ISSUE FOCUS 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2025 solution combining high concentrations of active metabolites from both plants and marine algae, protected by proprietary micro-encapsulation technology. The formulation ensures superior concentration and stability compared to conventional solutions, integrating phytogenic compounds derived from thyme, cinnamon, and clove with phycogenic bioactives from Ascophyllum nodosum. In a 39-day trial at the University of Arkansas, male Cobb 500 broilers were raised on a standard US three-phase diet (Starter, Grower, Finisher). Starter feeds were pelleted and crumbled, while Grower and Finisher diets were fed as pellets - conditions that typically challenge the stability of volatile phytogenic compounds. NQ was applied at 100 g/ton from day 0 to day 39 in the treatment group, while the control group received the basal diet only (Figure 2). By the end of the trial, control birds achieved body weight gains close to their genetic potential. Yet, the NQ group gained an additional 57 grams per bird and improved feed conversion ratio by 2.1 points compared to controls. In practical terms, this meant that the supplemented birds not only matched but exceeded their genetic performance expectations for body weight, while moving closer to optimal feed efficiency. Economic analysis, based on prevailing US feedstuff prices, calculated a return on investment of 3:1 for the farm, demonstrating that the additional cost of supplementation was more than offset by gains in performance. Beyond growth and feed efficiency, NQ supplementation improved carcass and breast yields without increasing the incidence of meat quality defects such as woody breast or white striping. Other meat quality parameters, including pH, drip loss, and color, were unaffected, confirming that the performance improvements did not come at the expense of product quality. This trial is part of a broader body of evidence, with over 30 studies worldwide documenting the benefits of this second-generation technology across broilers, layers, and other species. The consistency of results, across different diets, climates, and feed processing methods, highlights one of the most important advantages of high-precision phytogenics: they work reliably in real-world conditions, not just in laboratory settings. A NEW STANDARD FOR POULTRY NUTRITION The evolution of phytogenics from generic herbal blends to high-precision, micro-encapsulated formulations marks a decisive turning point in poultry nutrition. The first generation played an important pioneering role, introducing the concept of plantbased performance enhancers and paving the way for antibiotic-free production. But the demands of modern farming, greater transparency, consistent efficacy, worker safety, and demonstrable economic returns, have rendered many of these older solutions obsolete. Second-generation phytogenics, exemplified by products like NQ technology, offer a fundamentally different value proposition. They combine carefully selected plant and algae bioactives, produced and Performance 3116 3102 3159 3060 3080 3100 3120 3140 3160 3180 Cobb D39 NC NQ BWG, g x y +1,8% 1,48 1,513 1,492 1,46 1,47 1,48 1,49 1,5 1,51 1,52 Cobb D39 NC NQ FCR a b -1,4% Figure 2
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