This document discusses the role of phytobiotics (plant derivatives) as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production. It summarizes research showing that liver tonics containing herbs like Andrographis paniculata, Eclipta alba, and Tinospora cordifolia can improve weight gain and feed conversion ratio in broilers. Studies found these phytobiotic liver tonics enhanced the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in broiler chickens. The document concludes that phytobiotic liver tonics are natural alternatives to antibiotics that can boost health and performance in poultry.

1. Role of phytobiotics in safe and
profitable poultry production
AMITAV BHATTACHARYYA
Asst. Professor, Department of Poultry
Science,
DUVASU, Mathura-281001, India

2. INTRODUCTION
•Phytobiotics: Phytobiotics are plant derivatives such as herbs, plant
extracts or spices and have a wide range of activities such as stimulation of
feed intake, growth and endogenous secretions in the gut.
•They act as immunomodulators resulting in decreased mortality and also
have coccidiostatic, anti microbial, anthelminthic and anti-inflammatory
activities.
•Phytobiotics also possess hepatoprotective and hepatogenic properties,
which tone up liver resulting in increased nutrient utilization and better
performance.
•Liver tonics are fresh liver extracts along with different vitamins and amino
acids or phyto additives that boost the over all condition and performance
of the liver.

3. GLOBAL EMERGINIG CHALLENGES IN
POULTRY INDUSTRY
 Feed Utilization ?
 Optimum Production ??
 RAPIDLY INCREASING FEED COSTS??
 INCREASING PRODUCTION COST ???
 Stress management ???
 Usage of Antibiotic Growth Promoter????

4. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Better Feed
Utilization
More Weight
gain Increased
Rapid Growth
Hatchability of Eggs

5. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Growth promoters
Growth promoters are substances used to
increase the feed efficiency, average daily
gain, carcass quality, milk and egg production .

6. History
Began in the 1949
Dried fermentation mash of Streptomyces
aureofaciens when fed resulted in
Greater final weight of chicks
Later component of mash identified as
chlortetracycline
Since then several other drugs were added
to the list that could enhance growth and
improve feed efficiency

7. A lot has changed!!
1950 vs 2013
Phytobiotics in poultry production

8. TYPES OF GROWTH PROMOTERS
Antimicrobial growth promoters
• Arsenical compounds, nitrofurans including furazolidone and nitrofurazone, sulfonamides
including sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, sulfaquinoxaline,and quinoxaline-1,4-dioxides
nitrofurans including furazolidone and nitrofurazone.
Antibiotic as growth promoters
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics including neomycin, streptomycin, and bambermycin; macrolide
antibiotics including erythromycin, oleandomycin, and tylosin; polyether ionophore
antibiotics including lasalocid, monensin, and salinomycin; tetracycline antibiotics including
chlortetracycline and oxytetrac-ycline; peptide antibiotics including avoparcin, bacitracin,
and virginiamycin; miscellaneous antibiotics including lincomycin, penicillin procaine,
avilamycin, and tiamulin.
Anabolic Hormonal-Type Growth Promoters
• Endogenous sex steroids estradiol-17 , progesterone and testosterone Synthetic steroidal
compounds boldenone, chlormadinone acetate, ethylenestrol, fluoxymesterone,
medroxyprogesterone methyltestosterone,nortestosterone (nandrolone), nortestosterone
decanoate, oxymetholone, and stanozolol. Synthatic non steroidal compounds Zeranol and
stilbene estrogens Polypeptide hormones (somatotropin (Bovine somatotropin, Porcine
somatotropin and poultry somatotropin

9. Antimicrobials in Animal Feed:
Time to stop
EU BANS THE USE OF ANTIBIOTIC GROWTH PROMOTERS
EU HAS BANNED ON THE USE OF
ANTIMICROBIALS USED AS FEED
SUPPLEMENTS FOR HUMAN & ANIMAL
HEALTHCARE. EU & RUMA (Responsible Use
Of Medicines In Agriculture Alliances In UK)
has launched a series of guidelines providing
advise to farmers on ways to limit antibiotic
use. Only few (e.g. Avilamycin, salinomycin)
has been approved as AGPs. AND
IT WONT BE LONG BEFORE ALL ANITIBIOTICS
ARE TOTALLY BANNED FOR USE AS GROWTH
PROMOTERS
Phasing out of antibiotics used for non-medicinal puposes

10. • Those antibiotics showing cross–resistance
towards ‘human’ antibiotics namely avoparcin,
tylosin, virginiamycin, spiramycin and Zn–
bacitracin, avilamycin are of main concern.
• Schwann’s committee recommendations
• Tetracylcine and penicillin use limited
• 1st legal ban in Sweden in 1986

11. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Avoiding antibiotic resistance………
• The WHO’s report on the
termination of AGPs in food
animals concludes with final
remarks summarizing their
findings:
THE ROUTINE NON-THERAPEUTIC
USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS
SHOULD NEVER BE A
SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD
ANIMAL HEALTH
MANAGEMENT.
REF: www.fda.gov/cvm/antimicrobial/SREF_RA_FinalDraft.pdf

13. The characteristics required for a
growth promoter
 They must not be absorbed from the intestines or found as residues in the
edible tissues.
 They must be NON TOXIC to both animals and people. Performance must be
improved with economic benefit.
 There must be NO ADVERSE EFFECTS in relation to other antibiotics. They
must have no therapeutic value in human medicine.
 They must not alter the normal bacteria in the gut, or allow one organism to
predominate over another, for example salmonella.
 They must not pollute the environment and must be quickly biodegradable.
 They must not increase medicine RESISTANCE or be involved in the transfer
of medicine resistance between one bacterial species and another.
http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/100/growth-promoters

14. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Phytobiotics: an alternative to
AGPs
• PERFORMANCE
ENHANCER
• LIVER
• TONIC
• Possesses
antibacterial
properties

15. Phytobiotics in poultry production
THE NATURAL WAY TO ENHANCE
NUTRIENT UTILIZATION

16.  CHICKS & GROWERS :
• Improve livability
• Growth rate
• Body weight gain & FCR
LAYERS :
• Achievement of timely egg laying, peak production
BROILER FINISHER :
• Fast Growth, better final body weight, improving FCR
• Better meat quality
BREEDER :
• Better egg production, quality and better hatchability

17. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Challenges faced by the birds during juvenile stage
•Few days pre and post hatch is a critical period for the
development and survival of birds.
•Maintenance of glucose homeostasis is one of the major
physiological processes during late embryonic phase and this is
achieved primarily by glycogen from liver and gluconeogenesis
from protein mobilized from amnion, albumen and ultimately
muscle.

18. Phytobiotics in broiler juvenile nutrition
•Logistical problems in incubation may limit oxygen availability to the
embryo and thereby lead to low glycogen status and more
mobilization of muscle protein towards gluconeogenesis restricting
growth and development of embryo and hatchling.
•Immediately after hatch, the chick draws from its limited body
reserves and undergoes rapid development of the gastro intestinal
tract (GIT) for digestion and assimilation of nutrients.

19. Phytobiotics in poultry production
•Genetic characteristics of the modern broilers and layers are a
market-driven phenomenon. Hence, it is unfair to expect breeding
of turkeys exclusively for higher immunocompetence at the
expense of growth and production indices. Therefore, to
compensate for anomalies in selection pertaining to health, a
considerable attention has been paid in recent years on studies
involving utilization of amino acids and fats to increase the chick
weight, hatchability and immune response of broilers.
•Phytoadditives in the form of liver tonics may modulate
quantitative and qualitative aspects of the immune response to
pathogens.

20. Phytobiotics in broiler juvenile nutrition
•Genetic improvements in growth have been associated with
health related problems in modern broilers. Immune function is
negatively associated with growth and carcass characteristics.
•Selection for improved growth and carcass traits indirectly
favours selection of broilers that are refractory to immunological
stress and are most susceptible to infections.
•In the neonate chicks the immune system is not fully developed,
making the chicks vulnerable to different diseases.

21. Phytobiotics in poultry production
•Further, in most of the commercial hatcheries chicks get access
to feed only after 24-48 hrs of hatching.
•Approximately 2 - 5% of hatchlings don’t survive this critical
post-hatch period because of limited body reserves and many
survivors exhibit decreased disease resistance, increased chick
mortality and stunted growth that persist till they are marketed.
•Hence, liver tonics may play a crucial role during this critical
period of metabolic and physiological change.

22. Phytobiotics in poultry production
GREEN HOUSE GASES

23. Phytobiotics in poultry production
• Greenhouse gasses are defined by their
radiative forces (defined as the change in
net irradiance at atmospheric boundaries
between different layers of the
atmosphere), which change the earth's
atmospheric energy balance.
• Green house gases-85.1% Carbon dioxide,
8.2% methane, 4.6% nitrous oxide, 2.2%
high global warming potential gases

24. Phytobiotics in poultry production
• In livestock rearing, the greatest contribution to
methane emission is by enteric fermentation (23
percent)
• Comparing the distribution of methane emissions
from enteric fermentation among animal types ,
poultry has the lowest amount with 0.57 pounds of
methane per animal per year when compared to dairy
cattle, which produces 185 to 271 pounds of methane
per animal per year, and swine, which produce 10.5
pounds of methane per animal per year (Monteny,
Groenestein, & Hilhorst, 2001)

25. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Each year two cows produce as much heat
trapping green house gas as 1 car driven
10,000 miles.
Solutions
Island Herbs Bokashi, Coriander, turmeric,
cumin clove, cinnamon,
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

26. TRIAL REPORTS

27. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Super liv, Xlivpro, AV/SSL/12
Constituent herbs
• Andrographis panniculata
• Eclipta alba
• Achyranthus aspera
• Tinospora cordifolia

28. Andrographis paniculata
HEPATOPROTECTIVE & CHOLERETIC
Trivedi NP, Rawal UM, Hepatoprotective and antioxidant property of
Andrographis paniculata (Nees) in BHC induced liver damage in
mice, Indian JExp Biol., 2001 Jan; 39(1): 41-6.
ANTIHEPATOTOXIC
Visen PK, Shukla B, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN., Andrographolide
protects rat hepatocytes against paracetamol-induced damage, J
Ethnopharmacol., 1993 Oct; 40(2):131-6.
ANTIFILARIAL & CHEMOPREVENTIVE
Zaridah MZ, Idid SZ, Wan Omar A, Khozirah S., In vitro anti-filarial
effects of three plant species against adult worms of
subperiodic Brugia malayi, J. Ethnopharmacol., 2001
Nov;78(1):79-84.

29. • Antihepatotoxic, hepatoprotective
• Powerful liver tonic
• Rejuvenative
• Immunomodulatory
References:
• Ananthi, J / Prakasam, A / Pugalendi, K V (2003)Antihyperglycemic
activity of Eclipta alba leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.The Yale
journal of biology and medicine, 76 (3), p.97-102, Jan
• Jayathirtha, M.G. / Mishra, S.H.2004). Preliminary immunomodulatory
activities of methanol extracts of Eclipta alba and Centella asiatica.
Phytomedicine, 11 (4), p.361-365
• Eclipta alba is diuretic, hypotensive, and hypocholesterolemic (Med
Food. 2007;10(1):143-8)

30. Achyranthus aspera
PREVENTS FATTY LIVER SYNDROME BY HEPATIC
FATTY ACID MOBILISATION
Hypolipidemic activity of Achyranthus aspera
Linn in normal and triton induced hyperlipemic
rats.Indian J Exp Biol. 1992 Feb;30(2):128-30.
POTENT ANTIPEROTIC FACTOR, PREVENTS
NERVINE WEAKNESS
Preliminary evaluation of anti-inflammatory and
anti-arthritic activity of S. lappa, A. speciosa and
A. aspera. Phytomedicine. 2002 Jul;9(5):

31. Tinospora cordifolia
Medicinal Properties - anti-oxidant,
antistress, hepatoprotective,
immunomodulatory and anti-neoplastic
activities.
References:
1. Nagarkatti, D S / Rege, N N / Desai, N K / Dahanukar, S A (1994). Modulation of Kupffer
cell activity by Tinospora cordifolia in liver damage. Journal of postgraduate medicine, 40
(2) :65-67
2. Bishayi, Biswadev / Roychowdhury, Subhashree / Ghosh, Soumya / Sengupta,
3. Mahuya (2002). Hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties of Tinospora
cordifolia in CCl4 intoxicated mature albino rats. The Journal of toxicological sciences, 27
(3) :139-146
4. Stanely Mainzen Prince, P / Menon, Venugopal P (2003). Hypoglycaemic and
hypolipidaemic action of alcohol extract of Tinospora cordifolia roots in chemical induced
diabetes in rats. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 17 (4) :410-413

32. Results of studies conducted on liver tonics in broilers
Table 1 Effect of Superliv DS on the average weekly weight gain (g)
of commercial broilers during 1-6 week period during extreme
winter
Treatment
2nd wk 3rd wk 4th wk 5th wk 6th wk
Control
185.56 ±8.04 274.01 ±15.09 259.03±7.01a 336.30±42.38 275.14±22.15a
Superliv DS
189.63 ±4.86 264.82±6.86 282.22 ±9.32b 278.75±36.48 401.85±25.09b
Significance
Level
NS NS P<0.05 NS P<0.05

33. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Table 2: Effect of Superliv DS on the FCR of commercial broilers during
1-4 week, 4-6 week and 1-6 week period during extreme winter
Treatment 1-4 wk 4-6 wk 1-6 wk
Control 2.13±0.09 2.47±0.24 2.27±0.06
Superliv DS 2.03± 0.02 2.15±0.02 2.09±0.02
Significance Level NS NS NS

34. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Fig 1: Effect of Superliv liquid on the humoral immune responses (response to
SRBC) at 6 weeks of age

35. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Fig 2: Effect of Superliv liquid on the cell mediated immune response (CMI
response to PHA-P) at 6 weeks of age

36. Fig 3: Effect of Xlivpro on the humoral immune responses (response to srbc)
at 6 weeks of age

37. Liver tonics in poultry production
Fig 4: Effect of Xlivpro on the cell mediated immune response (CMI response to PHA-P)
at 6 weeks of age

38. Table 3: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on the FCR of
commercial broilers during 1-3 wk, 3-6 wk
and 1-6 wk of age
Table 3: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on the FCR of commercial
broilers during 1-4 week, 4-6 week and 1-6 week period
Treatment 1-3 wk 3-6 wk 1-6 wk
Control 1.76 2.07a 1.98a
AV/SSL/12 1.75 1.87b 1.82b
Pooled SEM 0.02 0.02 0.02
Significance level NS P<0.05 P<0.05

39. Table 4: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on the humoral
immune responses (response to SRBC) at 6
weeks of age
Treatments
HA IgG IgM
Control 4.00a 1.80 2.20a
AV/SSL/12 7.40b 1..40 6.00b
Pooled SEM 0.42 0.17 0.43
Significance
level
P<0.05 NS P<0.05

40. Table 5: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on the cell
mediated immune response (response to
PHA-P) at 6 weeks of age
Treatments Mean
Control 0.12
AV/SSL/12 0.34
Total 0.21
Pooled SEM 0.04
Significance Level NS

41. Table 6: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on the hen house egg
production (%) during 53rd-62nd, 63-72nd and 53-
72nd week of age
Treatment 53rd-62nd wk 63rd-72nd wk 53rd-72nd wk
Control 71.6327a 59.1837a 65.4082a
AV/SSL/12 76.8027b 64.8980b 70.8503b
Pooled SEM 1.00 0.86 0.86
Sig Level P<0.05 P<0.001 P<0.05

42. Table 7: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on FCR per dozen eggs
during 53rd-62nd, 63-72nd and 53-72nd week of age
Treatment 53rd-62nd wk 63rd-72nd wk 53rd-72nd wk
Control 2.09a 2.44a 2.25a
AV/SSL/12 1.75b 1.99b 1.86b
Pooled SEM 0.05 0.07 0.06
Sig level P<0.001 P<0.001 P<0.001

43. Table 8: Effect of AV/SSL/12 on FCR per kg eggs
during 53rd-62nd, 63-72nd and 53-72nd week of age
Treatment 53rd-62nd wk 63rd-72nd wk 53rd-72nd wk
Control 3.20a 3.66a 3.41a
AV/SSL/12 2.61b 2.91b 2.75b
Pooled SEM 0.10 0.12 0.10
Sig level P<0.05 P<0.001 P<0.05

44. FIELD TRIAL REPORTS

45. RESULTS OF SALEPUR POULTRY FARM, MATHURA
Table 9: Effect of Superliv liquid on the average weekly
weight gain (g) of commercial broilers during
0-6 week period
Treatment 0-1 wk 1-2 wk 2-3 wk 3-4 wk 4-5wk 5-6 wk
Control 118.00 a 130.00 250.00 a 371.67 a 493.33 a 385.00 a
Superliv
liquid
168.00 b 128.33 295.00 b 566.67 b 401.67 b 500.00 b
Pooled SEM 11.75 3.96 11.38 43.69 21.63 26.42
Significance
level
P<0.05 NS P<0.05 P<0.001 P<0.05 P<0.001

46. Table 10: Effect of Superliv liquid on the FCR of
commercial broilers during 0-3 week, 3-6 week and
0-6 week period
Treatment 0-3 wk 3-6 wk 0-6 wk
Control 1.92 a 1.98 1.96 a
Superliv liquid 1.73 b 1.90 1.85 b
Pooled SEM 0.04 0.02 0.03
Significance
level
P<0.05 NS P<0.05

47. Results of Poultry Farm, Near Mandi Chauraha, Mathura
Table 11: Effect of Superliv liquid on the average
weekly weight gain (g) of commercial broilers during
0-6 week period
Treatment 0-1 wk 1-2 wk 2-3 wk 3-4 wk 4-5wk 5-6 wk
Control 122.67 a 146.67 a 231.67 a 466.67 a 373.33 a 398.33 a
Superliv
liquid
139.33 b 157.00 b 243.33 b 570.00 b 265.00 b 468.33 b
Pooled
SEM
4.00832 2.52 2.81 23.19 24.30 15.90
Significan
ce level
P<0.05 P<0.05 P<0.05 P<0.001 P<0.001 P<0.001

48. Table 12: Effect of Superliv liquid on the FCR of
commercial broilers during 0-3 week, 3-6 week
and 0-6 week period
Treatment 0-3 wk 3-6 wk 0-6 wk
Control 1.94 a 2.00 a 1.98 a
Superliv liquid 1.83 b 1.90 b 1.88 b
Pooled SEM 0.03 0.02 0.02
Significance
level
P<0.001 P<0.001 P<0.001

49. Table 13:Effect of Superliv liquid on the dressing
percent of commercial broilers
Treatment Dressing percentage
Control 75.77 a
Superliv liquid 78.07 b
Pooled SEM 0.53
Significance level P<0.05

50. Phytobiotics in poultry production
Future Research
•Specific liver tonics may be developed taking into account the
climatic condition/ seasonal effects.
•Stress relieving phytobiotics may be developed to be used as
liver tonics.
•Phyto additive package giving due consideration to seasonal
effects may be designed to elicit growth and immunocompetence
traits
•Studies in phytobiotics as liver tonics may be extended to other
species as diversification of poultry is the suitable answer for
sustainability of poultry production in near future.