The withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) from the list of allowed feed additives forced livestock producers to look for legal and safe substitutes. These included probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and proenzymes, minerals, organic and inorganic acids, as well as phytobiotics, i.e. plant extracts and substances dervied from herbs. Medicinal plants contain a range of biologically active compounds in various combinations, thus they may have a varied effect on the animal body. Here we review the properties of a number of medicinal plants used in the feeding of livestock animals, such as cattle, poultry and swine. The research has confirmed the effectiveness of herbal substances as natural growth promoters and proved they represent an alternative for banned antibiotics. Phytobotics also prove to be a positive factor in relation to both animal health and productivity in terms of quality and quantity, in cattle (milk and beef), pigs (pork yield and reproductive performance) and poultry (egg laying yield in laying hens and broiler chickens). Health improvement is the most pronounced outcome of an application of herbs and herbal feed additives, which has been reflected in blood tests. The interest in phytobiotics as a natural food component will continue to grow, along with the consumers' awareness and the growing demand for healthy food products. To achieve the desired effects, it is not enough to replace the antibiotics with herbs or to add them to the feed. In the first place, it is a ballanced feed ration, animal welfare and appropriate veterinary prophylaxis that should be taken care of.
The aim of the study was to analyze the breeding value of selected conformation traits of rabbits of two breeds (Blanc de Termonde and Popielno White), rared on a reproductive farm located in south-eastern Poland. A total of 981 animals were subjected to the study over three consecutive years. The traits that were analyzed included: body weight, body structure (the size of the body expressed in points), type, coat quality, color, specific traits of the breed. Performed ANOVA involved the effects of the breed, calendar year and sex, and showed statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect of the breed on body structure, body weight expressed in points, type and the total score attained by rabbits. The year of license (P ≤ 0.01) statistically significantly affected the body weight expressed in points, the quality of the coat and the type. Correlations were considerably varied. Those between the total score and other analyzed traits were positive, in the range 0.077-0.444, while negative correlations, -0.076 to -0.052, were found between body weight in grams and the quality of the coat as well as between the body weight at points, type and quality of the coat. It should be emphasized that the rabbits subjected to observation and analysis were characterized by good breeding value.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.