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Article

Effects of Dietary Phytobiotic Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Histomorphology, Cecal Microbiota, and Antioxidant Status in Fattening Ducks

by
Dimitrios Galamatis
1,*,
Ioannis Panitsidis
2,
Stella Dokou
2,
Ioanna Stylianaki
3,
Konstantina Vasilopoulou
2,
Vasiliki Makri
2,
Tilemachos Mantzios
4,
Sumit Joshi
5,
Shreya Gupta
5,
Angelos Paroutoglou
2,
Vangelis Economou
6,
Panagiotis Sakkas
2,
Vasileios Tsiouris
4 and
Ilias Giannenas
2
1
Department of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, 41335 Larissa, Greece
2
Laboratory of Nutrition, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
3
Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
4
Unit of Avian Medicine, Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
5
Zenex Animal Health India Private Ltd., Village Katha, P.O. & Tehsil Baddi, Solan 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India
6
Laboratory of Animal Food Products Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Poultry 2026, 5(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry5030043
Submission received: 19 April 2026 / Revised: 2 June 2026 / Accepted: 3 June 2026 / Published: 8 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Collection Poultry Nutrition)
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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of two phytobiotic mixtures on performance, nutrient digestibility, histomorphology, microbiota, and antioxidant status in fattening ducks. A total of 180 day-old male mixed-type ducks were randomly assigned to three dietary groups: a control group receiving a basal diet, and two treatment groups (PM1: commercial phytobiotic formulation containing menthol, eucalyptus oil and turmeric leaf oil as key ingredients and PM2: commercial phytobiotic formulation containing garlic oil as a key ingredient) supplemented at 250 g/ton of feed. Ducks were reared for 49 days with six replicates of ten ducks. Performance parameters, including body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), and average feed intake (AFI), were significantly improved in phytobiotic groups (p ≤ 0.05). Apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and starch remained unaffected (p > 0.05). Histological analysis showed no significant differences in villus height (VH) or crypt depth (CD). However, cecal microbiota culture-based analysis revealed increased total anerobic bacteria and Lactobacillus counts in PM1 and PM2 (p ≤ 0.05). Antioxidant status demonstrated reduced MDA levels and elevated total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in breast and thigh tissues of treated ducks. Overall, phytobiotic supplementation improved performance and microbiota balance, supporting the potential application of these phytobiotic formulations at the inclusion level of 250 g/ton in fattening ducks’ nutrition.
Keywords: herbal feed additives; growth; digestibility; histomorphometry; microbiota; oxidation herbal feed additives; growth; digestibility; histomorphometry; microbiota; oxidation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Galamatis, D.; Panitsidis, I.; Dokou, S.; Stylianaki, I.; Vasilopoulou, K.; Makri, V.; Mantzios, T.; Joshi, S.; Gupta, S.; Paroutoglou, A.; et al. Effects of Dietary Phytobiotic Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Histomorphology, Cecal Microbiota, and Antioxidant Status in Fattening Ducks. Poultry 2026, 5, 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry5030043

AMA Style

Galamatis D, Panitsidis I, Dokou S, Stylianaki I, Vasilopoulou K, Makri V, Mantzios T, Joshi S, Gupta S, Paroutoglou A, et al. Effects of Dietary Phytobiotic Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Histomorphology, Cecal Microbiota, and Antioxidant Status in Fattening Ducks. Poultry. 2026; 5(3):43. https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry5030043

Chicago/Turabian Style

Galamatis, Dimitrios, Ioannis Panitsidis, Stella Dokou, Ioanna Stylianaki, Konstantina Vasilopoulou, Vasiliki Makri, Tilemachos Mantzios, Sumit Joshi, Shreya Gupta, Angelos Paroutoglou, and et al. 2026. "Effects of Dietary Phytobiotic Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Histomorphology, Cecal Microbiota, and Antioxidant Status in Fattening Ducks" Poultry 5, no. 3: 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry5030043

APA Style

Galamatis, D., Panitsidis, I., Dokou, S., Stylianaki, I., Vasilopoulou, K., Makri, V., Mantzios, T., Joshi, S., Gupta, S., Paroutoglou, A., Economou, V., Sakkas, P., Tsiouris, V., & Giannenas, I. (2026). Effects of Dietary Phytobiotic Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Histomorphology, Cecal Microbiota, and Antioxidant Status in Fattening Ducks. Poultry, 5(3), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/poultry5030043

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