Phytogenic substances derived from plant organs are bioactive compounds
widely used to enhance health, food safety and shelf-life. These substances exhibit
diverse biological activities, supporting animal and human health by promoting
antioxidant defenses and enhancing immune function. They can mitigate the production
of oxygen-containing reactive species (ROS) generated by environmental stressors,
inhibit enzymes implicated in cellular damage, enhance mitochondrial function, and
improve energy biosynthesis and availability. Incorporating phytogenic additives into
livestock diets is a safe, effective, and economically viable strategy for mitigating the
adverse effects of conventional feed additives on animal and human health. Reducing
antibiotic use in livestock production is critical and can be achieved by integrating
phytogenic substances, herbs, spices, medicinal plants, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics along with implementing robust biosecurity measures. This chapter
emphasizes the role of phytogenic products as growth promoters in livestock
production, and their potential applications in enhancing food safety and security. The
subtherapeutic use of antibacterial drugs has significantly enhanced meat, egg, and
milk production over the centuries. However, the use of antimicrobial agents promotes
the selection of resistant microbes that can proliferate rapidly and become dominant
within microbial populations, potentially compromising the effectiveness of treatment
for microbial infections in humans.
Keywords: Antioxidants, Bioactive substances, Immunity, Production enhancers, Phytogenic.
