Abstract
Phytobiotics are usually tested in feed and throughout the production cycle. However, it could be beneficial to evaluate their effects when administered only during critical moments, such as changes in feeding phases. The aim of the trial was to investigate the effect of a commercial plant extract (PE; IQV-10-P01, InQpharm Animal Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) on growth performance, blood antiradical activity and cecal microbiome when administered in drinking water to broiler chickens during the post-hatching phase and at each change of diet. In the experiment, 480 1-day-old male broiler chicks were assigned to two groups in a 50-day trial. Broilers received drinking water (C) or drinking water plus PE (T) at a rate of 2 mL/L on days 0 to 4, 10-11 and 20-21. PE did not affect performance and water intake, while total antiradical activity was improved (p < 0.05). A greater abundance of lactic acid bacteria (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05) was found in the T group and the result was confirmed at a lower taxonomic level with higher Lactobacillaceae abundance (FDR < 0.05). Our findings suggest that PE administration during critical moments of the production cycle of broiler chickens may exert beneficial effects at a systemic level and on gut microbial ecology.
Highlights
In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antimicrobial growth promoters in animal nutrition [1]
No significant differences were seen for mortality rate, dressing or breast percentage
Pen water intake was not influenced by the treatment in the first 4 days of hatching
Summary
In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antimicrobial growth promoters in animal nutrition [1]. This decision led to the result that antimicrobials, other than coccidiostats and Animals 2020, 10, 785; doi:10.3390/ani10050785 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals. Animals 2020, 10, 785 histomonostats, were no longer allowed as feed additives [2]. Several classes of feed additives are available, including probiotics [6,7], prebiotics [8,9], organic acids [10,11], and phytobiotics [12]. The benefits of such additives have been proven in most cases, there is still a lack of clarity on their effects, as evidenced by some contrasting results in different trials
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