# A Novel Combination of Postbiotics and Essential Oil Compounds Supports a Consistent Improvement in Broiler Performance

## TL;DR

A new feed supplement combining postbiotics and essential oils improves growth and meat yield in broiler chickens.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel combination of postbiotics and phytogenics to enhance poultry performance.

## Key findings

- Biostrong™ Dual improved body weight and feed conversion ratio in broiler chickens.
- The supplement increased breast meat yield and showed a reduction in footpad lesions.
- Consistent improvements were observed across three independent trials.

## Abstract

The present study addressed the challenge of enhancing poultry gut health, a key factor in digestion, nutrient utilization, and overall growth. Researchers evaluated Biostrong™ Dual (Cargill Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA, USA), a feed supplement composed of yeast fermentation products (postbiotics) and essential oil compounds (phytogenics), to determine its impact on broiler chicken performance. Across three large trials, birds receiving Biostrong™ Dual demonstrated faster growth, improved feed-to-body weight conversion, more consistent feed intake, and slightly higher breast meat yield compared to those on a standard diet. In one experiment, the supplement also reduced footpad lesions. Overall, the findings show that combining postbiotics and phytogenics can improve production efficiency, offering farmers a practical tool to achieve stronger performance results under varying conditions.

Recent innovations in poultry feed technology have emphasized the role of postbiotics and phytogenics as promising strategies to strengthen gut health and improve overall performance in broilers. Within this context, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of Biostrong™ Dual (Cargill Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA, USA), a novel product that integrates Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic products (SCFPs) with a proprietary blend of essential oil compounds (EOCs). The objective was to determine whether this dual formulation could consistently enhance growth, feed efficiency, and carcass quality across multiple production phases. To test this, three independent trials were conducted using commercial broiler strains. Birds were allocated to either a control group (CON) receiving a basal diet or a treatment group (DUAL) receiving the same diet supplemented with 0.4 kg/MT of Biostrong™ Dual. Each trial employed a randomized block design with 24 replicates per treatment and 16–25 birds per replicate. Results consistently demonstrated that DUAL improved (p < 0.05) body weight and the cumulative feed conversion ratio (cFCR) at 42 days. Pooled analysis revealed body weight gains of 5.5%, a cFCR improvement of 5 points, increased feed intake, and a 0.86% rise in breast meat yield. Additionally, one trial showed reduced footpad lesion scores. Collectively, these findings highlight Biostrong™ Dual as a valuable nutritional intervention to optimize productivity and carcass quality in poultry production and further research is needed to understand the mode of action of the product.