Effects of turmeric rhizome powder and curcumin on poultry production. A review

Nowadays, alternative feed supplements enhancing bird health are sought by poultry producers. Among different herbs and supplements, turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), which contains bioactive secondary metabolites as curcuminoids, has been successfully used as a suitable feed supplement for poultry. It induces a wide range of positive actions in birds, namely: 1. improvement of several haematological and biochemical indicators, 2. increase of antibody titers after vaccination (e.g., against Newcastle disease), 3. diminishment of heat stress by different mechanisms, 4. prevention from harmful effects of aflatoxins consumed together with diet, 5. increase of antioxidant activity of several organs (e.g., spleen), 6. decrease in some potentially pathogenic bacteria counts, i.e. Escherichia coli, in the ileal content of the farmed laying hens. The aim of this review is to describe and analyse the use of turmeric as feed supplement for birds and its influence on animal health.