Canada: Antimicrobial plants studied for bacteria control in poultry
In Canada, extracts from native plants are being examined for their effectiveness in bacteria control in chickens.
Significant research has already been conducted in this area. In July 2024, a group of scientists from Poland and Iraq published a review of key studies relating to the effects of ‘phytobiotic’ supplementation on immune system and antioxidant status, growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens.
This review concluded that “the use of phytobiotics in appropriate quantities and proportions in feed for broiler chickens influences the proper functioning of the digestive tract by, among other things, stimulating beneficial microbiota and secretion of digestive enzymes. In addition, the introduction of such feed additives has an impact on the alleviation of inflammation, supports the functioning of the immune system and has a positive influence on production results.”
Rumex and Potentilla
A microbiologist at Lethbridge Polytechnic in Alberta is currently looking at 2 plants found in the southern zone of the province. Dr Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn will determine the level of effectiveness of their extracts in protecting chickens against Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) bacteria.
The 2.5-year project is funded by Egg Farmers of Canada and builds on previous research.
Indeed, Kernéis-Golsteyn’s team has been testing native plants for antibiotic properties since 2016, building a collection of 150 samples. The 2 specific plants that showed the most promise from those studies are from the genera Rumex and Potentilla.
