Phytogenic supplement containing menthol, carvacrol and carvone ameliorates gut microbiota and production performance of commercial layers

Abstract

Consumer push towards open and free-range production systems makes biosecurity on farms challenging, leading to increased disease and animal welfare issues. Phytogenic products are increasingly becoming a viable alternative for the use of antibiotics in livestock production. Here we present a study of the effects of commercial phytogenic supplement containing menthol, carvacrol and carvone on intestinal microbiota of layer hens, microbial functional capacity, and intestinal morphology. A total of 40,000 pullets were randomly assigned to two sides of the experimental shed. Growth performance, mortality, egg production and egg quality parameters were recorded throughout the trial period (18–30 weeks of age). Microbial community was investigated using 16S amplicon sequencing and functional difference using metagenomic sequencing. Phytogen supplemented birds had lower mortality and number of dirty eggs, and their microbial communities showed reduced richness. Although phytogen showed the ability to control the range of poultry pathogens, its action was not restricted to pathogenic taxa, and it involved functional remodelling the intestinal community towards increased cofactor production, heterolactic fermentation and salvage and recycling of metabolites. The phytogen did not alter the antimicrobial resistance profile or the number of antibiotic resistance genes. The study indicates that phytogenic supplementation can mimic the action of antibiotics in altering the gut microbiota and be used as their alternative in industry-scale layer production.

The Role of Supplementing a Complex Phytobiotic Feed Additive Containing (Castanea sativa mill) Extract in Combination with Calcium Butyrate, Zinc–Methionine and Essential Oils on Growth Indicators, Blood Profile and Carcass Quality of Broiler Chickens

“…Modern industrial poultry farming, both urgent and broiler, is widely used all over the world by many approaches or alternative natural feed additives in feed to increase productivity, improve animal welfare and, ultimately, achieve the sustainability of animal husbandry [ 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 33 ]. Of course, the ban on the use of antibiotics when feeding poultry and other types of productive farm animals has positively affected the increase in alternative sources of biologically active substances, such as pro- and prebiotics [ 10 , 11 , 22 , 27 ], enzymes [ 11 , 34 ], symbiotics [ 27 , 34 ], organic acids [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], essential oils [ 10 , 11 , 13 , 20 ], medicinal herbs [ 36 , 40 , 41 ], phytobiotics [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , …”

“…In recent decades, there has been a significant growth in the human population on the planet, and according to some sources, the earth’s population will amount to 10 billion people by 2050, which will directly lead to an increased demand for food, especially inexpensive meat products produced from the meat of farm animals, including poultry [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Consequently, an increase in the standard of living and the growth of the world’s population are key factors in the increasing demand for poultry products, which are an affordable source of inexpensive animal protein and meat products [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Based on the latest estimates, the world production of broiler chicken meat, which in 1961 was about 7.56 million tons, will increase in 2025 than 139.19 million tons, which is 17.0 kg of meat per person. The most significant increase in poultry meat production is observed in Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Japan and India [ 3 , 5 , 7 ]. As the demand for poultry products grows in the markets of developing countries, international imports will continue to grow and increase.…”

“…The high demand for poultry products is also due to the recognition of poultry products as healthier alternatives to human nutrition, characterized by a higher protein content and a lower lipid content. At the same time, the meat of broiler chickens contains more protein of a high-grade amino acid composition compared to the meat of other types of farm animals [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Currently, manufacturers of feed additives face two tasks: the production of additives with a bactericidal effect, as well as stimulating the growth and development of high-quality muscle tissue [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. There are more than a dozen solutions on the market having the above properties with varying degrees of effectiveness, such as probiotics [ 19 , 22 , 24 ], prebiotics [ 24 , 25 , 26 ], symbiotics [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], enzymes [ 25 , 26 ], phytobiotics [ 2 , 3 , 13 , 20 , 21 ] and plant extracts [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 23 ]. Consequently, the aim of our study was to assess complex phytobiotic feed additives (CPFA) and their combined effect on the productivity, meat performance and blood picture of broiler chickens.…”