Enhancing Healthier Poultry Gut Through Phytogenic Innovations

 

Poultry diarrhea is a common yet significant health challenge in the poultut health in poultryry industry which affects the productivity, growth, and overall health of birds. It is identified by watery, loose, or abnormal droppings that can lead to dehydration, nutrient loss, and poor feed conversion efficiency. This condition not only impacts the health and welfare of birds but also poses economic concerns due to higher treatment costs and reduced productivity rates. Moreover, wet litter resulting from diarrhea can lead to secondary complications like footpad dermatitis and ammonia build-up which further exacerbate management challenges.

Major causes of diarrhea in poultry:

Infectious

• Bacterial: coli, Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Campylobacter jejuni
• Viral: Adeno virus, Reo virus, Rota virus, Newcastle disease (ND) virus, avian influenza virus (AIV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)
• Parasitic: Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp.

Non-infectious

• Environmental and Management
• Nutritional
• Metabolic

The Hidden Consequences of Diarrhea in Poultry:

• Dehydration: Diarrhea causes excessive fluid loss, leading to dehydration. Dehydrated birds become weak and lethargic.
• Reduced Productivity: Chronic diarrhea reduces nutrient absorption, leading to poor growth in broilers, decreased egg production in layers, and reduced meat quality, resulting in substantial economic losses for poultry farmers.
• Disease Transmission: Diarrhea can be a symptom of underlying diseases, and infected birds can quickly spread these illnesses throughout the flock, leading to widespread issues.

A healthy chicken’s droppings usually consist of brown faeces with a white cap of urates on the top.

Dropping Colour Coding the Cause of Diarrhea:

 

 

Current Approaches to Address Poultry Diarrhea:

1. Probiotics
   Probiotics restore gut microbiota balance, enhance intestinal integrity, and suppress harmful pathogens. Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis have been found to reduce diarrhea caused by pathogens like Salmonella and Eimeria.
2. Prebiotics
   Prebiotics act as food for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting their growth and activity. Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and beta-glucans are commonly used to improve gut health and reduce diarrhea.
3. Organic acids
   Organic acids (e.g., citric acid, lactic acid) lower gut pH, creating an environment unfavorable for pathogens.
4. Vaccination and Anticoccidials
   Vaccines against Eimeria and other pathogens help prevent diarrhea caused by coccidiosis.
5. Phytogenic Feed Additives (Herbs and Essential Oils)
   These plant-based compounds have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and gut-stimulating properties.

While the use of antibiotics is crucial, its overuse or misuse leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The increased AMR can impact the effectiveness of antimicrobials against pathogens. To manage this condition, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released an amendment on 17 October 2024 stating that the use of some antimicrobials for the production of animal-based food products is not permitted. Also, the authority has changed the Maximum Residual Limits of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. These new regulations will be enforced from 1 April 2025.

Importance of Phytogenic Compounds:

Supplementation with phytogenic feed additives has been shown to protect birds from various environmental threats leading to impaired intestinal barrier function. Phytogenic feed additives have the potential to improve the overall structure of intestinal mucosa as well as gut barrier function on a molecular level. It also helps in better nutrient absorption which leads to an improvement in the overall health of chicken.

REDUCE POULTRY DIARRHEA NATURALLY USING

 

DIARRELIF is the mixture of appropriately selected herbs and their blends, which positively reduce diarrhea in poultry. The biologically active components in each herb help to treat diarrhea in poultry by stimulating the natural defence mechanism of the intestinal epithelium, without any side effects on the poultry’s health. It stimulates the gut microbiota in poultry by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing the count of pathogenic microorganisms. The main phytoconstituents in the herbal extract are responsible for antidiarrheal activity, which increases colonic water and electrolyte reabsorption and inhibits intestinal motility. It also maintains the gut integrity to retain proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients and ultimately reduces diarrhea. Natural fibres present in DIARRELIF help relieve mild to moderate diarrhea. It soaks up a significant amount of water in the digestive tract, making stool firmer and slower to pass. The natural composition of DIARRELIF makes it an effective natural solution for diarrhea in poultry.

Benefits

• It helps increase the integrity of the digestive tract.
• Regulates peristaltic movements.
• Retains excessive fluid in the digestive tract
• Act against a wide range of gastrointestinal pathogens
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Exhibits anti-inflammatory effect in the intestinal lumen

 

“Healthy guts in a phytogenic way”

 

*References on request