Plant bioactives for

poultry health

and productivityB. Plant bioactives as immunomodulators:

Increasing evidences indicate the benefits of incorporating plants rich in phytochemicals on immune function in poultry (Fig.1).

· Besides efficacy, application of bioactives as feed supplements to livestock also has to be safe to the

animal, the user, consumer of the animal product, and the environment since accidental overdose can cause adverse health effects.

· The handling of pure formulations of such additives usually requires protective measures because they

can potentially irritate the skin and cause allergic contactdermatitis.

Precautions / Limitations:

· Coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis and colibacillosis are most important diseases in poultry in terms of health and economic losses

· Coccidiosis is caused by several species of Eimeria and is characterized by mortality, malabsorption of nutrients, impaired growth rates and rapid and effective transmission between animals

· Necrotic enteritis is caused by proliferation of Clostridium perfringens and increased production of toxin, causing the intestinal mucosal necrosis characteristic of necrotic enteritis

· Colibacillosis is caused by Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (E.coli) that colonize the respiratory tract and cause airsacculitis evolving into systemic infections , leading to reduced productivity and mortality

Table. 3 Antimicrobial effects of plant bioactives in poultry

National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Adugodi, Bangalore 560 030

Tel: 91-80-25711304, 25711164, 25702539

Fax : 91-80-25711420. Website: http://www.nianp.res.in

R.Umaya Suganthi

Anjumoni Mech

ICG David

Letha Devi G

Plant species/extract

Activity/Mode of action

Corn oil Acts on Eimeria tenella, higher IgA

-Tocopherol E. maxima lesions and weight gain

Oregano aerial parts and essential oil

Eimeria lesions, improves feed efficiency

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract

E. tenella, weight gain, mortality, improves FCR

Green tea leaves E.maxima oocyst output

Turmeric rhizome, Curcumin

E.maxima lesions, E.acervulina lesions

Betaine E.acervulina invasion and development

Wild garlic extract (whole plant)

Eimeria mix

Indian Echinacea E.tenella lesions

Flaxseed, linolenic acid Guar gum, pectin

Prevents adhesion of pathogenic bacteria

Thymol, Carvacrol and eugenol

Inhibits C.perfringens colonization and proliferation

Essential oil from clove

Inhibits C.perfringens

Astaxanthin, from red algae

Inhibits caecal colonization of C.perfringens

Aqueous extract of Guava

Prevents adhesion of E.coli

Geranium, essential oil from steam distillation

Prevents adhesion of E.coli

Shittake extract Increases the number of beneficial bacteria in order to inhibit colonization of invading pathogens

Published by:

Director

National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Adugodi, Bangalore-560030

January 2014

Folder No. 30

Use of plant products as livestock feed additive is gaining momentum in the recent years owing to their potential health benefits, increasing consumer interest in natural products and minimal side effects. In addition to nutritional constituents, most of the plants contain certain compounds known as “bioactives”. These bioactives act by various mechanisms including antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomo stimulation etc., and thereby exhibit medicinal properties in humans and livestock. Inclusion of plants and their biologically active chemical constituents (bioactives) in livestock feed present numerous opportunities for the improvement of livestock production.

Plant bioactives as growth promoters:

Plant bioactives are shown to improve performance of poultry by stimulating body weight, body weight gain, improving energy utilization, stimulating immune system and offering protection against harmful microbes and the commonly encountered feed toxins.

Table 1.Performance effects of plant products used as feed additives in poultry

Plant bioactives as quality enhancers:

Bioactive compounds improve the quality of poultry products, including both meat and eggs. The quality parameters that of are of interest are the organoleptic properties, stability of the products under storage conditions and the healthiness of the product for consumption by man.

The improvement in product quality is achieved by the antioxidants present in plants which may act in three ways

1. Protect feed components from oxidative damage

2. Affect the oxidative metabolism of the animals

3. Improve oxidative stability and the shelf life of fat, meat and eggs

Table 2. Antioxidant effects of plant bioactives in poultry

A. Plant bioactives as antimicrobial agents:

The ban on antibiotic growth promoters has necessitated the need for identification of plant bioactives as antimicrobial agents. Certain plant products have been identified to possess antimicrobial effect against common pathogens of poultry.

Plant species/extract

Dose Beneficial effect on performance

Tanzanian aloe extract

- Reduced mortality in Newcastle disease infection

Common marigold extract

Drinking water

Mean weight

Thyme, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, yarrow and their essential oils

10ppm Improves performance in male broiler chickens

Mango seed kernel meal

50-250mg/kg meal

Body weight

Plant extracts containing capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde and Carvacrol

100ppm Breast muscle proportion

Yucca schidigera extract

0.2% extract

Improves body weight gain

Drumstick tree leaf powder

3g/kg feed Improves performance in birds exposed to aflatoxin

Aloe vera gel (aadusouge)

3g/kg feed Improves performance in birds exposed to aflatoxin

Turmeric powder, resveratrol, and carvacrol

1.0g/kg feed

Improves performance in birds exposed to aflatoxin

Citrus extract 10-1000g/t Live weight and feed intake

Artichoke water extract

5%DM Protection against ochratoxin A in broilers

Oregano herb Oregano oil

2-20g/kg feed 100-1000mg/kg feed

Better performance in broiler chicks

Oregano oil 300 mg/kg Improved performance in broiler chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

Oregano,

rosemary or thyme Turmeric

1.0 g/kg

0.5 g/kg

Improve

productive performance, fertility and hatchability

Plant species/extract

Dose Beneficial effect on product quality

Oregano oil 50-100mg/kg

Exert Antioxidant effect on tissues Modifies fatty acid composition of abdominal fat of the chciken

Garlic 1.0g/kg Lowers cholesterol content of poultry meat and eggs

Katuk 0.9g/kg and 1.8g/kg

Lowers cholesterol content of poultry meat and eggs

Green tea 2.0g/kg Lowers cholesterol content of egg yolk

Alflafa concentrate, tomato powder and marigold extract

2.0g/kg Increases yellowness of egg yolk and hence preferred over synthetic additives

Rosemary and Rosemary oil

200mg/kg Lowers cholesterol and improves antioxidant enzymes in serum

Dry ginger powder

5 g/kg Enhances oxidative stability of meat

Thulsi 1.5 and 3%, 1-42 days

Decreases cholesterol in broilers serum and breast meat

Garlic 15g/kg feed,1-42-days

Protects against lipid and protein oxidation of meat

Oregano, rosemary or thyme Turmeric

1.0 g/kg and 5.0g/kg

0.5 g/kg

Improves oxidative stability of egg shell during storage

Thymol, or carvacrol

150 mg/kg

Controls lipid oxidation of broiler meat