Herbs and phytogenic feed additives in poultry nutrition

The aim of the study was to review the results of scientific research on the effect of herbs and phytogenic feed additives used in poultry nutrition on animal welfare, breeding conditions, and the quality of meat. The article explains the importance of feed additives used in poultry nutrition. It discusses the role of herbs and phytogenic feed additives in nutrition in the context of the increasing demand for and consumption of poultry meat. The article also analyzes the influence of herbs and phytogenic feed additives on animal welfare, rearing conditions, and meat quality. The results of research on the effect of herbs and phytogenic feed additives used in poultry nutrition are not unequivocal. In view of the high demand for poultry meat, there is need for continued research on the optimal composition of herbal mixtures in nutrition to obtain good breeding conditions and high quality meat.

Productive Performance and Cecum Microbiota Analysis of Broiler Chickens Supplemented with β-Mannanases and Bacteriophages—A Pilot Study

This study was conducted to evaluate the productive performance, intestinal health, and description of the cecum microbiota in broilers supplemented with β-mannanases (MNs) and bacteriophages (BPs). Six hundred one-day-old broilers were divided into four groups and fed one of the following diets: CON—corn–soybean meal + 10 ppm enramycin (ENR); MN: CON + 500 ppm MN; BP: CON + 500 ppm BP; MN + BP: BP + 500 ppm MN. The BP and MN factors showed similar performances to ENR. MN improved the concentration of IgA in the jejunum at 35 days of age. The morphometric index (IM) of the thymus increased by adding MN, while BP increased the liver and thymus IM. The histological analysis showed that BP and MN improved the intestinal morphology. MN + BP showed a tendency to decrease the abundance of Proteobacteria and increase the abundance of Bacteroidetes, indicating better microbiota function. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the combination of MN + BP has potential in poultry nutrition; however, we highly recommend further experiments to confirm this hypothesis.

Phytogenic Feed Additives as An Alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry Nutrition

Phytoadditives in animal nutrition have attracted a lot of attention for their potential role as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Phytoadditives are feed additives originated from plants or botanicals that are used in poultry nutrition. This chapter provides an overview about the potency of alternative additive from plants as a basis for exploring it as a phytoadditive for poultry. These substances are derived from herbs, spices, and other plants and their extracts. They are natural, less toxic, residue free and ideal feed additives for poultry when compared to synthetic antibiotics. There efficacy of phytogenic applications in poultry nutrition depends on several factors, such as composition and feed inclusion level of phytogenic preparations, bird genetics, and overall diet composition. Addition of 100 mg/kg feed essential oils consist of carvacrol, thymol and limonene in matrix encapsulation improved performance and apparent ideal digestibility of nutrients of broiler chickens. Besides enhancing performance, phytogenic also has antioxidant, the effects of which are associated with essential oils (EOs) and their components. Administration of eucalyptus and peppermint oil blends by oral (0.25 ml/L drinking water) and spray route (0.1 ml/20 ml water) reduced Newcastle disease infection in broilers. Phytoadditives have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antitoxigenic, antiparasitic and insecticidal properties. The benefits of using phytoadditives in poultry nutrition are increased feed intake, stimulation of digestion, increased growth performance, reduced incidence of disease, improved reproductive parameters, feed efficiency, profitability. Based on the latest scientific findings presented in this chapter, the following main conclusions have been drawn that phytomolecule and that bioactives have potential to be developed as an alternative additive for poultry, and that promote health.

Evaluation of Lactobacillus spp. Based on Phenotypical Profile as Direct-Fed Microbial Candidate for Poultry Nutrition

The present study was conducted to isolate, identify and characterize a lactic acid bacteria strain from turkey ileum content (46-day-old). The new strain was phenotypical confirmed as Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and conserved under the code IBNA 09. Bacterial profile of L. acidophilus was compared with other strains known as L. paracasei CCM 1837 and L. plantarum ATCC 8014, based on cultural, morphological, biochemical and enzymatic activity (amylase and cellulase). The strains appear as Gram positive bacilli, thin, non-spore-forming, isolated, diplo form, in short chains or in small irregular piles on Man Rogosa and Sharp (MRS) broth and agar medium. The identification and biochemical traits were performed by catalase assay, API 50 CHL V 5.1 soft (L. acidophilus biotype 2, 99.9% ID; good identification to the genus L. paracasei spp. paracasei 1 or 3, 48-51% ID; L. plantarum 1, 99.9% ID) and ABIS online (L. acidophilus ~ 88%; L. paracasei spp. paracasei, ~ 90%; L. plantarum, ~91%). The highest total score of extracellular amylase activity was recorded by L. acidophilus IBNA 09 at 24-48 h (5.10 ± 0.176 U/mL, 4.99 ± 0.409 U/mL), follow by L. paracasei CCM 1837(0.12 ± 0.002 U/mL, 0.15 ± 0.001 U/mL). During entire period, cellulase production was observed only for L. acidophilus (0.28 ± 0.019 U/mL), comparative with L. paracasei where the activity was observed in the first 24 h, respectively at 72 h for L. plantarum. These results suggest that L. acidophilus IBNA 09 possesses potential probiotic traits as a suitable candidate for amylase and cellulase production, and starter culture can improve cereal fermentation and the process of digestion in poultry nutrition.

Butyric and Citric Acids and Their Salts in Poultry Nutrition: Effects on Gut Health and Intestinal Microbiota

Intestinal dysfunction of farm animals, such as intestinal inflammation and altered gut microbiota, is the critical problem affecting animal welfare, performance and farm profitability. China has prohibited the use of antibiotics to improve feed efficiency and growth performance for farm animals, including poultry, in 2020. With the advantages of maintaining gut homeostasis, enhancing digestion, and absorption and modulating gut microbiota, organic acids are regarded as promising antibiotic alternatives. Butyric and citric acids as presentative organic acids positively impact growth performance, welfare, and intestinal health of livestock mainly by reducing pathogenic bacteria and maintaining the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) pH. This review summarizes the discovery of butyric acid (BA), citric acid (CA) and their salt forms, molecular structure and properties, metabolism, biological functions and their applications in poultry nutrition. The research findings about BA, CA and their salts on rats, pigs and humans are also briefly reviewed. Therefore, this review will fill the knowledge gaps of the scientific community and may be of great interest for poultry nutritionists, researchers and feed manufacturers about these two weak organic acids and their effects on intestinal health and gut microbiota community, with the hope of providing safe, healthy and nutrient-rich poultry products to consumers.