Potential of Organic Acids, Essential Oils and Their Blends in Pig Diets as Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters

Simple Summary Organic acids and essential oils have been shown to be effective alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in pig production. Organic acids and essential oils have antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. The article will focus on the effectiveness of organic acids, essential oils, and their blends in pig diets as alternative antibiotic growth promoters. Furthermore, the effects of organic acids, essential oils, and their blends on growth performance, oxidative stress, and meat quality are examined. Organic acids and essential oils, which have antimicrobial properties, can be used in place of antibiotic growth promoters. The use of organic acids and essential oils as growth promoters enhances pig welfare and aids in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.Abstract Over the years, the use of management and feeding strategies to enhance pig productivity while minimizing the use of antibiotic growth promoters has grown. Antibiotic growth promoters have been widely used as feed additives to reduce diet-related stress and improve pig performance. However, increasing concern about the consequences of long-term and increased use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal production has led to a paradigm shift towards the use of natural organic alternatives such as plant essential oils and organic acids in pig nutrition to enhance growth. Antibiotic growth promoters endanger human health by allowing multidrug-resistant genes to be transferred horizontally from non-pathogenic to pathogenic bacteria, as well as directly between animals and humans. Scientific research shows that alternative growth promoters such as essential oils and organic acids appear to improve pigs' ability to prevent pathogenic bacteria from colonizing the intestinal system, stabilizing the gut microflora and promoting eubiosis, as well as improving immunity and antioxidant stability. The purpose of this review was to provide an in-depth review of organic acids and essential oils as growth promoters in pig production, as well as their effects on productivity and meat quality. Organic acids and essential oils in pig diets are a safe way to improve pig performance and welfare while producing antibiotic-free pork.