Antimicrobial resistance in Poultry: Unconventional feed supplements as potential alternatives

Poultry production and consumption of poultry meat has emerged as a potential market globally occupying 40.6% of meat market. The demand is anticipated to continuously increase for meeting the requirement of animal protein by ever growing human population. Thus, major challenges that come over poultry breeders are to have sufficient and faster production in most efficient and economical way. Antibiotic growth promoters aid in poultry growth, influencing gut microbiota and serve as the most usual practice followed in poultry industry. Nonetheless, due to the growing concerns of over animal safety, food safety and to humans by negatively developing microbial resistance, use of antibiotic growth promoter was restricted and under most circumstances banned in several countries. With implications of ban, several alternatives withpotential growth promoting benefits without hampering the normal gut microbiotawere explored. These included phytobiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids and various unconventional feeds having positive effects like stimulating feed intake, coccidiostatic and antimicrobial effects. However, knowledge on availability and potential use of unconventional feeds as antimicrobial is scanty. Therefore, this paper reviews the certain non-conventional feeds rich in specific bioactive compounds attributed to modulate intestinal microbiota and their effects on growth performance and overall health status of poultry. The reviewaims to serve as a reference for young researchers and industry to recognize alternative feed ingredients to be used as antimicrobial growth promoters minimizing competition between human and animal consumption.