The total ban on antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock nutrition, introduced in EU (European Union) countries on 1 January 2006, presented animal nutritionists with a considerable challenge in finding alternatives. First, the additives had to protect animals’ digestive tracts from pathogenic bacteria, and second, they should be inert in relation to the animals’ bodies. After many experiments, phytobiotics seem like they may be an effective alternative. This article aims to review key scientific articles relating to the use of phytobiotics of various origins in the feeding of chickens for fattening. The review of the available literature brings together the most important research findings on the effects of phytobiotic supplementation on growth performance, gut microbiota, antioxidant status and immune system of broiler chickens. Phytobiotics are natural plant substances produced to protect plants against pathogenic microorganisms. Phytobiotics are classified as a group of biologically active compounds with a broad chemical diversity and may include terpenes, triterpenes and flavonoids. Based on the collected information, it can be concluded that the use of phytobiotics in appropriate quantities and proportions in feed for broiler chickens influences the proper functioning of the digestive tract by, among other things, stimulating beneficial microbiota and secretion of digestive enzymes. In addition, the introduction of such feed additives has an impact on the alleviation of inflammation, supports the functioning of the immune system and has a positive influence on production results.

Modern poultry production looks for feed and water additives that improve the welfare of chickens. The utilization of herbs as additives in feed or drinking water is becoming increasingly well known. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum), administered in drinking water, on chickens’ welfare, production results, selected physicochemical properties of the breast muscles, the activity of selected enzymes, and the antioxidant potential of blood serum and breast muscles. A total of 102 one-day-old male ROSS 308 chicks were allocated into three treatment groups. The material was an infusion of dried milk thistle seeds in two doses, administered in drinking water for chickens (group: C = 0; E1 = 0.24; E2 = 0.36 g/day/animal) under standard rearing conditions. As a result of adding the milk thistle to the drinking water, there was an improvement in the welfare of the chickens and in the production results, enzymatic capacity of selected enzymes, and antioxidant capacity in the blood serum and in pectoral muscle (p ≤ 0.05). The addition of a milk thistle seed infusion for chickens can be used in poultry production to improve the rearing performance antioxidant capacity and welfare of chickens.

استخدمت المضادات الحيوية منذ ما يقرب من ثمانين عامًا منذ أربعينيات القرن الماضي، وكان الغرض من استخدامها زيادة المناعة ضد الميكروبات والأمراض، كما تستخدم لتعزيز النمو في إنتاج الدواجن. إن تطور البكتيريا لتصبح مقاومة للأدوية ناتج عن استخدام المضادات الحيوية لفترة طويلة وقد تتحول إلى الإنسان أيضًا. حيث تعتبر إضافات الأعلاف "الحيوية"، مثل البروبيوتيك ووالبوستبايوتك والبريبايوتك، أحد الخيارات المحتملة لزيادة نمو الدواجن وصحتها. تم الاهتمام مؤخرًا للحلول الغذائية الحديثة، وخاصة البروبيوتيك والبريبايوتكس والبريبايوتكس. جلب 300 فرخة (Ross- 308) بعمر يوم واحد من مفقس أهلي. حيث تم توزيع الأفراخ إلى خمس معاملات عشوائيا. تكونت كل مجموعة من ثلاث مكررات، في كل منها عشرين طائرًا. تشمل المعاملات: محموعة السيطرة السالبة (العليقة الأساسية+ أوكسي تتراسيكلين بتركيز 0.05٪)، محموعة السيطرة الموحبة (العليقة الأساسية+ ٪ Lactobacillus)، T1 = العليقة الأساسية + 0.3٪ Lactobacillus plantarum (postbiotic، T2 = (العليقة الأساسية + 0.3٪ Bacillus licheniformis (بروبيوتيك) ،T3 العليقة الأساسية + 0.3٪ فركتو اوليكوسكرايد (بريبايوتك). كانت نتيجة الإضافات الطبيعية إلى علف فروج اللحم ارتفاع معنوي (p <0.05) في وزن الجسم في...

A total of two hundred and eighty eight day old unsexed chicks from a Ross 308 cross were randomly assigned to eight treatment and four replicates and each replicator had twelve birds. The experimental groups includes, N-control= negative control (basal diet), P-control = basal diet + 0.01% Doxin200 (positive control) (w/w), 0.1% Pos+Phy = basal diet + 0.05% thyme oil (v/w) + 0.05% postbiotic, 0.2% Pos+Phy = basal diet + 0.1% thyme oil (v/w) + 0.1% postbiotic, 0.3% Pos+Phy = basal diet + basal diet + 0.15% thyme oil (v/w) + 0.15% postbiotic, and 0.4% Pos+Phy = basal diet + 0.2% thyme oil (v/w) + 0.2% postbiotic. The broiler European index was greatly improved, particularly at levels of 0.3% Pos+Phy and 0.4% Pos+Phy, which corresponded to (385.38) and (351.57), respectively. Growth performance ageneraly improved, significantly heigh of BWG and Low FCR showed in birds fed 0.3% and 0.4% Pos+Phy, and the BW of birds fed compaination significantly (p

Like probiotics, postbiotics function without the presence of living cells and are composed of bacteriocins and metabolites that are antibacterial. They improve chicken products and health by reducing acidity in the gut and preventing infectious diseases. A total of 288 one-day-old unsexed broiler birds (Ross308) were divided into sex-specific treatment groups, with each group having four replicates and each replicate containing twelve birds.The treatment groups were as follows: T1 = Standard diet (negative control), T2 = Standard diet + 0.01% doxin200 (positive control), T3 (0.1%) = Standard diet + 0.05% thyme oil + 0.05% postbiotic, T4(0.2%) = Standard diet + 0.1% thyme oil + 0.1% postbiotic, T5(0.3%) = Standard diet + 0.15% thyme oil + 0.15% postbiotic, T6 (0.4%) = Standard diet + 0.2% thyme oil + 0.2% postbiotic. The results showed significantly (P 0.05) in meat color were noticed by feed additives compared to the positive control and stayed within the normal range. Various levels of the combination diet significantly improved tibia bone health, especially at a level of 0.4% (T6). In conclusions, a level of 0.4% combined (0.2% postbiotics+ 0.2% phytobiotics(thyme oil) as viable alternatives to antibiotics in broiler diets.

Ross 308 chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups of 600 birds each: a control group (C) and an experimental group (M). The birds were reared for 42 days in accordance with the flock management guidelines. Group M was exposed to music for 2 h/day and for 30 min before slaughter (~70 dB). After slaughter, the carcasses were cooled, and after 24 h, the pectoral muscles were collected for further physicochemical analyses. The study results revealed a lower value of drip loss in the pectoral muscles of the chickens from group M than in those from group C (p ≤ 0.01). Moreover, the muscles from group M chickens had higher pH values at 15 min, 1 h, and 12 h (p ≤ 0.01) and also at 4 h (p ≤ 0.05) post-mortem. Pectoral muscles of group M chickens also showed lower L* and b* color parameters (p ≤ 0.01), collagen content (p ≤ 0.05), and GSH concentration (p ≤ 0.01), compared to control birds. Exposure to ambient relaxation music in the scheme used in the study may be an effective form of environmental enrichment for broiler chickens, leading to physicochemical changes in their pectoral muscles consistent with potentially lower pre-slaughter stress.