Metanalysis indicates phytogenic product reduces inflammation and boosts nutrient utilization in broilers

Nutreco Exploration’s experts have extensively researched the mode of action of phytogenic ingredients and their synergistic effects in the bird's gastrointestinal tract.

Trials on Fytera Perform (FP), a micro-encapsulated blend of essential oils from clove, cinnamon, and oregano, have been conducted globally with research partners in Asia, Latin America, the US, and Europe, Sangeeta Singh, director, phytogenics at Selko, told us at IPPE 2024, with the representative highlighting the positive outcomes from a metanalysis of six studies on FP conducted in the US in 2022.

The findings of those trials underscore the role of specific phytogenic ingredients in FP in reducing chronic intestinal inflammation, thereby supporting nutrient utilization and energy partitioning, enhancing broiler body weight and feed conversion rate, she outlined.

The product's effectiveness remained consistent under various copper supplementation levels and production challenges, thus positioning it as a promising additive for enhancing broiler performance, said Singh.

Development phase ​

The development of FP involved a meticulous process, said Jennifer Maurin, development and deployment manager at Nutreco Exploration. The product was designed to reinforce the gut barrier, reduce chronic inflammation, and improve nutrient absorption in broilers, and the selected essential oils are food-grade, containing a high number of active compounds called phytocomplexes, ensuring consistency and bioactive efficacy, she explained.

Selko’s phytogenic team has implemented a streamlined sourcing approach, collaborating exclusively with specific suppliers of food-grade essential oils, to ensure standardization and a secure supply when not producing the plants through in-house resources, she told FeedNavigator.

Learning from the errors of other players in the sector as the US poultry industry increasingly shifted towards phytogenic products in response to antibiotic reduction, Selko avoids over-promising, focusing on Fytera Perform's host-mediated effects, commented Singh.

The product influences signal transduction pathways in the broiler gastrointestinal tract, supporting beneficial physiological responses. The gastrointestinal tract, recognized as a complex sensory organ, responds to selected plant metabolites, affecting metabolism, immunity, hormonal secretion, inflammation, and overall animal performance, she added.