Efficacy of prebiotics and probiotics on growth performance in poultry: A protocol for a systematic review

Abstract

The use of prebiotics and probiotics as dietary additives in poultry has been practiced widely as an alternative to antibiotics and to support gut health. Despite the wealth of products available, there is currently a lack of clear scientific evidence that the use of prebiotics and probiotics beneficially impact growth performance in poultry. The aim of this protocol paper is to document the process of a systematic review addressing the following review question: Does oral administration of a prebiotic (defined as dietary fiber, dietary carbohydrates, oligosaccharides, or yeast cell wall) or probiotic (defined or undefined single or mixed cultures of living bacteria, fungi, and/or yeast) provide beneficial effects on growth performance in broiler chickens and turkeys? The proposed systematic review will provide evidence on the effectiveness of prebiotics and probiotics for enhancing growth performance in poultry, and will help to alleviate high skepticism, criticism, and confusion over the use of prebiotics and probiotics in poultry among poultry producers.