Effect of Certain Phytobiotics on the Digestive Microbiota of Broilers (Gallus gallus)

Abstract

The use of growth-promoting antibiotics (GPAs) has been banned in livestock feed due to the increased risk of antibiotic resistance, allergy and to toxicity for both humans and animals. Our aim was to study the microbiological effect of phytobiotics (EO) on the digestive microbiota of broilers, turkeys and laying quails. The phytobiotics studied were fennel (Foeniculumvulgare), flax (Linum usitatissimum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The results showed that in broiler chickens, the phytobiotics fennel, flax, thyme and rosemary had a positive impact on reducing the digestive microbial population, in particular pathogens. These results open up a promising avenue of research into additives with bioactive substances as substitutes for risky conventional products, both for improving the microbial ecosystems of the poultry digestive tract and for improving the zootechnical performance of farm animals.