In birds, dietary fatty acids are secreted as portomicrons into the portal blood stream. Portomicrons pass through the liver before reaching the rest of the circulation due to their direct entry into the portal blood stream. This trait causes fat build-up in the liver in birds and exposes the liver to a variety of pathogenic agents and poisons. Liver diseases have far-reaching effects on the performance and health of birds. Hepatosis, necrosis, fatty liver, hepatitis, and cholangitis are the pathological abnormalities that ensue.

1. The liver performs many complex functions to maintain homeostasis (harmony among all the systems of the body). When the liver is affected due to any reason, efficiency of the liver comes down in detoxification and metabolic processes. This, in turn, affects the overall performance of the bird, whether it be a broiler, breeder or layer.


2. The nutritionists have been using the phytogenics in recent times to ameliorate the liver dysfunctions and to promote better liver health. These active ingredients act as hepatoprotective, hepatostimulative and hepatoregenerative in action, thus taking care of the overall health of the liver.