Citrus extract to improve zootechnical performances of broiler chickens

The interest of citrus extracts as a prebiotic in

Animal nutrition

There is a growing interest for citrus extracts in the field of animal nutrition, thanks to their ability to modulate animals’ microbiota, and thus improve feed efficacy. However, the effect of citrus extracts supplementation through the feed can differ a lot, depending on the citrus based product used. Indeed, common citrus extracts used in animal nutrition are not standardized, which can lead to high heterogeneity regarding their effects on animal performance. Nor-Feed has conducted a trial to assess the effect of a standardized and characterized citrus extract, Nor-Spice AB®, on the growth performance of broiler chickens.

In field condition trial on

Broiler chickens

This trial was conducted on 620 broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were equally divided into 2 groups. The Control group, composed of 10 replicates of each 31 broiler chickens, fed with a standard diet. The Citrus group, composed also of 10 replicates of 31 broiler chickens each, fed a standard diet supplemented with 250 ppm of citrus extract. The citrus extract (Nor-Spice AB®) was finally characterized, with HPLC analysis, before being supplemented to the chickens. This analysis allowed to identify pectic oligosaccharides as the main active compounds of this extract, as well as 30 secondary metabolites (citroflavonoids and acids mainly). Zootechnical performances were measured at day 35.

Trial results

Proven efficiency

At the end of the trial, the live weight of the broiler chickens from the Citrus group was significantly higher compared to the chickens from the control group. However, no significant difference was observed on the feed consumption. Results from this trial showed that this standardized and characterized citrus extract (Nor-Spice AB®) enabled to improve growth performance of the broiler chickens. Also, the fine characterization of the extract confirms the standardization of Nor-Spice AB®. The identified compounds enable to target new hypotheses regarding the mode of action of Nor-Spice AB®.