Dietary Supplementation of Different Levels of Phytogenic Feed Additive in Broiler Diets: The Dynamics of Growth Performance, Caecal Microbiota, and Intestinal Morphometry

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of dietary phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on growth performance, caecal microbiota, and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 480 Ross-308 one-day-old male broilers chicks (body weight 43+3 g) were randomly assigned to 32 replicate pens of four experimental groups, each experimental group consisting of 8 replicates (each replicate pen consisting of 15 chicks). A basal diet was formulated based on corn and soybean meal that was fed to the control group. Other dietary treatments received a commercial PFA at 100 mg/kg (PFA100), 125 mg/kg (PFA125), and 150 mg/kg (PFA150). Body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion rate of broilers were recorded on 1-21, 22-42, and 1-42 days of age. One bird was slaughtered on the 21 st and 42 nd days and caecal contents were aseptically collected. Jejunal tissue samples were also collected on the same days. Total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and lactobacilli were counted in the caecal contents. Villus height, villus diameter, crypt depth, muscular thickness, and goblet cell number per villus were recorded. There was no difference among the dietary treatments for growth performance and caecal microbe populations at any phase. However, the dietary PFA supplementation increased the villus height, villus width, muscularis thickness, and reduced the crypt depth and goblet cell number per villus in broilers compared to those fed control diets. In conclusion, this study suggests that dietary supplementation of a PFA consisting of blend of different spices and essential oils did not improve growth performance and caecal microbial populations despite a positive improvement in the jejunal morphometry of broilers.

Comparative Efficacy of Selected Phytobiotics with Halquinol and Tetracycline on Gut Morphology, Ileal Digestibility, Cecal Microbiota Composition and Growth Performance in Broiler Chickens

“…Soliman et al [ 71 ] and Oso et al [ 45 ] endorsed current study findings where supplementation of PFAs had significantly increase VH and decrease CD. As with the present study results, the positive influence of phytobiotics on gut morphology in broiler chickens was reported in several studies [ 14 , 17 , 24 ]. Various other studies endorsed the present study findings, where dietary supplementation of phytobiotics possessing polyphenols, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds, modulated the gut health through improved gut microarchitecture [ 25 , 56 ].…”

“…In conclusion, supplementation of phytobiotics positively modulated the gut health by increasing the beneficial microbes, such as Lactobacillus , and restricting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Salmonella , and Clostridium . Current results are supported by a variety of other studies that reported that phytobiotics supplementation in broiler chickens significantly reduced the pathogenic bacteria including E. coli , Salmonella and Clostridium and significantly increased the beneficial bacteria ( Lactobacillus) [ 9 , 14 , 24 , 71 ].…”

“…Thus, phytobiotics can enhance the health status and performance of the birds [ 85 ]. Several studies reported the antimicrobial activity of PFAs possessing polyphenols, including flavonoid (quercetin) and eugenol [ 14 , 59 ]. Antimicrobial activity is one of the properties of phytobiotics when supplemented as growth promoters in the ration of broilers [ 86 ].…”

“…Numerous studies suggested that PFAs might be the potent and viable natural alternative to AGPs for poultry production [ 7 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]. Dietary supplementation of phytobiotics in broilers has considerable positive effects; their supplementation could improve gut health [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], positively modulate the dynamics of gut microbiota [ 17 ], and enhance feed efficiency [ 6 , 18 ], thus, increase growth performance [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Various studies have established the antibacterial efficacy of phytobiotics against pathogenic bacteria, such as Clostridium and E. coli , in broiler chickens [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Phytogenic Compounds for Enhancing Intestinal Barrier Function in Poultry–A Review

“…PFAs: effects on intestinal morphology. This is consistent with the results of PFA supplementation (commercial phytogenic product Digestarom) obtained by Ahsan et al, where there was no difference among the dietary treatments for growth performance and cecal microbe populations at any phase[12]. However, in the supplemented group, increased VH and VW were observed in comparison to birds fed control diets.…”