Effects of Feed Additives Used As an Alternative to Antibiotics on Mineral Absorption and Bone Characteristics in Poultry: A Review

Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals for some important biochemical functions and bone integrity. Deficiency in rations or poor absorption of these minerals is an important problem in poultry nutrition, especially high producing laying hens and broilers, leading to economic losses such as deterioration of eggshell and bone characteristics as a result of mineral metabolism disorders. Therefore, maximization of absorption and bioavailability of these nutrients from the gut can be practical for preventing mineral metabolism disorders. Antibiotics widely used as growth promoters for many years in animal nutrition. After the prohibition of antibiotics, the research for alternatives to antibiotics has accelerated. Probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids are some of these alternatives. Most of the earlier studies showed that probiotics, prebiotics, and organic acids increased the mineral absorption and metabolism. In this review, effects of probiotics, prebiotics and organic acids on mineral utilization and bone characteristics in poultry are deliberated