Successful poultry management is determined not only by the use of high-quality feed, but also by the ability to maintain intestinal health.

Digestive tract disorders remain one of the biggest challenges in the poultry industry. In the field, farmers often encounter chickens suffering from diarrhea, reduced appetite, uneven growth, and declining production performance without any obvious cause. One condition that is relatively common is dysbacteriosis.

To explore the topic further, the Poultry Indonesia team interviewed Jimmy Oktobrian Silitonga, Technical Service Staff at PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia, in a written interview on Tuesday (May 26). During the interview, he explained that dysbacteriosis is a condition in which the balance of microbiota in a chicken’s digestive tract is disrupted. Normal flora that should help maintain intestinal health instead proliferates excessively and becomes opportunistic pathogens.

“Dysbacteriosis is a condition in which normal flora bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Clostridium increase in number and become pathogens that infect the chicken’s digestive tract,” he explained.

This condition should not be taken lightly. When microbiota imbalance persists for an extended period without proper treatment, chronic infections of the digestive tract can occur and gradually reduce poultry performance.

The Urgency of Microbiota Balance

According to Jimmy, in modern poultry production, performance is strongly influenced by the chicken’s ability to consume and absorb nutrients optimally. Good feed intake is an important indicator of growth in broilers and egg production in layers.

However, when the microbiota balance is disrupted, nutrient absorption is also impaired. An inflamed intestine cannot function optimally in absorbing protein, energy, minerals, and other essential nutrients.

“Continuous impairment of nutrient absorption can lead to stunted growth or reduced Average Daily Gain (ADG) in broilers, as well as decreased egg production in layers,” Jimmy explained.

As a result, chickens gradually experience declining performance. Growth becomes suboptimal, feed conversion deteriorates, and chickens become more susceptible to immunosuppression. If the condition persists, chickens become increasingly vulnerable to other diseases.

“There are quite a few cases in the field that initially appear to be nothing more than mild digestive disorders but eventually develop into outbreaks because horizontal transmission within the house occurs very rapidly.”

This article is an excerpt from the Health section of Poultry Indonesia magazine, August 2026 edition. Read the full article in the Poultry Indonesia Magazine, August 2026 Edition, and for subscriptions or further information, contact us via WhatsApp or sirkulasipoultry@gmail.com.

Get more information about Indonesia’s poultry industry by joining us on the Satwa Media Group WhatsApp Channel