| Summary: | This study aimed at investigating the effect of a functional synergistic feed additive blend, containing organic acids and ß-1,4 mannobiose, on cecal <i>Salmonella</i> counts and growth performance of broiler chickens. A meta-analysis combining 13 individual studies, executed in <i>Salmonella</i>-challenged broilers comparing a control diet with and without the synergistic blend, was performed. Cecal <i>Salmonella</i> colonies and overall growth performance were measured. Raw data from all studies were combined and analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS, taking the within and between-study variation into account. In the first 14 days post-inoculation (DPI), cecal <i>Salmonella</i> was reduced by 0.429 log CFU/g (<i>p</i> = 0.011, <i>n</i> = 10 comparisons from five studies) when feeding the synergistic blend compared to the control group. During 15–34 DPI, the overall means were not different between treatments (0.069 log CFU/g; <i>p</i> = 0.519, <i>n</i> = 12 comparisons from eight studies). The feed conversion ratio was improved when feeding the synergistic blend compared to the control diet (1.474 vs. 1.482, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.002). In conclusion, feeding a synergistic blend, containing organic acids and ß-1,4 mannobiose amongst other ingredients, reduced cecal <i>Salmonella</i> counts during the first 14 DPI and improved growth performance of <i>Salmonella</i> challenged broilers compared to a control diet.
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