Systematic review of the effect of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic on production variables in poultry
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Published:
Oct 26, 2026
Keywords:
Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, poultry, production parameters, gut microbiota, APC
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Abstract
Introduction. The growing global demand for poultry production historically drove the use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs). However, regulatory restrictions, such as the ban on these drugs in livestock, have led to public health problems caused by antimicrobial resistance and residues in food. This has spurred the search for alternative feed additives to improve poultry performance. Probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic have emerged as alternatives to AGPs. These are live microorganisms that act on pathogens, non-digestible substrates that stimulate microorganisms in the gut, and synergistic combinations of probiotics and prebiotics, respectively. Objective. To analyze, through a systematic literature review conducted under the PRISMA declaration, the effect of supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotic on live weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion in poultry. Methodology. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect using MeSH terms. Fifty-six studies (50 productive) published between 2021 and 2026, evaluating approximately 18,544+ birds, were included. Results. Probiotics (Bacillus subtilis strain) increased live weight by 7.4 to 8.1% (p<0.05). Prebiotics (MOS, FOS, β-glucans) improved feed conversion by 3–11%. Symbiotic showed the greatest effectiveness in daily weight gain (100% of studies with positive results). The optimal dose identified was 2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg for probiotics and 0.1–0.5% for prebiotics. Conclusion. Probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic are effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters, with Bacillus subtilis PS-216 and commercial symbiotic being the most consistent options for improving production parameters in poultry. General Area of Study: Veterinary medicine. Specific area of study: Animal Nutrition. Type of study: Systematic bibliographic review.
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Morocho Parra, J. A., & Núñez Torres , O. P. (2026). Systematic review of the effect of probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotic on production variables in poultry. ConcienciaDigital, 9(4), 122-138. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v9i4.3798
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References
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Nabila, T. I., Adriani, L., Latipudin, D., Mushawwir, A., & Mayasari, N. (2023). Egg quality and production by the addition of dried consortium probiotics on late-phase laying hens. Livestock and Animal Research, 21(2), 103. https://doi.org/10.20961/lar.v21i2.71956
Obianwuna, U. E., Chang, X. Y., Wang, J., Zhang, H. J., Qi, G. H., Qiu, K., & Wu, S. G. (2022). Dietary fructooligosaccharides effectively facilitate the production of high-quality eggs via improving the physiological status of laying hens. Foods, 11(13), 1828. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11131828
Obianwuna, U. E., Qiu, K., Wang, J., Zhang, H. J., Qi, G. H., Huang, L. L., & Wu, S. G. (2023). Effects of dietary clostridium butyricum and fructooligosaccharides, alone or in combination, on performance, egg quality, amino acid digestibility, jejunal morphology, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of laying hens. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1125897. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1125897
Oketch, E. O., Yu, M., Hong, J. S., Chaturanga, N. C., Seo, E., Lee, H., Hermes, R. G., Smeets, N., Taechavasonyoo, A., Kirwan, S., Rodriguez-Sanchez, R., & Heo, J. M. (2024). Laying hen responses to multi-strain bacillus-based probiotic supplementation from 25 to 37 weeks of age. Animal Bioscience, 37(8), 1418-1427. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.23.0495
Pongmanee, K., Rassmidatta, K., Lee, T.-Y., Lin, J.-S., Chaosap, C., Adeyemi, K. D., & Ruangpanit, Y. (2026). Influence of synbiotic supplementation on performance, fecal consistency, cecal microbiome, and egg quality of hens during late laying phase. Poultry Science, 105(6), 106851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106851
Puncharoen, S., Poeikampha, T., & Poungpong, K. (2024). Effect of probiotic supplementation in diet on egg production, egg quality, intestinal morphology and bacterial population in caecum of laying hens. Trends in Sciences, 21(12), 8445. https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2024.8445
Rao, Z., Li, Y., Yang, X., Guo, Y., Zhang, W., & Wang, Z. (2024). Diet xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation improves growth performance, immune function, and intestinal health of broilers. Animal Nutrition, 17, 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2024.01.004
Ray, B. C., Chowdhury, S. D., Das, S. C., Dey, B., Khatun, A., Roy, B., & Siddik, M. A. (2022). Comparative effects of feeding single- and multi-strain probiotics to commercial layers on the productive performance and egg quality indices. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 31(3), 100257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2022.100257
Salem, F. M., & El-Dayem, A. A. A. (2024). The effectiveness of Bio-plus2B®, Techno Mos® and their mixture on the rate of egg production, egg characteristics, retention of nutrients and blood metabolites through the early period of production. BMC Veterinary Research, 20(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-03900-8
Teng, P.-Y., Adhikari, R. B., Llamas-Moya, S., & Kim, W. K. (2021). Effects of combination of mannan-oligosaccharides and β-glucan on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and immune gene expression in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 100(12), 101483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101483
Upadhaya, S. D., Rudeaux, F., & Kim, I. H. (2019). Efficacy of dietary Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation continuously in pullet and lay period on egg production, excreta microflora, and egg quality of Hyline-Brown birds. Poultry Science, 98(10), 4722-4728. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez184
Wang, W., Dang, G., Hao, W., Li, A. P., Zhang, H., Guan, S., & Ma, T. (2024). Dietary supplementation of compound probiotics improves intestinal health by modulated microbiota and its SCFA products as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 17(4), 1969-1984. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-024-10314-3
Wen, F., Wang, F., Li, P., Shi, H., & Liu, N. (2022). Effect of xylo-oligosaccharides on reproduction, lipid metabolism, and adipokines of hens during the late egg‐laying period. Animal Bioscience, 35(11), 1744-1751. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.22.0049
Yadav, S., & Jha, R. (2019). Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota and their effects on nutrient utilization, performance, and health of poultry. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 10(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-018-0310-9
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Younis, J. H., Karadaş, F., & Beski, S. S. M. (2024). The effects of different level of synbiotic supplementation in diet of broiler on growth performance, intestinal histology and microbial colony. Archives of Razi Institute, 79(6), 1227-1234. https://doi.org/10.32592/ari.2024.79.6.1227
Youssef, I. M., Aldhalmi, A. K., Felemban, S. G., Elsherbeni, A. I., Khalil, H. A., Hassan, M. S., Abd El Halim, H. S., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Youssef, K. M., Swelum, A. A., Tufarelli, V., & Abo-Samra, M. A. (2024). Mannan oligosaccharides as a prebiotic for laying hens: Effects on fertility, hatchability, productive performance, and immunity. Translational Animal Science, 8, txae123. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txae123
Zhang, L., Zhang, R., Jia, H., Zhu, Z., Li, H., & Ma, Y. (2021). Supplementation of probiotics in water beneficial growth performance, carcass traits, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens. Open Life Sciences, 16(1), 311-322. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0031
Zhou, J., Wu, S., Qi, G., Fu, Y., Wang, W., Zhang, H., & Wang, J. (2021). Dietary supplemental xylooligosaccharide modulates nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota in laying hens. Animal Nutrition, 7(1XZ), 152-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.05.010
Alsherify, S. M., & Hassanabadi, A. (2024). Effects of adding different levels of fructooligosaccharide to diet on productive performance, egg quality traits, immune response and blood metabolites in commercial laying hens. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 10(5), e1550. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1550
Al‐Sheraji, S. H., Ismail, A., Manap, M. Y. A., Mustafa, S., Yusof, R. M., & Hassan, F. A. (2013). Prebiotics as functional foods: A review. Journal of Functional Foods, 5(4), 1542-1553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2013.08.009
Awaluddin, A., Rahardja, D. P., & Mujnisa, A. (2025). The effects of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on the performance, small intestinal morphometry, and carcass traits of broiler chicken. Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences, 13(2), 485-493. https://doi.org/10.22194/jgias/25.1553
Baurhoo, B., Ferket, P. R., & Zhao, X. (2009). Effects of diets containing different concentrations of mannanoligosaccharide or antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal development, cecal and litter microbial populations, and carcass parameters of broilers. Poultry Science, 88(11), 2262-2272. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2008-00562
Bilal, M., El-Fateh, M., Arfan, H. M., & Zhao, X. (2026). Meta-analysis of probiotic effects on broiler performance: Bacillus outperforms lactobacillus with enhanced and longer efficacy in developing regions. Poultry Science, 105(6), 106854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106854
Biswas, S., Kim, M. H., Baek, D. H., & Kim, I. H. (2022). Probiotic mixture (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) a potential in‐feed additive to improve broiler production efficiency, nutrient digestibility, caecal microflora, meat quality and to diminish hazardous odour emission. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 107(4), 1065-1072. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13784
Castañón, J. I. R. (2007). History of the use of antibiotic as growth promoters in European poultry feeds. Poultry Science, 86(11), 2466-2471. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2007-00249
Cheng, G., Hao, H., Xie, S., Wang, X., Dai, M., Huang, L., & Yuan, Z. (2014). Antibiotic alternatives: The substitution of antibiotics in animal husbandry? Frontiers in Microbiology, 5, 217. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00217
Elleithy, E. M. M., Bawish, B. M., Kamel, S., Ismael, E., Bashir, D. W., Hamza, D., & Fahmy, K. N. E. (2023). Influence of dietary Bacillus coagulans and/or Bacillus licheniformis-based probiotics on performance, gut health, gene expression, and litter quality of broiler chickens. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(1), 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03453-2
Gouvêa, R., dos Santos, F. F., de Aquino, M., & Pereira VL de, A. (2015). Fluoroquinolones in industrial poultry production, bacterial resistance and food residues: a review. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 17(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-635x17011-10
Khomayezi, R., & Adewole, D. (2021). Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics: An overview of their delivery routes and effects on growth and health of broiler chickens. World S Poultry Science Journal, 78(1), 57-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2022.1988804
Khosravi, A., Boldaji, F., Dastar, B., Torshizi, M. A. K., Alemi, M., & Hoseinifar, S. H. (2025). A synbiotic improves performance and gut health in broiler chickens. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 19164. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04459-6
Li, C. L., Wang, J., Zhang, H. J., Wu, S. G., Hui, Q. R., Yang, C. B., Fang, R. J., & Qi, G. H. (2019). Intestinal morphologic and microbiota responses to dietary bacillus spp. in a broiler chicken model. Frontiers in Physiology, 9, 1968. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01968
Nabila, T. I., Adriani, L., Latipudin, D., Mushawwir, A., & Mayasari, N. (2023). Egg quality and production by the addition of dried consortium probiotics on late-phase laying hens. Livestock and Animal Research, 21(2), 103. https://doi.org/10.20961/lar.v21i2.71956
Obianwuna, U. E., Chang, X. Y., Wang, J., Zhang, H. J., Qi, G. H., Qiu, K., & Wu, S. G. (2022). Dietary fructooligosaccharides effectively facilitate the production of high-quality eggs via improving the physiological status of laying hens. Foods, 11(13), 1828. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11131828
Obianwuna, U. E., Qiu, K., Wang, J., Zhang, H. J., Qi, G. H., Huang, L. L., & Wu, S. G. (2023). Effects of dietary clostridium butyricum and fructooligosaccharides, alone or in combination, on performance, egg quality, amino acid digestibility, jejunal morphology, immune function, and antioxidant capacity of laying hens. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1125897. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1125897
Oketch, E. O., Yu, M., Hong, J. S., Chaturanga, N. C., Seo, E., Lee, H., Hermes, R. G., Smeets, N., Taechavasonyoo, A., Kirwan, S., Rodriguez-Sanchez, R., & Heo, J. M. (2024). Laying hen responses to multi-strain bacillus-based probiotic supplementation from 25 to 37 weeks of age. Animal Bioscience, 37(8), 1418-1427. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.23.0495
Pongmanee, K., Rassmidatta, K., Lee, T.-Y., Lin, J.-S., Chaosap, C., Adeyemi, K. D., & Ruangpanit, Y. (2026). Influence of synbiotic supplementation on performance, fecal consistency, cecal microbiome, and egg quality of hens during late laying phase. Poultry Science, 105(6), 106851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.106851
Puncharoen, S., Poeikampha, T., & Poungpong, K. (2024). Effect of probiotic supplementation in diet on egg production, egg quality, intestinal morphology and bacterial population in caecum of laying hens. Trends in Sciences, 21(12), 8445. https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2024.8445
Rao, Z., Li, Y., Yang, X., Guo, Y., Zhang, W., & Wang, Z. (2024). Diet xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation improves growth performance, immune function, and intestinal health of broilers. Animal Nutrition, 17, 165-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2024.01.004
Ray, B. C., Chowdhury, S. D., Das, S. C., Dey, B., Khatun, A., Roy, B., & Siddik, M. A. (2022). Comparative effects of feeding single- and multi-strain probiotics to commercial layers on the productive performance and egg quality indices. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 31(3), 100257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2022.100257
Salem, F. M., & El-Dayem, A. A. A. (2024). The effectiveness of Bio-plus2B®, Techno Mos® and their mixture on the rate of egg production, egg characteristics, retention of nutrients and blood metabolites through the early period of production. BMC Veterinary Research, 20(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-03900-8
Teng, P.-Y., Adhikari, R. B., Llamas-Moya, S., & Kim, W. K. (2021). Effects of combination of mannan-oligosaccharides and β-glucan on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and immune gene expression in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 100(12), 101483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101483
Upadhaya, S. D., Rudeaux, F., & Kim, I. H. (2019). Efficacy of dietary Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis supplementation continuously in pullet and lay period on egg production, excreta microflora, and egg quality of Hyline-Brown birds. Poultry Science, 98(10), 4722-4728. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez184
Wang, W., Dang, G., Hao, W., Li, A. P., Zhang, H., Guan, S., & Ma, T. (2024). Dietary supplementation of compound probiotics improves intestinal health by modulated microbiota and its SCFA products as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 17(4), 1969-1984. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-024-10314-3
Wen, F., Wang, F., Li, P., Shi, H., & Liu, N. (2022). Effect of xylo-oligosaccharides on reproduction, lipid metabolism, and adipokines of hens during the late egg‐laying period. Animal Bioscience, 35(11), 1744-1751. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.22.0049
Yadav, S., & Jha, R. (2019). Strategies to modulate the intestinal microbiota and their effects on nutrient utilization, performance, and health of poultry. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 10(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-018-0310-9
Yang, C., Tang, X. W., Liu, X., Yang, H., Bin, D. M., Liu, H. J., Tang, Q. H., & Tang, J. Y. (2022). Effects of dietary oligosaccharides on serum biochemical index, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant status in broilers. Animal Science Journal, 93(1), e13679. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13679
Younis, J. H., Karadaş, F., & Beski, S. S. M. (2024). The effects of different level of synbiotic supplementation in diet of broiler on growth performance, intestinal histology and microbial colony. Archives of Razi Institute, 79(6), 1227-1234. https://doi.org/10.32592/ari.2024.79.6.1227
Youssef, I. M., Aldhalmi, A. K., Felemban, S. G., Elsherbeni, A. I., Khalil, H. A., Hassan, M. S., Abd El Halim, H. S., Abd El-Hack, M. E., Youssef, K. M., Swelum, A. A., Tufarelli, V., & Abo-Samra, M. A. (2024). Mannan oligosaccharides as a prebiotic for laying hens: Effects on fertility, hatchability, productive performance, and immunity. Translational Animal Science, 8, txae123. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txae123
Zhang, L., Zhang, R., Jia, H., Zhu, Z., Li, H., & Ma, Y. (2021). Supplementation of probiotics in water beneficial growth performance, carcass traits, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens. Open Life Sciences, 16(1), 311-322. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0031
Zhou, J., Wu, S., Qi, G., Fu, Y., Wang, W., Zhang, H., & Wang, J. (2021). Dietary supplemental xylooligosaccharide modulates nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota in laying hens. Animal Nutrition, 7(1XZ), 152-162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2020.05.010