Importance of Herbs in Broiler Poultry
Herbs and plant extracts used in animal feed, called today phytogenics feed additives (PFA), are defined as compounds of plant origin incorporated into animal feed to enhance livestock productivity through the improvement of digestibility, nutrient absorption and elimination of pathogens residents in the poultry gut.
The large variety of plant compounds used as PFA are assembled according to their origin and treatment, such as herbs and spices (eg: garlic, anise, cinnamon, coriander, oregano, chili, pepper, rosemary and thyme) but also essential oils or oleoresins. The content of active substances in these products can vary greatly depending on what part of the plant is used (grains, leaves, roots, bark, flowers, or buds), the harvest season and geographical origin.
Turmeric is a spice coming from the rhizome of Curcuma longa. It is used as a food coloring, but also for medicinal purposes. The active component is curcumin, a phenolic compound at concentrations of about 1 to 5%. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities. In infected chicken with Eimeria maxima, supplementation of feed with 1% (1 kg/100 kg) turmeric spice improves weight gain, reduces intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion. Curcumin exerts its anticoccidial effect through its antioxidant action on the immune system
Garlic (Allium sativum), thyme (Thymus vulgarus) and conflower (Echinacea purpurea) as feed supplements have recently been reported to exert a wide range of beneficial effects on the production performance (weight gain, feed conversion, egg production and quality) of broilers and laying hens.
The large variety of plant compounds used as PFA are assembled according to their origin and treatment, such as herbs and spices (eg: garlic, anise, cinnamon, coriander, oregano, chili, pepper, rosemary and thyme) but also essential oils or oleoresins. The content of active substances in these products can vary greatly depending on what part of the plant is used (grains, leaves, roots, bark, flowers, or buds), the harvest season and geographical origin.
Turmeric is a spice coming from the rhizome of Curcuma longa. It is used as a food coloring, but also for medicinal purposes. The active component is curcumin, a phenolic compound at concentrations of about 1 to 5%. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral activities. In infected chicken with Eimeria maxima, supplementation of feed with 1% (1 kg/100 kg) turmeric spice improves weight gain, reduces intestinal lesions and oocyst excretion. Curcumin exerts its anticoccidial effect through its antioxidant action on the immune system
Garlic (Allium sativum), thyme (Thymus vulgarus) and conflower (Echinacea purpurea) as feed supplements have recently been reported to exert a wide range of beneficial effects on the production performance (weight gain, feed conversion, egg production and quality) of broilers and laying hens.
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