Phytogenic Blends Elicit Positive Effects on Broiler Performance, Tight Junction Proteins, and Immune Responses During a Necrotic Enteritis Challenge

Non-drug additives are being evaluated for mitigating necrotic enteritis in broilers. This study examined the effects of phytogenic blends on performance, pathology, and mRNA abundance of tight junction and immune response genes during NE challenge. One-day (d)-old male broilers (n = 600) were allocated into four treatments (six pens/treatment, 25 birds/pen): NC (basal), PC (NC + 15 ppm avilamycin and 125 ppm amprolium), PHY1 (NC + Alterna®), and PHY2 (NC + Alterna + Synbiotec®). All birds were challenged with Eimeria maxima (d 14) and Clostridium perfringens (d 19). Performance was recorded on d 14, 21, 28, and 42, and jejunal samples were collected on d 14, 21, and 42 to assess mRNA abundance. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Fisher’s LSD test (p ≤ 0.05). PC and PHY2 improved daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and reduced mortality compared to NC during d 21–28, 0–28, and 0–42. PC, PHY1, and PHY2 had reduced lesion severity than NC (d 21). Greater mRNA abundance of tight junction and immune response genes was observed in PHY2 on d 14, PC on d 21, and PHY1 and PHY2 on d 42. Therefore, supplementation of Alterna and Synbiotec improved performance, reduced pathology, and supported host response during NE challenge.