated with disease states in a variety of species. Applications for a chemical feed intake stimulant are discussed and elfazepam is shown to have many of the desired characteristics for such an agent.

© American Society of Animal Science 1979