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Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry Production

In recent years, there has been an increased search for alternatives to the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal agriculture.

These alternatives include acidifiers, bacteriophages, enzymes, phytochemicals, probiotics, prebiotics and antimicrobial peptides. All of these options have shown promise in promoting growth in poultry and swine without the use of antibiotics.

However, more research is needed to fully understand their mode of action and optimize their use in live production. Many countries have already implemented restrictions on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, and it is important that the industry continue to explore these alternatives to protect human health and reduce the development of antibiotic resistance.

The authors published their findings in this article: Insights in the Development and Uses of Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry and Swine Production on 2 June 2022.

Topics include:

  • Acidifiers, bacteriophages, enzymes, phytochemicals, probiotics, prebiotics, and antimicrobial peptides have proven to be viable alternatives to antibiotics in poultry and swine production.
  • Recent findings on their benefits and the factors currently hindering their wider use in animal feed production will be identified through a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
  • The potential for the development of resistance and co- and cross-resistance with currently used antibiotics is also discussed.
Insights in the Development and Uses of Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry and Swine Production

Abstract

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has contributed to the rise and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

To address this global public health threat, many countries have restricted the use of antibiotics as growth promoters and promoted the development of alternatives to antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine and animal farming. In food-animal production, acidifiers, bacteriophages, enzymes, phytochemicals, probiotics, prebiotics, and antimicrobial peptides have shown hallmarks as alternatives to antibiotics.

This review reports the current state of these alternatives as growth-promoting factors for poultry and swine production and describes their mode of action.

Recent findings on their usefulness and the factors that presently hinder their broader use in animal food production are identified by SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat) analysis. The potential for resistance development as well as co- and cross-resistance with currently used antibiotics is also discussed.

Using predetermined keywords, we searched specialized databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Antibiotic resistance cannot be stopped, but its spreading can certainly be hindered or delayed with the development of more alternatives with innovative modes of action and a wise and careful use of antimicrobials in a One Health approach.

Keywords: acidifiers; alternatives to antibiotics; antimicrobial peptides; bacteriophages; enzymes; growth promoters; phytochemicals; poultry production; probiotics; swine production.

Copyright: The authors.