| Title: | Are Phytochemical Compounds Essential For Poultry As Feed Additive ? – A Short Communication |
| Author(s): | Johnson N. C., Diri M., Fakae L. B., & Eli O. H. |
| Abstract: | Poultry and swine have been identified as the fastest growing species of farm animals in the animal and livestock industries. Poultry, such as broilers get to market weights of about 3kg in eight weeks. However, this well-cherished economic benefit in poultry production is gradually eroding away, primarily due to the ban of the use of antibiotics in poultry diets. Antibiotics are usually used to control the negative effects of pathogenic organisms and thus serve as growth promoters. This has gradually disappeared. The use of antibiotics at sub-therapeutic levels have been used for decades to aid in improving poultry production. Therefore, with the ban and thus elimination of the use of antibiotics by poultry producers presents special challenges to all stakeholders in the industry, including the nutritionists and feed millers. This has resulted in the search for alternatives to anti-biotic that would produce similar effects without compromising production and also without any prejudice on the eventual final product, such as poultry meat. This has also resulted in the development of strategies for adoption for the industry. Special natural products, such as nutraceuticals, phytonutrients, phytochemicals and some bioactive compounds of both plant and animal sources had been identified and synthesized as replacements to antibiotics without any detrimental or side effects for the poultry industry. They have shown to be efficient and effective in enhancing poultry health, nutrient digestibility and thus improve performance. Some of these products are identified here as they have gained interest in the animal industry. |
| Keywords: | Phytochemicals, Health, Performance and Poultry |
IJAAMSThe International Journal of Applied Economics, Agriculture and Management Sciences (IJAAMS) is a publication of the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics of the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria [...]
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics,Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
+234 (0)8039312859
ijaams@ust.edu.ng
Copyright © IJAAMS. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by 