Perspectives of Using Conifer Needle Extract as Phytobiotic as an Alternative to Antibiotics in Biological and Industrial Farms

Author(s): Rubens J, Bartkevics V, Roshchin V, Marakhouski Y Kh, Daberte I, Rubens A, ?irkova T, Kurlanda A, Mikson D

This study demonstrated a trend towards dose-dependent, desirable changes in the chicken microbiome resulting from the addition of pine needle extract to chicken feed. Chicken meat is a widely consumed protein source that is cost?effective, yet intensive poultry production relies heavily on antibiotics, fostering antibiotic?resistant bacteria, which may also influence the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans. Additionally, this study describes the development of a phytobiotic feed or phytopremix (PP) based on standard feed. Conifer needle extract (CNE) from Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) H.Karst. was shown to possess proven high biological efficacy and an absence of any adverse reactions with regular use. The developed PPs were used for hens, chickens, sheep, and organic feeds produced on organic farms using CNE in various concentrations. CNE obtaining methods are well-known and described in literature, the most optimal method can be considered with extraction process with subsequent solvent separation. This simple method allows obtaining the most complete CNE containing more than a hundred hydrophobic and hydrophilic biologically active compounds in natural proportions. The mixture of complementary feed and conifer needle extract can be stored for 3 months at a temperature of 25 ºC, in a dark place. The optimal dose for consumption may be 30 mg CNE/kg of animal weight.