Phytogenic–probiotic supplementation enhances growth and economic efficiency in commercial closed-house broiler production systems
Phytogenic–probiotic supplementation in broiler chicken
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62310/liab.v6i2.378Keywords:
Economic efficiency, Broiler performance, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Phyllanthus niruriAbstract
The demand for broiler chicken meat continues to increase worldwide. However, production efficiency in closed-house cage system still faces challenges due to intestinal health issues and restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP). These limitations drive the need for alternative feed additives that can improve production performance while maintaining production sustainability. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of Phyllanthus niruri flour and probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei) on the growth performance and economic efficiency of broiler chickens. A completely randomized design with three treatments was used: P0 (control), P1 (1% P. niruri flour + probiotics administered at 1 mL/L drinking water), and P2 (2% P. niruri flour + probiotics administered at 1 mL/L drinking water). A total of 15,000 broiler chickens were reared for 35 days in a commercial closed-house system. The results showed that birds in the P2 group had a significantly higher final body weight (2.31 ± 0.11 kg) compared with the control group (1.88 ± 0.20 kg; P = 0.021) and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 1.55 to 1.43 (P = 0.001). The performance index also increased significantly from 382 to 436 (P = 0.001), whereas mortality decreased numerically from 4.20% to 1.98% without statistical significance (P = 0.118). The economic evaluation indicated that the phytogenic–probiotic supplementation tended to improve economic efficiency, with the highest revenue-to-cost ratio (1.20) observed in P2. Overall, phytogenic–probiotic supplementation improved growth performance and showed potential to enhance economic efficiency under commercial production conditions. However, because only combination treatments were evaluated, the individual effects of phytogenic and probiotic supplementation could not be distinguished. These findings provide field-scale evidence that phytogenic–probiotic supplementation may serve as a sustainable alternative strategy to support broiler production performance.
Metrics
References
Alghirani MM, Chung ELT, Jesse A, Firdaus F, Sazili AQ, Loh TC. (2022). The potential use of plant-derived saponins as a phytobiotic additive in poultry feed for production and health advancement: A comprehensive review. Poultry Science Journal 10(2): 215-26. https://doi.org/10.22069/psj.2022.20055.1794
Aminullah N, Mostamand A, Zahir A, Mahaq O, Azizi MN. (2025). Phytogenic feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production: A review. Veterinary World 18(1):141–154. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.141-154
Andriani AD, Lokapirnasari WP, Karimah B, Hidanah S, Al-Arif MA. (2020). Potency of probiotics on broiler growth performance and economic analysis. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 90(8):1140–1145. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v90i8.109294
Anggriawan R, Candra DA, Kumalasari DA, Hanna C. (2025). Production performance and business feasibility of broiler farming added lactic acid bacterial probiotics. Scientific Journal of Fillia Cendekia 10(2): 75–81. https://doi.org/10.32503/fillia.v10i2.7706
Anggriawan R, Candra DA, Lestari NA, Amam A, Prastiya RA, Akmal Y. (2026). Ideal protein concept in broiler chicken nutrition: Advances in essential amino acid profiling, modeling approaches, and sustainable feed formulation. Letters in Animal Biology 6(1):67–75. https://doi.org/10.62310/liab.v6i1.329
Anggriawan R, Kurniawan D. (2020b). The relation between broiler production management and its business analysis in Kediri District, East Java. Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Peternakan 30(3):205–211. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jiip.2020.030.03.05
Anggriawan R, Lokapirnasari WP, Hidanah S, Al Arif MA, Candra DA. (2024a). The role of probiotics as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in enhancing poultry performance. Journal of Animal Health and Production 12(4): 610–620. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2024/12..4.610.620
Anggriawan R, Lokapirnasari WP, Hidanah S, Al Arif MA, Candra DA. (2024b). Residue detection of tylosin antibiotics and enrofloxacin in broiler chickens. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 12(11): 2195–2204. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2024/12.11.2195.2204
Anggriawan R, Lokapirnasari WP, Hidanah S, Al-Arif MA, Candra DA. (2024c). Performance of broiler chickens in open-house cages with additional probiotic nutrition. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 12(9): 1630–1639. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2024/12.9.1630.1639
Arif M, Akteruzzaman M, Islam SS, Das BC, Siddique MP, Kabir SL. (2021). Dietary supplementation of Bacillus-based probiotics on the growth performance, gut morphology, intestinal microbiota and immune response in low biosecurity broiler chickens. Veterinary and Animal Science 14: 100216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2021.100216
Brugaletta G, De Cesare A, Zampiga M, Laghi L, Oliveri C, Zhu C, Manfreda G, Syed B, Valenzuela, Sirri F. (2020). Effects of alternative administration programs of a phytogenic–probiotic supplement on broiler performance, foot pad dermatitis, caecal microbiota, and blood metabolites. Animals 10(3): 522. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10030522
Candra D, Anggriawan R. (2024). Characterization of probiotic candidate lactic acid bacteria to overcome salmonellosis in broilers. International Journal of Research 8: 3905–3919. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8080292
Dev K, Mir NA, Biswas A, Kannoujia J, Begum J, Kant R, Mandal A. (2020). Dietary phytogenic–probiotic supplementation improves the growth performance, body antioxidant pool, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and lipid oxidative stability in broiler chickens. Animal Nutrition 6(3): 325–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.03.002
Du M, Cheng Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Zhao H, Wen C, Zhou Y. (2023). Dietary supplementation with phytogenic–probiotic improves growth performance, antioxidant status, immune function, and intestinal barrier function in broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30(7): 18026–18038. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23385-y
Feng Y, Wu X, Hu D, Wang C, Chen Q, Ni Y. (2023). Comparison of the effects of feeding compound probiotics and antibiotics on growth performance, gut microbiota, and small intestine morphology in yellow-feather broilers. Microorganisms 11(9): 2308. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092308
Ghasemi R, Sedghi M, Mahdavi AH. (2020). Evaluation of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic on performance, immune responses, and gastrointestinal health of broiler chickens. Poultry Science Journal 8(2): 175–188. https://doi.org/10.22069/psj.2020.17873.1559
Hossain H, Nuradji H, Miah MY, Islam MN, Siddiqui MSI. (2025). Impact of phytogenic–probiotic on growth performance, histo-architectural modulation of lymphoid organs, hematology, blood biochemistry, and humoral immune response in naked-neck chicken. Tropical Animal Health and Production 57(1): 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-04254-x
Khosravi A, Boldaji F, Dastar B, Torshizi MAK, Alemi M, Hoseinifar SH. (2025). A phytogenic–probiotic improves performance and gut health in broiler chickens. Scientific Reports 15(1): 19164. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04459-6
Krysiak K, Konkol D, Korczyński M. (2021). Overview of the use of probiotics in poultry production. Animals 11(6): 1620. https://doi.org/10.3390ani11061620
Leeson S, Summers JD. (2005). Commercial poultry nutrition. 3rd edition. University Books, Guelp, Ontario, Canada.
Mohammed AA, Darwish MHA, Negm EAA, Abdel-Maguid AS. (2022). Economic performance of different concentrations of probiotics on broiler chickens. Research Journal for Veterinary Practitioners 10(2): 7–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.rjvp/2022/10.2.12.18
National Research Council. (1994). Nutrient requirements of poultry. 9th Rev. edition. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Nisar H, Sharif M, Rahman MA, Rehman S, Kamboh AA, Saeed M. (2021). Effects of dietary supplementation of phytogenic–probiotics on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science 23(2): eRBCA-2020. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9061-2020-1388
Obianwuna UE, Chang X, Oleforuh-Okoleh VU, Onu PN, Zhang H, Qiu K, Wu S. (2024). Phytobiotics in poultry: Revolutionizing broiler chicken nutrition with plant-derived gut health enhancers. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 15(1): 169. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-024-01101-9
Ogbuewu IP, Okoro VM, Mbajiorgu CA. (2020). Probiotic-yeast improves performance indicators in broiler chickens: Evidence from meta-analysis. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 18(2): 2851–2874. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1802_28232843
Pasaribu T, Sukirman M, Sani Y, Bakrie B, Rusdiana S. (2023). Evaluation of Phyllanthus niruri L. powder on growth performance, haematology, and intestinal morphology of broilers. South African Journal of Animal Science 53(1): 46–59. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v53i1.06
Patel N, Borase H, Belewu MA, Krishnamurthy R. (2023). Production, cost analysis, and marketing of livestock and poultry probiotics. In: Amaresan N, Dharumadurai D, Babalola OO, editors, Food Microbiology Based Entrepreneurship: Making Money from Microbes. Springer Nature Singapore. Pp. 233–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5041-4_13
Prentza Z, Castellone F, Legnardi M, Antlinger B, Segura-Wang M, Kefalas G, Papaioannou N, Stylianaki I, Papatsiros VG, Franzo G, Cecchinato M, Koutoulis K. (2023). Administration of a multi-genus phytogenic–probiotic to broilers: Effects on gut health, microbial composition, and performance. Animals 13(1): 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010113
Sabdoningrum EK, Hidanah S, Qosimah D, Anggraini S, Anantha T. (2023). Potential of meniran (Phyllanthus niruriLinn.) extract nano-herbal as an immunomodulator and phytogenic feed additive for natural growth support in the spleenic germinal centre and performance in an animal model. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 16(11): 5198–5206. https://doi.org/10.52711/0974-360X.2023.00840
Salarmoini M, Fooladi MH. (2025). Efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus as a probiotic to improve broiler chicks' performance. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 13(2): 165–172. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.16807073.2011.13.2.9.4
Śliżewska K, Markowiak-Kopeć P, Żbikowski A, Szeleszczuk P. (2020). The effect of phytogenic–probiotic preparations on the intestinal microbiota and their metabolism in broiler chickens. Scientific Reports 10(1): 4281. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61256-z
Song D, Li A, Wang Y, Song G, Cheng J, Wang L, Liu K, Min Y, Wang W. (2022). Effects of phytogenic–probiotics on growth, digestibility, immune and antioxidant performance in broilers. Animal 16(4): 100497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2022.100497
Soumeh EA, Cedeno ADRC, Niknafs S, Bromfield J, Hoffman LC. (2021). The efficiency of probiotics administered via different routes and doses in enhancing production performance, meat quality, gut morphology, and microbial profile of broiler chickens. Animals 11(12): 3607. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1123607
Urban J, Kareem KY, Matuszewski A, Bień D, Ciborowska P, Lutostański K, Michalczuk M. (2025). Enhancing broiler chicken health and performance: The impact of phytobiotics on growth, gut microbiota, antioxidants, and immunity. Phytochemistry Reviews 24(2): 2131–2145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-024-09994-0
Van Wagenberg CPA, van Horne PLM, van Asseldonk MAPM. (2020). Cost-effectiveness analysis of using probiotics, prebiotics, or phytogenics to control Campylobacter in broilers. Poultry Science 99(8): 4077–4084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.001
Younis JH, Karadas F, Beski SSM. (2024). The effects of different levels of phytogenic–probiotic supplementation in the diet of broilers on growth performance, intestinal histology, and microbial colony. Archives of Razi Institute 79(6): 1227–1236. https://doi.org/10.32592/ARI.2024.79.6.1227
Zammit VA, Park SO. (2023). Impact of the combination of probiotics and digital poultry system on behavior, welfare parameters, and growth performance in broiler chickens. Microorganisms 11(9): 2345. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092345
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Diyah Ayu Candra, Rico Anggriawan, Choirul Hana, Muhammad Lutfi Nur Fajri
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2026-07-21
Published 2026-07-25
