ADITIVOS ZOOTÉCNICOS MELHORADORES DO DESEMPENHO PARA FRANGO DE CORTE

Abstract

The search for feed efficiency has been a critical point in commercial broiler creations. To this end, performance-enhancing antimicrobials (AMD) are used as feed additives, aiming to reduce mortality and improve animal production, in addition to being used in the prevention of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, the indiscriminate use of AMD can raise doubts regarding the health risks of the final consumers of chicken meat, as well as the health of animals and, therefore, other zootechnical additives have been researched. The objective of this literature review was to know the main zootechnical additives used in nutrition, as well as their importance in the production and intestinal health of broiler chickens. In order to enhance the performance of broilers, several zootechnical additives are used in the diet, including: performance-enhancing antibiotics, exogenous enzymes, phytogenic ones, organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics. Positive research results regarding performance and intestinal health have been verified with the use of alternative zootechnical additives to AMD. It is observed that when used at adequate levels, many of these products have beneficial consequences for the physiology, digestibility, health, intestinal morphology and performance of birds. The objective was that the use of alternative additives as performance enhancers in the diet of broiler chickens is economically viable and results in safe foods.