Phytogenics, also known as phytobiotics, are natural bioactive compounds of botanical origin that are used as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and are added to feed to enhance animal performance. Although phytogenics encompass a wide variety of substances of biological origin, formulation, chemical characterization, and purity, they can be classified into four groups: (1) herbs (products obtained from flowering, woody, and nonperennial plants); (2) botanicals (whole or processed parts of a plant, such as roots, leaves, tree bark, and spices); (3) essential oils (hydro-distilled extracts of volatile plant compounds); and (4) oleoresins (anhydrous solvent-based extracts). These plant-derived products do not contain residues, are natural, and are less toxic than synthetic antibiotics or inorganic chemicals. Many are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used as feed additives in animal nutrition.
NATURCOLIN VS. CONVENTIONAL CHOLINE: WHAT'S THE POINT? Synthetic choline chloride has been widely used in animal nutrition, but it comes with several limitations. Naturcolin provides plant-derived phosphatidylcholine together with valuable phospholipids, plus natural bioactive compounds like rosemary extracts. A smarter, more natural approach to choline nutrition. ...
1. Introduction Poultry production is an important agricultural subsector in many countries. Poultry are birds which render economic services to humans as a primary supplier of meat, egg and raw materials for different industries (feather, waste products, etc.), source of income and employment to people when compared to other domestic animals [1]. According to USDA (2020), the world chicken meat production in 2020 increased than previous years. In July 2020, the total production of...
In poultry production, the avian respiratory system is both a biological advantage and a management challenge. Birds breathe through a highly efficient system built on unidirectional airflow and multiple air sacs, allowing rapid oxygen exchange to support growth, activity, and...
I. INTRODUCTION Coccidiosis is one of the main disease challenges affecting broiler production worldwide. This disease has a significant economic impact on the poultry industry and the global cost of coccidiosis in chickens linked to prevention, treatment, and performance losses is estimated at US$13 billion or US$0.20 per bird (Blake et al., 2020). Coccidiosis is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Seven different Eimeria species are known to affect chickens, each...
Elizabeth Santin (Independent Consultant) comments on the different causes of oxidative stress, the impact on immunity, and the antioxidants that can be administered, in this Engormix interview....
Essential oils (EOs) are secondary plant metabolites, some of which can stimulate feed intake, and digestion. The capacity of the small intestine to digest and absorb nutrients early in the life of the chick depends on an adequate embryonic development of the villi and crypts and overall, the integrity and functional properties of the epithelia, including the expression and abundance of digestive enzymes and nutrient sensors and transporters. Some key transporters include the sodium-glucose...
I. INTRODUCTION Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens, is a major enteric disease in commercial poultry with associated annual economic losses estimated at $6 billion worldwide (Wade and Keyburn, 2015). In broiler production, much of these costs are attributed to subclinical NE resulting in reduced performance associated with compromised integrity of the gut, higher mortality rates, and greater costs for disease treatment and...
Thermal stress happens when the animal leaves its thermal comfort zone, it means neither too cold nor too hot, let's say it feels good. In both of the cases, the stress due to heat and cold, the problem itself is not the temperature alone, but its relation to relative humidity level. The...
Disruptions within the microbiome–gut–bone axis are increasingly recognized as key contributors to impaired bone metabolism and leg disorders in broiler chickens. This study investigated the effects of a combined dietary additive containing Bacillus subtilis DSM 29784 and a phytogenic blend of garlic and essential oil components (BsP) on the modulation of microbial communities, intestinal integrity, mineral utilization, and bone-associated immune–osteogenic...
Abstract The effect of addition of sunflower hulls (SFH) as an insoluble fiber on performance and some physiological parameters of broiler chickens fed diets containing full-fat canola seed (CS) was evaluated from 11 to 42 d of age in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. A total of 240 one-day-old broilers (Ross 308) were randomly devoted to 4 treatments, with 6 replicates each and 10 birds per replicate. Treatments were canola oil source (CS, and...
Antibiotics have been added to livestock in Industrial farms since 1946 to caused animal grow faster and put on weight more efficiently. Between 1985 and 2001, the use of antibiotics in feed for industrial livestock production rose a starling 50%. As global demand for animal protein grows, antibiotics use to raise food-producing animals in intensive production–mostly to promote growth rather than treat disease. According to a new report by the FDA 2010,...
The increasing demand for sustainable livestock production has intensified global interest in phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) as viable alternatives to conventional antibiotic growth promoters. This comprehensive review, authored by Sarbani Biswas and In Ho Kim and published in the Journal of Animal Science and Technology (DOI: 10.5187/jast.2025.e26), explores how plant-derived compounds like essential oils, herbs, and spices are redefining non-ruminant nutrition. The study synthesizes...
Fran Alonso, Veterinarian and Global Commercial Director at Liposa, explores advanced approaches to maximizing fat digestibility and dietary energy efficiency. *Certain information associated with products, their composition and claims may be different depending on the geographical region and may not be applicable in all countries. Liptosa reserves the right to adapt to the requirements and legislation in each case. The information and technical recommendations provided...
Introduction In recent years, chicken meat has undergone a surge in popularity, outpacing other meats as a result of several key conditions. Competitive prices and lower cost than those of other meats (Augustyńska-Prejsnar et al., 2019; Dalle Zotte et al., 2020; Sujiwo et al., 2018), high-quality protein content (Chmiel et al., 2019; Yalcin et al., 2019), and appealing sensory qualities (Damaziak et al., 2019) have all contributed to the increase...
India is now ranking world’s 3 rd largest economy supported by swift change in the policies and development in the technology and manufacturing sector. Youth are playing major role in the growth of India. There is remarkable growth in the purchase power parity. Due to the growing demand for the nutritious food and increased awareness about the health, post COVID era, there is huge demand for the animal protein which are essential for maintenance of immunity and overall...
Amine Benarbia (NOR-FEED) comments on the research presented, the benefits of botanical solutions, and the alternatives available for coccidiosis programs in this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Vivek Kuttappan (Cargill) shared his research on the beneficial effects of postbiotics and phytogenics on mitigating APEC severity in laying hens, during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...
Introduction Advancing our knowledge of animal nutrition has been a globally significant research field for approaching a century. The vast knowledge accumulated on how to meet the nutritional requirements of livestock has allowed researchers to evolve towards use of nutrition to achieve the wider aims of global food security. In parallel to the highly focused advances in animal nutrition, other researchers were grappling with the seemingly intractable conflict between globalized...
Manuel Da Costa (Cargill) comments on advances in nutritional solutions using postbiotics and phythogenics, and how microbiome analysis helps identify opportunities or specific issues to address, during this Engormix interview at IPPE 2026 in Atlanta. ...