Study: The effect of pomegranate and onion on broilers in Greece

A recent trial conducted in Greece set out to evaluate the effects of pomegranate and onion on broiler chicks’ performance and welfare status, as well as on the chemical composition and oxidative stability of the meat. The authors of the study note that broiler diet supplementation with natural feed additives, such as different phytobiotics, are proven to exert positive effects on animals’ health performance and stress response. In addition, these phytobiotics, which are natural, non-toxic and chemical-residue-free, are related to increased animal productivity, elevated welfare indices and improved final product quality. “Pomegranate and onion are both widely known plants that present extensive antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and are considered promising feed additives for application in poultry diets,” note the authors. During this study, 120 day-old male chicks were allocated to 3 treatments with 4 replicate pens (10 chicks per pen). Broiler chicks in the control group ...