A combination of functional amino acids and polyphenols can restore the performance of chickens challenged with coccidiosis: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Coccidiosis is one of the major challenges in the poultry industry, leading to reduced animal performance and welfare and increased mortality. Currently, ionophores and chemicals are used to treat coccidiosis. However, the outbreak of resistant Eimeria strains and the growing customer demand for more sustainable products have prompted the need to identify nutritional strategies for coccidiosis control. In this study, we reviewed the efficiency of the supplementation of a combination of functional amino acids (arginine, threonine and glutamine) with grape extract polyphenols in broilers challenged with coccidiosis via a meta-analysis based on five independent trials. We observed that supplementation partially improved the performance of broilers affected with coccidiosis when compared with infected, untreated animals. In addition, there was no significant difference between the effect of supplementation of the combination of functional amino acids with grape extract polyphenols and that of anticoccidial drugs on animal performance when considering the overall trial period. This meta-analysis suggests that supplementing with a combination of functional amino acids with grape extract polyphenols could improve performance in broilers affected with coccidiosis. However, further research to understand the mechanisms involved is needed.