{"id":145466,"date":"2021-07-07T10:14:42","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T08:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/want-better-poultry-performance-focus-on-gut-health\/"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:14:09","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T13:14:09","slug":"want-better-poultry-performance-focus-on-gut-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/en-uk\/want-better-poultry-performance-focus-on-gut-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Want better poultry performance? Focus on gut health"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Ruturaj Patil<\/strong>, Product Manager Phytogenic Liquids, EW Nutrition<\/p>\n

Commercial poultry operations have undergone enormous changes in production practices over the last 50 years. Genetic selection for high production rates, along with upgraded management techniques and dietary measures, have led to increased performance standards in all poultry operations (Kogut et al., 2017<\/a>). However, it is sensible to now look into whether poultry performance may soon reach a ceiling due to genetic and\/or physiological limits. So, aiming at further performance optimization, poultry researchers and producers are now focusing on gut health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"LOWRES<\/a>
LOWRES IMG<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gut health management is key to sustainably improve poultry performance<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The caveat, of course, is that, due to concerns about antimicrobial resistance<\/a>, antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) no longer offer the easy answer to gut health issues they once were. To preserve antibiotics\u2019 efficacy for cases where they are indispensable, gut health-oriented performance enhancement needs to come from other sources. This article reviews the principles of gut health management in poultry and shows how Activo liquid, a phytomolecules-based in-water solution, strengthens poultry performance by targeting gut health.<\/p>\n

Gut health: the cradle of poultry performance<\/h1>\n

Gastrointestinal health<\/a> in poultry birds encompasses three dimensions: microflora balance, gut structural integrity, and immune system status. The gut plays a vital and diverse role as it hosts most microorganisms in the body, contains more than twenty different hormones, digests and absorbs the nutrients, and accounts for 20% of body energy expenditure (Choct, 2021<\/a>). When gut health is compromised, digestion and nutrient absorption are affected, with likely detrimental effects on feed conversion, followed by economic loss and greater disease susceptibility.\u00a0 Disease resistance and nutrient utilization largely depend on maintaining a beneficial gut antioxidant status, improving gut integrity, and modulating the gut microbiota (Oviedo-Rond\u00f3n, 2019<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In birds, the gut is separated into five distinct regions (Figure 1): crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), and large intestine (ceca, cloaca, and vent). Each of these regions has a specific role in the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes, the grinding of feed particles and then the digestion and absorption of nutrients (Bailey 2019<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"SchematicFigure 1: Schematic overview of poultry gastrointestinal tract<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Factors affecting gut health<\/h2>\n

Gut health is influenced by the balance between the physiological health status of host, the gut microbiota, and a range of specific factors, all of which producers need to consider. From a management perspective, key factors encompass deprived gut health, biosecurity, and production stress, which is elevated during certain critical stages (see table 1). Environmental factors include humidity, temperature, and ventilation. Dietary factors, such as feed and water quality, feed composition, and mycotoxin contamination, also impact the development and ongoing state of poultry birds\u2019 intestinal microbiota.<\/p>\n

\"CriticalTable 1: Critical stages for gut health issues in poultry birds<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The future is here: antibiotic reduction through improved gut health<\/h1>\n

There is a strong trend towards antibiotic-free (ABF) poultry production, fueled by AGP bans in certain regions (such as the European Union) and increasing consumer interest in avoiding products containing traces of AGPs. ABF systems can be profitable as long as the prices for the final ABF products can cover the investment costs necessary to produce these products. Larger-scale, sustainable ABF production will depend on developing a more profound understanding of intestinal health alongside the development of practical applications that foster gut health<\/a> throughout each step of the production system.<\/p>\n

Feed additive solutions to support birds during challenging situations<\/h2>\n

Feed additive manufacturers are looking into accessible alternatives to mitigate the need for antibiotics in ABF systems, requiring enormous research and development efforts. At EW Nutrition, our approach is to offer a holistic antibiotic reduction program for gut health management in poultry. The program comprises feed- and water-based solutions to support gut health during high-challenge periods. Activo liquid, an in-water solution containing standardized amounts of selected phytomolecules, is a key component of our program. Based on its three-fold mode of action, Activo liquid provides gut health support that improves livability and feed efficiency:<\/p>\n