Recent advances in the practical usages of some trees/shrubs as ingredient of poultry diets

Abstract

The gradual ban of chemical additives in livestock and poultry feeds has stimulated research interest into alternative natural products in poultry feeding. The effect of various components from several these trees/shrubs on the growth, performance, carcass characteristics, immunity, microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract, blood plasma constitutes, and other parameters affecting on the economic efficiency of poultry farming have been well studied. Cinnamon, cardamom, willow, dog-rose, sumac and milkvetch are trees/shrubs which have been included in the diet on account of their numerous chemical and medicinal properties. This article reviews the products from selected trees/shrubs, their uses and application in poultry feeding. The distribution, adaptation, uses and potential benefits of their supplementation on poultry are discussed. More research into the concentration of these materials, duration of feeding that will optimize birds’ performance and their possible toxicological effects is recommended.