review · Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition
Rising temperatures and welfare concerns drive interest in phytogenic feed additives to mitigate heat stress in broiler chickens. Bioactive compounds across diverse plant species and plant parts help improve thermal tolerance under high heat. These plant-derived additives contain polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidants, and compounds that support growth and immune function. In tropical environments, several common botanical additives are already utilised to manage thermal challenges. Exploring how these additives function provides an opportunity to enhance poultry productivity while addressing consumer demands for bird welfare. Summarising current evidence on herb-based interventions clarifies their beneficial mechanisms and points towards areas requiring further research to optimise their use in poultry diets.
High temperatures threaten poultry production and animal welfare worldwide. Using natural plant additives offers an approach to protect chickens from heat stress without compromising bird health or productivity. This directly addresses consumer welfare concerns and helps sustain poultry farming in warming climates, particularly across tropical regions.
Animal feed manufacturers and poultry producers can utilise these findings to inform natural dietary formulations that manage thermal stress in flocks. Because common phytogenic additives are already used in tropical settings, the concepts are applied and tested in practical contexts, though broader market standardisation and product refinement depend on further research into specific bioactive compounds.
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The increase in global temperature and consumers' welfare has increased the use of phytogenic feed additives (PFA) to mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on chickens in recent years. Various bioactive compounds capable of improving the thermotolerance of broiler chickens during exposure to thermal challenges have been identified in different plant species and parts. This review is an overview of the roles of bioactive compounds of different PFA, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, antioxidants, growth-promoting and immune-modulating agents, in heat stress management in broiler chickens. Common PFA in use, particularly in tropical environments, are also discussed. An understanding of the roles of the PFA in chickens' thermotolerance could further stimulate interest in their use, thereby improving the birds' productivity and addressing consumers' concerns. This review collates the existing data on the roles of herbs in mitigating heat stress on chickens and highlights future research perspectives.
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DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13869
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