Learn how phytogenic feed additives and whole plant part solutions can help poultry producers manage inflammation, support gut health and maintain bird performance under everyday production stressors.
Brand insights from Fortiva®
Poultry production is full of variables. Feed changes, environmental shifts, handling and disease exposure are all part of the system, and each one places some level of stress on the bird.
Less visible to production managers is how birds respond internally. These everyday stressors trigger inflammation, a natural immune response that helps protect the bird. In the short term, it’s beneficial. But when inflammation happens too often or lasts too long, it begins to work against performance instead of supporting it.
Prolonged inflammation redirects nutrients away from growth and toward immune function. Gut lining can weaken, reducing the bird’s ability to absorb nutrients efficiently. The impact is not always obvious right away. Over time, it can impact birds with slower growth and less feed conversion.
Because inflammation effects are largely invisible, it can be difficult to manage without nutritional support.
Using nutrition as an approach to inflammation
Phytogenics, plant-based feed additives derived from herbs and spices, have become a valuable tool for supporting gut health and immune function. However, not all phytogenic solutions work the same way.
Some solutions have single plant extracts or essential oils, which may only target one stressor. In today’s production environments, birds are dealing with multiple stressors at once, making multi-function solutions more sought after by production managers.
New research is helping define how these ingredients can be used to manage inflammation. In controlled studies, researchers expose cells to stress and measure how they respond, identifying which plant compounds can effectively help regulate inflammation.1
These studies highlighted the value of using whole plant parts rather than isolated compounds. Whole plant part phytogenics contain multiple natural substances that work together to support multiple stressors.2 Some compounds help strengthen the gut lining. Others support beneficial bacteria and others help regulate the immune response so it doesn’t become prolonged.
From research to results
Research has shown that birds fed these types of solutions can maintain growth performance and feed efficiency, even under stress conditions such as coccidiosis challenges. These ingredients may also influence how genes related to inflammation are expressed, helping to keep the immune response balanced.3
When inflammation is better managed, birds are more resilient and better able to handle everyday stressors. For production managers, that translates to a better way to manage inflammation, helping birds perform more consistently, even in the face of everyday challenges.
For more information on how Fortiva® can support your nutrition program, visit FortivaImpact.com.
References
1 Metz, M., Erb, L., Mishra, P., Crowder, S., Thayer, M., & Davis, E. (2026). Effect of feeding a novel phytogenic feed additive on growth performance of broilers: A pooled ANOVA analysis [Oral Presentation]. International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) Abstr. T183).
2 Schwartz, M., P. Mishra, and S. Crowder. 2024. Effect of a next generation phytogenic blend on broiler growth performance under challenged conditions. Proc. Int. Poult. Sci. For. (Abstr. T174)
3 Metz, M., Davis, E., Mishra, P., & Crowder, S. 2025. Effect of feeding a novel phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and clinical outcomes of broilers administered a mixed Eimeria spp. challenge [Poster presentation]. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. (abstr. 504P)