Cinnamon is a natural additive with great potential for its use in poultry diets.
The demand for poultry meat has increased in recent years. Global poultry meat production reached approximately 137 million tonnes in 2020, making it the world’s most consumed meat.
Stressors such as excessive heat and overcrowding are considered major threats to poultry production due to their impacts on gut health and increased susceptibility to disease.
Previously, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) were used to control gastrointestinal pathogens and reduce the effects of stressors on bowel function.
- However, growing consumer awareness towards the adverse effects of antibiotics on human health, coupled with increasing bacterial resistance and food safety concerns, have led to bans on antibiotic use in poultry production.
Phytogenic additives (PA) have emerged as alternatives to AGPs and have great potential within the poultry industry. For example, it has been shown that under heat stress conditions in poultry, these can:
- Enhance immune function
- Exert beneficial effects on health performance
- Reduce stress response (Rashid y col., 2020).
The natural antioxidants found in many PAs have also been found to be effective in extending the shelf life of poultry meat, as well as improving its quality and acceptability.
- Natural
- Reduced toxicity
- Free of chemical residues
- Easy-availability
Natural plant products have been found to have beneficial effects, such as:
- Increased secretion of digestive enzymes
- Immunostimulant
- Bactericide
- Antiviral
- Antioxidant
Cinnamon is considered one of the most potent PAs, and has great potential for poultry use.
The effects of cinnamon on the intestinal health of birds are shown in Figure 1.
Figura 1.Effect of cinnamon on poultry intestinal health
Source: Taken from Akhtar Ali y col., 2021
Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains
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