🐓 Natural Poultry Feed Ingredients: Fenugreek, Ginger & Solanum glaucophyllum (Natural Vitamin D)
As demand grows for cleaner, safer and more natural animal nutrition solutions, poultry producers are increasingly turning to plant-based feed additives. These ingredients provide functional benefits such as improved digestion, feed efficiency, immune support and natural vitamin supplementation.
This guide highlights three key natural feed ingredients widely used in poultry nutrition today:
Fenugreek Powder
Ginger Powder
Solanum glaucophyllum Leaf Powder (Natural Vitamin D3)
1. Fenugreek Powder for Poultry
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a well-known natural feed additive with strong functional benefits.
Key Benefits
Improves digestion and gut health
Supports nutrient absorption
Enhances feed intake
Potential milk production benefits for breeding stock
Contains 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, supporting glucose metabolism
Applications
Broiler growth support
Layer feed for improved shell quality
Breeding stock nutrition
Natural feed formulations for antibiotic-free poultry
Fenugreek is commonly used in both commercial and small-scale poultry operations due to its safety and effectiveness.
2. Ginger Powder for Poultry
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used in animal feed for its antimicrobial and digestive-enhancing properties.
Key Benefits
Supports immune function
Promotes growth performance
Reduces oxidative stress
Improves feed efficiency
Natural antimicrobial activity
Applications
Broilers to support weight gain
Layers for stress reduction
Immune-support formulas
Natural alternatives to synthetic additives
Ginger is especially valuable in environments where antibiotic use is restricted or avoided.
3. Solanum glaucophyllum Leaf Powder (Natural Vitamin D3)
Solanum glaucophyllum is a unique botanical source of natural Vitamin D3 (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol).
Why It Matters for Poultry
Vitamin D3 is essential for:
Calcium absorption
Eggshell formation
Skeletal development
Immune function
Using a natural plant-based Vitamin D3 source improves nutrient utilization and supports bone and eggshell strength.
Applications
Layer feed to improve shell thickness
Breeder diets
Chick starter feed
Natural vitamin premixes
The botanical form is highly bioavailable and effective at low inclusion rates.
4. Advantages of Natural Poultry Feed Ingredients
Natural feed ingredients offer several key advantages:
Safe and clean-label
Suitable for antibiotic-free or organic farming programs
No synthetic residues
Improved animal health outcomes
Better consumer confidence in poultry products
5. Availability in New Zealand
At SG Bio, we supply bulk quantities of:
Fenugreek Powder
Ginger Powder
Solanum glaucophyllum Leaf Powder
We support feed manufacturers, integrators and small-scale poultry producers across New Zealand with consistent quality and documentation.
