In modern production systems, farm animals face multiple stressors, such as heat, density, transport, and weaning, that compromise welfare, immunity, and performance. These challenges not only affect behavior and productivity but also lead to economic losses and raise consumer concerns about animal welfare and sustainable practices. By offering a multi-faceted and natural approach, phytogenics emerge as a relevant and sustainable strategy to improve performance, while contributing to overall health and enhanced animal welfare.
PHYTOGENICS: WHAT ARE THEY?
Phytogenics, also known as “phytobiotics” or “phytogenic feed additives”, are derived from various parts of plants like herbs, spices and plant extracts and contain a vast array of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids or alkaloids.
These compounds exert their beneficial effects through multiple mechanisms, directly impacting key physiological systems and health status:
- Botanicals and spices: Such as oregano, ginger and garlic, used for their aromatic, savory, or biological properties.
- Plant extracts: Complex mixtures of active compounds obtained from various parts of plants (roots, leaves, flowers, fruits), for specific active components like flavonoids, saponins, or alkaloids.
- Essential oils: Concentrated liquids containing volatile compounds from plants (e.g., carvacrol from oregano, thymol from thyme, cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon), extracted through distillation or mechanical pressing.
The efficacy of phytogenics comes from their diverse array of key active principles and their complex mechanisms of action. These compounds work synergistically to exert a multitude of beneficial effects within the animal’s body:
- Antioxidant properties: Many phytogenic compounds, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, are powerful antioxidants. They neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress in animals, which can be particularly high during periods of stress, rapid growth, weaning or disease challenges. This helps to protect cells and tissues from damage, improving overall health and resilience.
- Antimicrobial activity: Essential oils and plant extracts often exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against various bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This can help to control pathogenic microbial populations in the gut, reducing the incidence of enteric diseases and promoting a balanced gut microbiome.
- Improved digestibility and nutrient absorption: Some phytogenics stimulate the secretion of digestive enzymes and support gut morphology (villus height, crypt depth…). This leads to better digestion and absorption of nutrients from the feed, translating into improved feed efficiency and growth performance.
- Intake stimulation: The aromatic compounds in essential oils can enhance the palatability of feed, encouraging higher feed intake, especially during stressful periods or transitions, thereby supporting consistent growth.
- Stress management: Certain botanicals, such as passion flower, contribute significantly to improving animal well-being. They may exhibit anxiolytic and calming effects by modulating neurotransmitter systems like the GABAergic system. Their ability to support the antioxidant and natural defense system also help mitigate the negative effects of stress. By reducing the overall stress load on animals, phytogenics can lead to improved behavioral well-being, promoting more natural and less aggressive interactions and contributing to a calmer and more harmonious environment within the animal group.
TECHNA’S EXPERTISE IN FORMULATING SOLUTIONS
At Techna, we use a science-driven approach to developing phytogenic products. The methodology is rooted in a deep understanding of botanicals, animal physiology, and the specific challenges faced by agricultural production sectors.
Techna develops phytogenic feed additives by starting in the field, with the identification of specific zootechnical or health problems. The scientific team, composed of veterinarians and animal nutritionists, works closely with farmers and animal specialists to understand the precise challenges faced by animals. This real-world insight guides the research and development, ensuring the solutions directly address the problematics on the ground.
The core of the expertise lies in the in-depth knowledge of over 100 active ingredients. The botanical experts possess an extensive understanding of plant biochemistry and physiology, knowing the active compounds responsible for biological effects and the most potent parts of plants.
The development process is backed by rigorous scientific research, which is continuously updated through ongoing research and analysis. It also includes collaborations with universities and research institutes for in-vitro trials, to measure biological indicators and biochemical effects of individual active substances. This allows not only to select the most active components, but also to understand the precise mechanism of action by which the phytogenics exert their benefits.
This expertise draws on decades of mastery in the synergy of botanical components. The individual active components and botanicals are combined to create sophisticated blends where compounds interact to enhance each other’s efficacy, often leading to more potent and balanced outcomes than single-ingredient approaches.
These product combinations are tested in vivo through research programs and in experimental stations, as well as approved in commercial field trials to confirm their zootechnical benefits under diverse practical conditions.
In addition, Techna works on designing optimal delivery methods to ensure maximum bioavailability and efficacy within the animal.
ENCAPSULATION OF PLANT-BASED ACTIVES
Techna has developed expertise in protecting and delivering natural active ingredients with precision. This capability is a key differentiator, as the encapsulation of these compounds plays a strategic role in ensuring their effectiveness. This technology involves enclosing one or more active principles within a protective matrix, creating a physical barrier that isolates them from their external environment. Encapsulation aims to protect these sensitive compounds, which are often fragile when exposed to oxygen, light, digestive pH, or enzymes. Thanks to adapted matrices, the active ingredients maintain their integrity from their incorporation until their release at the intended site of action (intestine, rumen, or other). This not only ensures better bioavailability but also prolonged and repeatable efficacy over time.
Beyond simple protection, encapsulation is also a tool for functional precision. It allows for controlled release (immediate, prolonged, or delayed), which can be adapted to the specific needs of the animal or technical constraints (mode of administration, solid or liquid formulation, stability in premix or complete feed). This level of mastery is the result of continuous research in galenic, coupled with rigorous in vitro trials conducted in collaboration with research institutes and field partners.
ADJUSTING KINETICS TO MAXIMIZE FUNCTIONAL EFFICACY
In line with its advanced galenic approach, Techna’s Innovation department has dedicated several years to the comparative study of various encapsulation matrices, including cellulosic, lipid, and protein-based materials. The goal was to adapt the release mode of plant extracts to the specific physiological needs of the target animal species. This work has enabled us to design and validate, within our laboratory, three innovative release kinetic profiles based on differentiated encapsulation and process, optimized by rigorous in vitro trials:
- CAPS-QR “Quick Release”: This allows for immediate release in the upper digestive tract. Ideal for fast-acting extracts (immune or antioxidant stimulation), it relies on matrices that disintegrate rapidly at neutral or acidic pH.
- CAPS-SR “Slow Release”: This ensures prolonged release throughout the entire digestive transit. Suited for active ingredients with sustained effects (natural anti-inflammatories, metabolic regulators), it uses coatings that modulate diffusion based on pH or enzymes.
- CAPS-DR “Delayed Release”: This targets specific areas of the lower digestive system, with delayed release allowing for local action (microbiota modulation, antimicrobial effect). It relies on coatings designed to resist the initial phases of digestion.
These differentiated galenic profiles offer flexibility in the use of plant extracts, allowing the release kinetics to be adapted to the biochemical nature of the active ingredient, the desired mode of action, and the animal’s physiological context. This functional release design capability, coupled with fine control over manufacturing processes, constitutes a major technological advantage for the development of new-generation natural solutions for the different species (ruminant and monogastric).
APPLICATIONS IN POULTRY AND SWINE
Gallicalm is a targeted phytogenic blend of aromatic substances and plant extracts, specifically formulated to control the negative effects of nervousness in poultry production. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in trials with laying hens, where it helped limit inappropriate behaviour such as feather pecking and scratching. Beyond behavioral improvements, Gallicalm also supports zootechnical performance (Figure 1). Robus Zen is a specialized mixture of aromatic substances and plant extracts designed to limit the negative effects of nervousness in pigs, such as biting or bullying. By promoting calmer social interactions, Robus Zen also helps improve growth performance on swine farms (Figure 2).
Both products reflect Techna’s scientific approach, leveraging botanical expertise, advanced formulation, and targeted delivery to support behavioral management in livestock.
Overall, phytogenic solutions have proven to be a natural and effective lever for addressing the multiple challenges of animal production. Beyond promoting animal welfare and reducing stress, their antioxidant, antimicrobial and digestive properties contribute also to improved feed efficiency, growth performance and overall herd and flock resilience. By acting on multiple physiological pathways, they serve as a valuable complement or alternative to conventional approaches, helping reduce antibiotics and synthetic inputs.
Backed by over 60 years of expertise in precision nutrition and natural health, Techna turns botanical science into practical solutions that support the livestock and feed industry in achieving optimal animal health, enhanced performance, and sustainable productivity.
About Jihane Guihard
As R&D Project Manager at Techna, Jihane Guihard holds an engineering degree in product design and brings over fifteen years of experience in developing nutritional solutions. She has built deep expertise in phytotherapy and aromatherapy, driving projects that enhance both product efficacy and zootechnical performance.
About Samira El Mafadi Jian Currently working as the Product Development Officer at Techna, Samira El Mafadi Jian holds a PhD in Food Process Engineering and brings over twenty years of expertise in the microencapsulation of active compounds. She has developed unique know-how in protecting and enhancing sensitive ingredients.