what are growth promoters in poultry feed and how do they work

1. Search Write Sign in Sign up What are Growth Promoters in Poultry Feed and How Do They Work? Prraniganga Follow 5 min read · Jul 16, 2025 Modern poultry farming is all about maximising productivity while maintaining bird health and feed efficiency. This is where growth promoters in poultry play a transformative role. Used worldwide in broiler, layer and breeding farming, these substances are added to poultry feed to enhance growth performance, improve growth health, and increase productivity. What kinds of growth promoters in poultry are available on the market, and how do they function? This article will explore the science, significance and practical use of growth promoters in poultry. G-Pro min Liquid (5 L) — Ultimate Growth Promoter What are Growth Promoters? Growth promoters in poultry are supplements that are fed into poultry feed to improve the growth rate and feed efficiency of the bird. Best growth promoters stimulate appetites, improve nutrient absorption and gut flora, reduce pathogenic bacteria, and increase immunity. With the growing demands for safe and efficient poultry production, the demand for choosing the best growth promoters has become vital for sustainable farming.

2. It has never been more critical for poultry farmers to understand what growth promoters are available for their poultry production and how to utilise them in their production cycle without relying on harmful chemicals. Over the years, the use of synthetic antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry has raised concerns over antibiotic resistance. As a result, the poultry industry has shifted away from antibiotics to safer supplements, such as probiotics, enzymes, organic acids, herbs, etc. Understanding how growth promoters work can help the poultry farmer who is looking to maximise production. Also Read: How to Choose the Right Poultry Feed for Optimal Growth and Health? How Do the Best Growth Promoters Work? The primary function of the growth promoters in poultry is to enhance the growth by influencing the biological processes, such as nutrient absorption, tissue development and hormonal balance. Here is a detailed discussion about how the growth promoters in the poultry work: Improving Gut Health: The digestive tract serves as the centre for nutrient absorption and overall health. Growth promoters maintain a healthy gut environment by promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms and reducing the growth of potentially harmful microbes. The result is that digestion and feed utilisation are improved. Enhancing Nutrient Absorption: The best growth promoters increase the bioavailability of nutrients by breaking down complex molecules. Enzymes, for example, reduce the anti- nutritional factors associated with feed sources such as soybean meal and corn, resulting in the ability of birds to absorb more nutrients from a gram of feed. Reducing Disease Burden: Antibiotics, herbal extracts, and organic acids help control gut pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens. Reducing these pathogens minimises stress on the immune system and allows birds to grow more efficiently. Boosting Immunity: Many high-quality growth promoters in poultry have immune-modulating agents, which enhance the natural mechanisms of the bird. A stronger immune system lowers mortality and keeps birds productive in times of stress or disease exposure. Regulating the Gut pH: Organic acids and some herbal additives decrease gut pH, which prevents harmful bacterial growth. With a balanced pH, digestive enzymes work

3. effectively and break down and absorb nutrients efficiently. Types of Growth Promoters in Poultry: 1. Antibiotic Growth Promoters: This type is the most common among the growth promoters in poultry. They reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, lessening the competition for nutrients and limiting immune system stress. This enhances feed conversion ratio (FCR) and ultimately results in faster weight gain. However, concerns about antimicrobial resistance have led to the prohibition of AGPs in poultry feed by several countries. As a result, the interest in natural resource-based solutions and alternatives is on the rise. 2. Probiotics and Prebiotics: Get Prraniganga’s stories in your inbox Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer. Enter your email Subscribe Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that help to balance gut microflora. Conversely, prebiotics are indigestible substances that support the good bacteria. Prebiotics and probiotics together help to create a healthy intestinal environment that can eliminate pathogens, optimise digestion, and increase immune function. 3. Enzymes: Supplements containing enzymes break down complex feed ingredients into simpler forms that increase nutrient availability for absorption. Examples of enzymes that improve nutrient digestibility include phytase on phosphorus, xylanase on fibre and protease on proteins. Increasing nutrient availability through enzyme supplementation decreases waste, improves FCR and increases weight gain; therefore, these products are potentially very effective growth promoters in poultry. 4. Organic Acids: Organic acids like formic acid, citric acid, and butyric acid reduce gastrointestinal tract pH and create acidic conditions that are unfavourable for pathogenic bacteria but suitable for enzyme activity. They also stimulate mineral absorption and gut health. Organic acids are said to be the best growth promoters in countries with restrictions on antibiotics. 5. Herbal and Phytogenic Additives: Garlic, turmeric, ginger, neem, and fenugreek are examples of plant-based additives that contain bioactive compounds with antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. These natural growth

4. promoters stimulate digestive enzymes, reduce inflammation in the gut, and improve immune function. Herbal supplements are used more frequently as safe and effective growth promoters in poultry and in organic and antibiotic-free farming systems. Considerations Before Choosing the Best Growth Promoter: With many options available, selecting the best growth promoter requires the careful evaluation of the following factors: Type of poultry Production goals Local regulations on antibiotic use Feed composition and quality availability of natural alternatives Cost-effectiveness and ROI The Final Words: Growth promoters in poultry provide useful additives for maximising performance, improving bird health, and maintaining a profitable farming business. Whether it’s probiotics, enzymes, organic acids or herbal extracts, these additives promote better digestion, stronger immunity, and efficient growth. By identifying how these compounds work and selecting the best growth promoters for your business, poultry farmers can achieve healthier birds, lower production costs, and better profitability. FAQ What Are Growth Promoters in Poultry Feed? Growth promoters in poultry are supplements that are fed into poultry feed to improve the growth rate and feed efficiency of the bird. What Are the Benefits of Using Growth Promoters? The benefits of using growth promoters are improved feed efficiency, faster weight gain, enhanced immunity, better gut health, and higher overall productivity in poultry farming. Poultry Growth Promoters Written by Prraniganga Follow 0 followers · 1 following Prraniganga proudly stands as India’s first dedicated marketplace for livestock products,revolutionising the way farmers access essential feed and medicines.

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