The quest for sustainable poultry farming has led to increasing interest in natural feed additives, such as essential oils and probiotics, as potential replacements for antibiotics. A recent study published in the May issue of *Poultry Science* highlights the benefits of these additives in promoting broiler growth and health.
The Study: Essential Oils and Probiotics in Poultry Feed
The research, conducted by Erika Ganda, assistant professor of food animal microbiomes at Pennsylvania State University, and Ana Fonseca, a graduate assistant in Ganda’s research group, provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of feed additive supplementation as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in broiler production. The study offers a descriptive analysis of the chicken excreta microbiota after experimenting with two feed additives: a probiotic and an essential oils blend.
Rising Concerns Over Antibiotic Use
Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating issue, prompting many consumers to seek out poultry products raised without antibiotics. This consumer demand has led some poultry producers to adopt no-antibiotic-ever production systems, increasing the need for effective alternatives to antibiotics in promoting broiler health and growth.
Comparing Antibiotics to Feed Additives
In the study, 320 one-day-old chicks were divided into four groups, each receiving a different diet: a standard diet, a standard diet with the antibiotic bacitracin methylene disalicylate, an essential oils blend of oregano oil, rosemary, and red pepper, or the probiotic *Bacillus subtilis*.
Essential oils, naturally produced by plants, are known for their strong bacteriostatic, antioxidant, and pathogen-fighting properties. They can also stimulate appetite and digestion, aiding early growth and development. Probiotics, live microorganisms that confer health benefits to their host, can similarly boost poultry health.
To measure the outcomes, the chicks were weighed on days 10 and 21, with feed consumption tracked per pen. The researchers calculated daily body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio to assess growth performance.
Promising Results and Future Research
The study found that supplementing broiler diets with probiotics over 21 days increased the abundance of beneficial intestinal microorganisms. This was determined by daily feces monitoring and DNA analysis to identify the bacteria present. However, research into the effects of probiotics and essential oils on broiler health is still in its early stages.
Further research is essential to fully understand the impact of these natural feed additives on broiler health and the gastrointestinal tract. “Our current research is focused on the functionality of feed additives. From this study, we’ve gained insights into the composition of these additives and their impact on performance and shifts in the excreta microbiota. Moving forward, we aim to investigate the substances produced in the chicken’s gut when we feed these additives and explore the interactions within the complex microbial communities, the gastrointestinal tract’s immune system, and overall gut health,” explained Ganda and Fonseca.
The Potential of Natural Feed Additives
Natural feed additives hold significant promise as alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production. Essential oils and probiotics not only improve growth performance and health in broilers but also align with consumer demands for antibiotic-free poultry products. As the research progresses, these additives could play a crucial role in sustainable and responsible poultry farming practices.
In conclusion, the study underscores the potential of essential oils and probiotics in replacing antibiotics in poultry feed. By fostering beneficial gut microbiota and promoting healthier growth, these natural additives offer a viable path toward more sustainable and consumer-friendly poultry production. Continued research and development in this field are vital to fully harness their benefits and ensure the health and productivity of broilers without relying on antibiotics.
