In the modern poultry industry, the poultry digestive tract is no longer viewed merely as an organ for digesting feed, but as a control center for performance, health, production efficiency, and even the image of the final product in consumers’ eyes.
The balance of the digestive system determines how optimally nutrients are absorbed, how well the immune system functions, and how consistently production performance can be maintained amid challenges from disease, environmental stress, and global demands for safe, healthy, and responsibly produced poultry products.
Disruptions to the balance of the digestive system often mark the beginning of various classic problems on the farm: uneven growth, worsening FCR, litter that is wet, an increase in cases of enteritis, and reduced resistance to disease. In this context, a partial approach is no longer sufficient. The industry is required to adopt a holistic strategy that integrates nutrition, management, biosecurity, and health, in line with the major issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the One Health.
Trends in Antibiotic Use, from Dependence to Transformation
Before 2014, antibiotic use in the poultry industry was still dominated by preventive and promotional approaches, including as an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP). Antibiotics became a quick solution for maintaining performance and reducing digestive diseases. However, as scientific evidence of AMR and its impacts on human, animal, and environmental health grew, this paradigm began to change.
Since restrictions and bans on AGPs were introduced in various countries, including Indonesia, the poultry industry has entered a challenging transition phase. Reduced use of antibiotics has had a direct impact on increasing pressure from digestive diseases, especially those associated with pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, and Salmonella. On the other hand, consumers are becoming increasingly critical of issues involving antibiotic residues, food safety, and production sustainability.
The AMR issue is not only a technical livestock-farming problem but has developed into a global health issue within the framework of One Health. This means that every decision in the poultry house has implications all the way to the consumer's dining table. Therefore, maintaining a balanced digestive system without relying on antibiotics is both a challenge and a strategic opportunity for the industry.
The Root Cause of Digestive System Imbalance
Digestive system imbalance in poultry is... Read more in the October issue of Infovet Magazine 2026.
Written by:
Henri E. Prasetyo drh MVet
Poultry practitioner, Nutritionist at PT DMC