Abstract
Antimicrobial restrictions prompted the search for cost and biologically effective alternatives to replace antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in food-producing animals. In addition, the efficacy of this alternatives needs to be contrasted in field/commercial trials under different challenge conditions. However only a few studies describing the impact of tannins or others AGP-alternatives in commercial poultry production conditions are actually available. The aim of the present work is to study how the inclusion of a blend of chestnut and quebracho tannins can affect broiler productive performance and health under commercial conditions. Three experiments with different approaches were conducted: (1) a trial comparing the effects of both additives (tannins vs AGP) on different commercial farms at the same time; (2) the follow-up of one farm during an entire productive year; and (3) an experimental trial using a C. perfringens challenge model in broiler chickens. Although productive results from field trials were similar among treatments, evaluations of gut health indicators showed improvements in the tannins treated flocks. Frequency and severity of intestinal gross lesions were reduced in jejunum (42% vs 23%; p<0.05–1.37 vs. 0.73; p<0.01, respectively) and ileum (25% vs. 10%; p<0.0.5–1.05 vs. 0.58; p<0.01) in tannins treated birds. Results from 16S studies, show that cecal microbiota diversity was not differentially affected by AGPs or tannins, but changes in the relative abundance of certain taxa were described, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium groups. Results from experimental C. perfringens necrotic enteritis showed that tannins treated birds had reduced incidence of gross lesions in jejunum (43.75 vs. 74.19%; p<0.01) and ileum (18.75% vs. 45.16%; p<0.05) compared with control. These results suggest that AGPs can be replaced by tannins feed additives, and contribute in the implementation of antimicrobial-free programs in broilers without affecting health or performance.
Highlights
Restrictions on the use of antimicrobials have led to an increase of intestinal health problems in broiler chickens and reduced profitability for farmers [1]
Jejunal gross lesions were present in 23.3% of the necropsied birds compared with the 42.5% in the antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) farms (p
Searching for reliable alternatives to AGPs has become a priority for the animal productive sector since several countries started limiting antibiotic use in animal production some years ago [4,5,6,7, 35, 50, 51]
Summary
Restrictions on the use of antimicrobials have led to an increase of intestinal health problems in broiler chickens and reduced profitability for farmers [1]. A clear example is the increased incidence of C. perfringens necrotic enteritis (NE) in countries where the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) has been banned [2, 3]. This situation highlights an excessive dependency of modern animal production on antimicrobials, and prompted the search for cost and biologically effective alternatives [4, 5]. A large and diverse group of potential alternatives has been investigated and developed over the last years to replace AGPs. Considering that the ideal AGP alternative should improve productive efficiency and promote animal health, plant phytochemicals represent a group of promising candidates [5]. Several works described the potential beneficial effect of phytochemicals, which include maintenance of gut integrity, promotion of beneficial bacteria growth and reduction of negative consequences of bacterial infections [5,6,7]
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