Beyond Antibiotics: A Review of Sustainable Strategies and Emerging Alternatives for Poultry Health Management in Modern Farming

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has made it difficult for both people and animals to control disease using antibiotics, which has led to food insecurity, particularly for the chicken business. As a result, it is necessary to create long-term plans for keeping chicken flocks healthy as well as possible, and side-effect-free antibiotic substitutes. The use of probiotics and prebiotics, vaccination and immunostimulants, organic farming, improved hygiene and biosecurity measures, in-ovo-inoculation, feed additives, and nanoparticles are some of the practices that are currently being used to minimise the use of antibiotics and to maintain the optimal health, immunity, gut integrity, and growth performance of birds. However, because of their potential use in replacing antibiotics in poultry, certain new alternatives—such as antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, enzymes and enzyme-based products, and nanoparticles—are receiving a lot of attention. To preserve chicken health and reduce the need for antibiotics, the study emphasizes the potential of these sustainable practices and new alternatives. This will ultimately aid in the fight against AMR and guarantee the production of safe and reasonably priced poultry protein.