Research advances on the beneficial effects of plant polyphenols on intestinal health in farm animals

Intestinal diseases cause huge economic losses in farm animals, and the gut health of livestock and poultry is of great significance for livestock and poultry breeding. The traditional treatment of livestock and poultry involved large-scale use of antibiotics and led to antibiotic abuse. The replacement of antibiotics is an industrial demand, and plant polyphenols, as one of the non-toxic side effects and residues of antibiotics, have wide applications in livestock and poultry production and diseases. As a non-traditional nutrient with many advantages, plant polyphenols have great potential and great research value. This article summarizes research advances on the beneficial effects of plant polyphenols on intestinal health in farm animals from three aspects: the application of plant polyphenols as antibiotic substitutes in livestock and poultry production, the protective effects of plant polyphenols on the intestinal tract of livestock and poultry, and the protective mechanism.