The trial was designed to determine the effect of the mixed powder of leaves of Anacardium occidentale (60%), Psidium guajava (20%), and Morinda citrifolia (20%) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immunoglobulin concentration in broiler chickens. A total of 80 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments from days 1 to 21 of age, with 8 replicates by treatments and 5 birds per replicate. Treatments consisted of a control diet (T0) and the dietary inclusion of 0.5% of mixed powder of medicinal plant leaves (T1). The inclusion of herbs decreases the feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR; P<0.05) in week 2 and in the period studied (1–21 days) compared with T0 but did not modify (P<0.05) the body weight (BW) and average gain (AG). Also, the mixed powder has no influence (P>0.05) on nutrient digestibility and IgA concentration; however, the IgG concentration increased by the effect of this experimental treatment. The results allow recommending the dietary inclusion of mixed powder of medicinal plant leaves as an alternative for obtaining acceptable performance in broilers.

El trabajo tiene como objetivo fundamental elaborar pautas para el perfeccionamiento de la protección a los animales durante la producción de alimentos desde un punto de vista multidisciplinario, enfocado a los elementos que aporta las Ciencias Veterinarias y las Ciencias Jurídicas, que permita mitigar las acciones antijurídicas concebidas como maltrato y crueldad animal, como una necesidad emergente de la que Cuba como nación no está ajena, teniendo en cuenta que existen limitaciones económicas, de procedimiento, técnicas, y por supuesto, en el orden jurídico que trasgreden el bienestar de los animales y que deberían penalizarse, influyendo en muchos casos en la producción final de alimentos para la población; aspecto que constituye prioridad en la actual coyuntura social por la que atraviesa el país.

To evaluate the phytobiotic effect of Anacardium occidentale leaf powder (AOLP) on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood biochemistry, and intestinal traits, seventy-two weaned piglets were randomly distributed into four groups (six replicates/group and three pigs/replicate) for 28 days, receiving a control diet (T0) or being supplemented with 5 (T1), 10 (T2), or 15 (T3) g/kg of AOLP. The diets did not affect the growth performance (p > 0.05); however, the AOLP groups had a decreased diarrhea incidence and malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.05; 28 days). However, the AOLP groups had increased immunoglobulins (G and M) and villus heights (p < 0.05) in the duodenum. Likewise, T3 improved the number of goblet cells in the villi and the whole intestine (p < 0.01), the Mucin2 area in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05), occludin gene expression in the jejunum (p < 0.01), and acetic and valeric acid production (p < 0.05). Microbial diversity at the genus level was not different (p > 0.05); however, T3 increased the abundance of the Lactobacillus genus. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with AOLP improved intestinal health by increasing antioxidant, immune, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal activity in the weaned piglets.

In recent years, the poultry industry has actively sought more sustainable feed additives to address the various challenges of intensive production. To evaluate the oral effect with Lactobacillus reuteri CLP4 on performance, carcass traits, organ weights, cecal microbiology, tibial mineralization, blood indicators, and nitrogen and phosphorus excretion in broilers, 800 one-day-old unsexed Ross 308^® chicks were randomly assigned to two treatments: a basal diet (T0; BD) without additives and BD+Lactobacillus reuteri CLP4 (T1) in the drinking water during the period from 0 to 21 days old. T1 decreased feed intake and feed conversion ratio without affecting body weight or viability of broilers. Likewise, it diminished abdominal fat and improved breast protein content. The probiotic also increased the relative weights of the thymus, spleen, liver, and pancreas, decreased the population of Salmonella spp. and cecal pH, and promoted the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, T1 improved serum immunoglobulin concentrations and decreased harmful serum lipids and nitrogen excretion, although without modifying the moisture, calcium, and phosphorus content of the tibia or phosphorus excretion. Oral supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri CLP4 enhances productivity, breast protein, immune function, atherogenic index, cecal competitive exclusion, and reduces the environmental nitrogen load in broiler production.