NUTRACEUTICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL IMPLICATION OF PREBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY FEED

In poultry production, dietary prebiotics viz. dietary organic acid (OA) supplements, mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), beta-glucan and xylanase supplementation are mainly used in order to enhance live body weight gain, dressing percentage, weight of vital organs and muscles and mean villus lengths in digestive tract of poultry birds. Prebiotics can also act as immunostimulants. The term immunostimulant can be used interchangeably with immunomodulator, adjuvant and biological response modifier. Immunostimulators can be in the form of drugs and nutrients. This article highlights role of prebiotics and their physiological implications on body performance.