Interpretive summary by Ashen Epa Arachchi, University of Arkansas

The global poultry industry is increasingly seeking alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters to improve sustainability, food safety and consumer acceptance. Natural feed additives that support broiler performance while maintaining gut health are therefore receiving growing attention.

Among these, bioherbal additives — combinations of phytogenic compounds and beneficial microbes — have shown potential to improve intestinal function and microbial balance. A recent study published in European Poultry Science evaluated the effects of liquid and microencapsulated bioherbal additives on broiler growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal morphology and gut microbiota.

The experiment used 320 Lohman MB 202 broiler chicks reared for 35 days and assigned to eight treatments based on additive form (liquid or microencapsulated) and inclusion levels (0%, 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2%). The additives consisted of phytogenic ingredients from herbs such as Curcuma, Zingiber, Andrographis and Moringa, combined with beneficial microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria, yeast and actinomycetes. Microencapsulation was used to protect bioactive compounds and improve their stability and delivery in the digestive tract.

Improved performance, intestinal health

Results showed that bioherbal supplementation improved growth performance. In the liquid form, the 1.2% inclusion level produced the highest bodyweight gain (1515.7 g per bird) and the lowest feed-conversion ratio (1.67). The microencapsulated form produced similar results, with a feed-conversion ratio of 1.66 and bodyweight gain of 1488.35 g per bird, indicating improved feed efficiency at optimal inclusion levels.

In addition to performance benefits, bioherbal supplementation enhanced intestinal health by increasing villus height and number, indicating improved nutrient absorption capacity. The microencapsulated form showed slightly stronger improvements in intestinal morphology, likely due to better protection and controlled release of bioactive compounds.

Bioherbal additives also positively influenced gut microbiota by increasing beneficial lactic acid bacteria while reducing pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, supplementation improved certain carcass quality traits, including meat texture and color, while maintaining similar carcass yield.

These findings suggest that bioherbal additives, particularly in microencapsulated form, can enhance broiler productivity and gut health, supporting their use as sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in commercial poultry production.

Why is this study important for producers?

1. Bioherbal supplementation improved bodyweight gain and reduced feed-conversion ratio, helping producers obtain more growth from the same amount of feed.
2. Increased villus height and number indicate better intestinal structure, which supports improved digestion and nutrient absorption.
3. The additive increased beneficial lactic acid bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and coli, potentially lowering disease risk in flocks.
4. Bioherbal supplementation enhanced meat texture and color without negatively affecting carcass yield.
5. The findings demonstrate that phytogenic-probiotic bioherbal additives can serve as

sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in commercial broiler production.

Overall, this study emphasizes that bioherbal additives, particularly in microencapsulated form, can improve broiler growth performance, intestinal health and microbial balance. These findings demonstrate the potential of phytogenic and probiotic blends as sustainable feed additives that support efficient and antibiotic-conscious broiler production.

The full paper, titled “Influence of liquid and encapsulated bioherbal additives on broiler performance and quality,” can be found in European Poultry Science and online here.

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