Use of phytobiotics in broiler nutrition - An alternative to infeed antibiotics?

Abstract

After the ban of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in the EU many alternative substances have been investigated for their potential to replace AGPs. Phytobiotics are discussed as one promissing alternative due to their high content of pharmacologically active compounds. A huge number of in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed a wide range of activities of phytobiotics in poultry nutrition like stimulation of feed intake, antimicrobial, coccidiostatic and anthelmintic effects. The present paper gives a short review on the characteristics of phytobiotics, on the potential mode of action and on the observed effects of phytobiotics in diets on performance, carcass and meat quality and health status in broilers. Furthermore, it addresses safety concerns which may arise during application of phytobiotics.