Revitalizing rural poultry with phytobiotics: a natural path to sustainability

SUMMARYRural poultry farming is very important for less developed places, giving rural families extra income, nutritious meals and food they can depend on. Usually, these small-scale, backyard systems include birds that wander, local to the area, no or little health care and many biosecurity actions. For this reason, rural poultry flocks are very susceptible to diseases from bacteria, viruses and parasites, which reduce their development, lifetime and output. While antibiotics have often been used to manage infections and boost performance, regularly applying them has helped anti-microbial resistance (AMR) become a significant problem, which means we must find other safe ways to deal with infections. Phytobiotics, plant-derived compounds such as essential oils, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids, have gained increasing attention as natural feed additives capable of enhancing poultry health and productivity. They exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, contributing to improved gut function, better nutrient utilisation, and enhanced overall performance. Additionally, they improve carcass and meat quality while reducing the risk of chemical residues in poultry products. This study reviews the status of phytobiotic use in poultry production, with emphasis on rural systems. Although extensive evidence exists for their application in commercial broilers and layers, limited research has focused specifically on rural poultry. This review compiles findings from both commercial and rural production systems, noting that most available data originate from commercial poultry. Based on this evidence, phytobiotics show strong potential to enhance immunity, reduce pathogen load, improve growth and meat quality, and serve as effective alternatives to antibiotics. When formulated and incorporated into rural poultry diets, they may help improve bird health, reduce disease susceptibility, and support higher productivity under challenging backyard conditions. Overall, expanding phytobiotic use in rural poultry represents a safe, sustainable, and practical strategy to strengthen flock health, improve livelihoods, and reduce reliance on antibiotics.