Assessing the impact of synbiotics on the health and productive performance of poultry

As the world population increases to its projected seven billion people, the demand for both animal and plant-based food sources becomes more pressing. To increase production of meat, eggs, milk and fish, feed additives like antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics are being considered. Scientists advocating for animal health typically support the combination of probiotics and prebiotics - otherwise known as synbiotics - for their beneficial properties. This review looks at how synbiotics can affect poultry production in terms of growth, carcass characteristics, intestinal histomorphology, immunity and microbiome. An electronic search was conducted with related keywords to assess relevant literature on this topic. Synbiotic products may help with growth performance as well as modify gut microbiome composition, prepare slaughter traits and stimulate immunity. The efficacy of synbiotics in poultry production depends on certain conditions including the bird's intestinal health, inclusion rate of these agents, quality of feed and water availability. This systematic review compiles all the research papers focused on synbiotics in poultry production and their potential impact on performance parameters.