Essential oils as valuable feed additive: A narrative review of the state of knowledge about their beneficial health applications and enhancement of production performances in poultry

New research has begun to develop safe and effective alternatives to feed-antibiotics as growth enhancers in response to mounting pressure on the poultry sector to do so. There is a significant demand for poultry products all across the world right now. To achieve this goal, key performance indicators are optimized, such as the rate of chicken growth, the amount of feed used, and the health of the flock as a whole. As a result of this growing need, various alternatives to antibiotics have entered the market. New approaches are desperately needed to keep poultry productivity and efficiency at a high level in the face of mounting pressure to limit the use of antibiotics. Recent years have seen an uptick in interest in the potential of aromatic plant extracts as growth and health boosters in poultry. The great majority of plants' positive effects are accounted for by essential oils (EOs) and other secondary metabolites. EOs have been proven to promote digestive secretion production, improve blood circulation, exert antioxidant qualities, reduce levels of dangerous microbes, and maybe improve the immune status of poultry. EOs are often believed to be safe, non-toxic alternatives because they are all-natural, chemical-free, and devoid of potentially harmful deposits. EOs are extracted from plants, and while there are thousands of them, only approximately 300 have been deemed to have significant commercial value. Many different types of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are negatively affected by EOs in multiple studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo. The review covers the fundamentals of EOs, their anti-oxidant and immunomodulatory capabilities, their growth-promoting benefits, and their effectiveness against numerous diseases in poultry

Beneficial impacts of biochar as a potential feed additive in animal husbandry

In the last decade, biochar production and use have grown in popularity. Biochar is comparable to charcoal and activated charcoal because it is a pyrogenic carbonaceous matter made by pyrolyzing organic carbon-rich materials. There is a lack of research into the effects of adding biochar to animal feed. Based on the reviewed literature, including its impact on the adsorption of toxins, blood biochemistry, feed conversion rate, digestion, meat quality, and greenhouse gas emissions, adding biochar to the diet of farm animals is a good idea. This study compiles the most important research on biochar's potential as a supplement to the diets of ruminants (including cows and goats), swine, poultry, and aquatic organisms like fish. Biochar supplementation improves animal growth, haematological profiles, meat, milk and egg yield, resistance to illnesses (especially gut pathogenic bacteria), and reduced ruminant methane emission. Biochar's strong sorption capacity also helps efficiently remove contaminants and poisons from the animals' bodies and the farm surroundings where they are raised. Animal farmers are predicted to make greater use of biochar in the future. Biochar could potentially be of value in the healthcare and human health fields; hence research into this area is encouraged. The present review highlights the potential benefits of biochar as an additive to animal feed and demonstrates how, when combined with other environmentally friendly practices, biochar feeding can extend the longevity of animal husbandry