Indonesia has great potential in the wealth of spices or medicinal plants. The increasing demand and the amount of information about herbal products mean the effective use of herbs in livestock. Giving herbal products is considered useful to support livestock productivity. Some breeders utilize herbs to reduce the use of supplements or chemical drugs. Because without the provision of supplements or drugs in the maintenance of chickens will arise a serious problem, namely a decrease in production or even death. In the end, farmers will suffer economic losses. Therefore, herbs began to be widely used by breeders.
Chicken Health Problems
In running a livestock business sometimes productivity targets have not been achieved, one of them is due to health factors. Of course, we need to study further about the causes and solutions that must be done so that they can be anticipated in the next period.
What about the disease situation during the period from 2020 to mid-2021? The following are the results of the evaluation and summary of the team Technical Education and Consultation Medion is expected to be useful for farmers to prepare anticipatory and preventive measures in the next period.
From graphs 1 and 2, it can be seen that the attack of bacterial diseases on farms is still dominated by CRD, Coryza, Colibacillosis, and complex CRD. While Gumboro, ND, IBH and AI are still the prima donna of viral diseases. Also seen in graphs 1 and 2, some of the diseases that rank in the top 7 are almost all diseases that affect breathing and digestion.
With the trend of cases of disease attacks on broilers and laying hens, many occur in the rainy season and during the transition/ change of weather.
Potential of Herbal Product Utilization
Our country is known for its biological wealth of medicinal plants, and cultural heritage in the use of medicinal plants. The “back to nature” lifestyle is on the rise among people. No exception is also in the use of health therapy in farm animals. Moreover, some farmers reported a decline in production performance after the AGP ban policy was implemented. Therefore, currently began to be developed various types of alternative AGP, one of which is herbal plants. But keep in mind if the administration should not be arbitrary because it can reduce the potential content of the plant. Must be considered in terms of manufacturing process, dosage, and handling of finished products.
Herbal programs can also be used as supporting health programs. The preparation and implementation of the herbal program aims to prevent disease, improve health and accelerate recovery if livestock is attacked by disease. This herbal Program is not standard, but can vary in one farm with the farm the others. It can be adapted to the breed of chickens, the purpose of Use and the conditions during maintenance.
Herbs have the effect of helping to reduce the risk of stress and disease in chickens. However, the provision is not to overcome completely so it is recommended as a preventive measure so that the benefits are more optimal. The provision also needs to be continuous so that the goal as a preventive measure can be achieved.
So far, several plant extracts are known to have various nutrients and chemical compounds (bioactive substances) that are nutritious and able to function as supplements, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antiprotozoa.
The use of chemical drugs is already commonly used in the community, but has not been accompanied by strict control so that farmers can be found using drugs that do not fit the rules of use (eg: less precise dosage, length of administration exceeds the specified limit), as a result the possibility of resistance is higher when compared with herbal medicines that are range wide and unproven doses can cause resistance. Standardized herbal medicines are an alternative to chemicals where quality is guaranteed, their effectiveness is proven through research and of course safe.
Improvement of metabolism through the administration of herbs will indirectly improve the performance of livestock through bioactive substances they contain. Thus, livestock will be healthier because it has a better immune system, and according to the observations of farmers the aroma of meat and chicken eggs are given herbs are not fishy compared to chickens that are not given herbs (Zainuddin and Wakradihardja, 2001 in Agustina, 2006).
Benefits and advantages of Herbal medicine
So far, it is known that herbal plants have various nutrients and chemical compounds that are efficacious. Some breeders utilize herbs to reduce the use of supplements or chemical drugs. Therefore it is necessary to look for alternative natural sources (herbal) as a substitution of chemical drugs both in feed and in drinking water. The benefits and advantages of herbal medicine for poultry are some examples such as :
a. As antibacterial and antiprotozoal
Active substances contained in herbal extracts can function as antibacterial by damaging cell membranes and bacterial cell walls that cause bacterial cell death. The content of herbal active substances can also act as antiprotozoa, especially as antkoksidia by killing coccidia in the breeding phase both sexual and asexual phases. It will also protect the intestinal fili - fili so that sporozoites / coccidia penetrate and infect the intestine. Examples of products are Fithera which is a liquid natural medicine to help treat diseases caused by bacterial infections in poultry such as coccidiosis, coryza, CRD, and colibacillosis.
b. As a supplement
- Enhances appetite
The active substances in herbal extracts can work by accelerating the process of metabolism (digestion) of nutrients through stimulation of the work of digestive enzymes, as well as increased secretion of bile glands to accelerate the breakdown of nutrients, especially fat. The effect, the stomach empties faster and the chicken's appetite will increase (Handayani and Maryani, 2002). The active substance content is also able to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract by disrupting the permeability of cell membranes (Oomah, 2000). Examples of herbal products that have been widely used by farmers are Kumavit. Kumavit as an herbal supplement to increase appetite, increase endurance, and prevent stress.
- Stimulate the immune system or immunomodulators
Herbs as immunostimulants or immunomodulators work by increasing the work of the immune system by increasing the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells, stimulating the chicken's body to produce more humoral immunity (B-lymphocyte cells) and cellular immunity (T-lymphocyte cells). With the provision of immunostimulants since the beginning of maintenance will be better because the immunity or immune system of chickens will be more optimal. In addition, the administration of herbs before and after vaccination also serves to accelerate the increase in antibody titers from vaccination. Immunomodulators can also be given when chickens are sick to speed up the health recovery process.
- Maintain the digestive tract and accelerate growth
An alternative product that effectively optimizes FCR by increasing the production of digestive enzymes so that the absorption of feed nutrients is more optimal. Usage Fasbro it can also improve the carcass weight and carcass physical quality and accelerate the growth of chickens broiler.
Current challenges, due to the Prohibition of use antibiotik growth promoter (AGP) and anticoxidia in the ration are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract due to pathogenic bacteria. This condition can cause rations with ideal nutrient content can not be digested and absorbed optimally. Fasbro is one of the Medion products with herbal content that can be used to replace the AGP function. Fasbro also plays a role in improving the body's metabolism so that the formation of meat and bones in the carcass is better. Active substances in herbal extracts Fasbro also serves to prevent the formation of fatty acids in the liver so that cholesterol levels in meat are lower.
- Protects liver function
Herbal extracts can function to protect liver cells from damage (hepatoprotectors) such as exposure to mycotoxins, drugs, or other things. If the liver is already damaged, it can cause impaired metabolism, toxins in the body accumulate, and if the disease will be difficult to recover because the immune system decreases. So it needs supplements to protect liver function such as Heprofit.
- Restores Energy.
The source of sugar contained in herbs serves as a source of energy. The sugar source will be broken down into energy to help the poultry energy recovery when needed. Some factors that cause reduced energy in the body include dehydration due to travel / transportation, stress factors, poor feed quality and disease seedling attacks. The condition of lack of energy will certainly be bad for chickens such as weakness, stunted growth, and stunted metabolism. To anticipate this can be given Gingertol to restore energy so that the chicken is refreshed and performance remains optimal.
c. As a supporting
- Overcoming respiratory disorders
Herbs can work as anti-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory, decreasing mucous or mucous secretions and thinning phlegm. So it will help overcome respiratory disorders, especially due to infectious diseases such as bacterial infections (CRD and coryza) serta viral (ILT, ND, IB). With this mechanism of action, herbs can also help overcome respiratory disorders due to post-vaccination reactions to active vaccines such as ILT, ND and IB. For example Respitoran which is to help overcome respiratory disorders in poultry either due to infection or as an effect post- vaccination.
- Controlling ammonia
Glycocomponents contained in herbal extracts will bind ammonia formed from protein metabolic waste into a form that does not evaporate and is not toxic so that the smell of ammonia is reduced. Such components as those contained in the herbal extracts of the product Ammotrol. In addition to the content of glycocomponents, Ammotrol also contains steroidal saponin components that can increase the permeability of the intestinal wall so that nutrients are easily absorbed which leads to efficient use of the ration and increased body weight.
- To optimize the health of the gastrointestinal tract in feed additives
Herbs can have immunomodulatory activity that is able to increase endurance so that it helps in improving performance and reducing mortality in chickens. It also improves performance by suppressing pathogenic microbes in the digestive tract. Optigrin it is a natural medicine in the form of powder that is mixed in the feed to improve the performance of chickens and the body's resistance to disease.
Herbal Standard
Standardized herbal medicines are made from plant extracts with pre-clinical tests carried out for scientific proof of the standard content of efficacious ingredients, standards for the manufacture of medicinal plant extracts, standards for the manufacture of hygienic drugs and acute and chronic toxicity tests. In the manufacturing process, OHT already uses complex equipment.
Some of the practices of giving herbs that are commonly done by farmers, for example giving temulawak and turmeric to increase chicken appetite, ginger to increase stamina, betel leaves for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, papaya leaves to treat diseases leucocytozoonosis, betel nut to treat worms, and many other examples. The application of the administration can also be in the form of powder/flour or solution mixed in drinking water or ration.
In the use of herbal products, of course, those that meet the standards are selected to be safe and provide optimal benefits. In the development of herbal products it is important to pay attention to the following points:
(a) plant cultivation
In the use of herbal products, it is necessary to provide continuous and continuous raw materials so that herbal production does not stop.
(B) standardization of raw materials
To meet the standardization of raw materials required the existence of pharmacological science, especially in the field of extraction, analysis, and process technology so as to make raw materials that can be accounted for quality and kemempirisan (test data) chemical content. In addition, the quality of herbs also varies greatly depending on the planting conditions, age and time of harvest, handling during harvest, and storage.
(c) application and dose of administration
One of the principles of treatment of the disease is proper dosage. Similarly, in the application of herbal ingredients, the dosage used must be consistent and not based on “trial and error” doses so that the active substance can work optimally.
(d) manufacturing process
It is not an easy process to make herbal concoctions. Not infrequently mistakes in the manufacturing process actually damage the chemicals contained in the herbal ingredients. Some drug companies use special technologies, such as cold extraction technology, to protect the active substances of herbs from being damaged by heating.
(e) handling of finished products
Just as with factory synthetic products, herbal products must be stored in good conditions. Otherwise, the product will be at risk of contamination and damage.
Herbal Health Program
The provision of supplements or drugs for chickens on a farm has become mandatory, even programmed routinely. Herbal Program can be used as a support to develop a health program. In its use should choose herbal products that have been standardized. Several veterinary drug companies, including Medion, have developed several herbal products that are safe and standardized, both the quality of raw materials and finished products.
A sample table of the general guidelines for the Herbal broiler Health Program can be downloaded from the Medion website. Vaccination and medication programs are not standard, but can vary in one farm with the farm the others. This can be adjusted to the history of disease and conditions in the field.
When this chick needs to be given Gingertol to help restore DOC's energy lost during the trip so that it can be refreshed and performance remains optimal. Next, giving Imustim aimed at stimulation of the immune system. The administration of immunostimulants early or at the beginning of maintenance provides excellent benefits. Then Fithera can also be added When the condition of the DOC is less fit.
In the second week of maintenance, giving Kumavit is a good choice for natural improvement of chicken performance. This is because Kumavit it can increase appetite and improve the absorption of food substances in the digestive tract so that the development of the digestive tract becomes optimal. Then giving Fithera useful as cleaning program given the high cases of bacterial diseases (Korisa, CRD, Colibacillosis) and protozoa (coccidiosis) in chickens broiler still an enemy to the world of animal husbandry.
In the third week of preservation, give Imustim after vaccination as an immunostimulant that can accelerate the increase in antibody titer vaccination results. In addition, Imustim can be given when chickens are sick to speed up the health recovery process. Pemberian Kumavit or Fasbro serves to increase appetite and endurance, improve the absorption of food substances and prevent stress. Should also be given Ammotrol because the amount of feces produced at that age is more so that the ammonia produced will increase.
Giving herbs to livestock has a good impact on increasing productivity and healthier livestock. Many standardized herbal products can be used to optimize livestock health. Chicken health Program using herbal products is good to be applied during maintenance. Good luck.
