{"id":76307,"date":"2021-06-08T12:40:51","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T10:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/effective-solutions-poultry-gut-health\/"},"modified":"2022-09-21T08:08:39","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T06:08:39","slug":"effective-solutions-poultry-gut-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ew-nutrition.com\/en-uk\/effective-solutions-poultry-gut-health\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Effective Solutions to Optimize Poultry Gut Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Dr. Ajay Bhoyar<\/strong>, Global Technical Manager \u2013 Poultry, EW Nutrition<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Necessity, goes the saying, is the mother of invention. No wonder, then, that necessity is driving innovation in the poultry industry. \u00a0A few distinct such drivers of change stand out:<\/p>\n

Genetic improvements<\/strong>: Significant genetic improvements have consistently increased the production performance of breeders, as well as commercial broilers and layers. The genetically improved breeds demand improved nutrition and management practices.<\/p>\n

Feed ingredient prices\/availability<\/strong>: Corn and soybean meal are the main feed ingredients in poultry feed. Consequently any fluctuations in their prices have a high impact on the cost of production of eggs and meat. During the short span of the last 5 years, US corn and soybean meal prices have increased<\/a><\/span> by around 54% and 68%, respectively. The optimum utilization of available feed ingredients and improvements in nutrient availability continue to be the key areas of interest for the poultry industry.<\/p>\n

Consumer preference and regulatory changes<\/strong>: In certain geographies, these changes have resulted into 3 major trends in the poultry industry: antibiotics reduction (ABR), cage-free rearing, and food safety. The trend in the production and consumption of antibiotic-free meat products is growing faster than ever across the globe.<\/p>\n

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Antibiotics reduction (ABR): a key global trend<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Apart from veterinary use, antibiotics are used as feed additives \u2014antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in animal production. Alarming levels of resistance to antibiotics have been reported in countries of all income levels, with the result that common diseases are becoming untreatable, and life-saving medical procedures riskier to perform.\u00a0 Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens. (WHO\/ https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/antimicrobial-resistance )<\/p>\n

Antibiotic-free chicken production has gained a lot of momentum in the recent past. Over the past years, consumer preferences in the US resulted in a significant increase in the production of antibiotics-free (ABF) broiler chicken meat. In effect, the number of birds produced in \u201cno antibiotics ever\u201d (NAE) programs in the U.S. today is now at more than 50 percent (Poultry Health Today, 2019).<\/p>\n

The reduction of antibiotic use poses some challenges to poultry producers. Apart from increased capital investment for modifications in feed mills<\/a><\/span> and farms, increase in feed additive cost, the main challenge due to the removal of AGPs from feed can be the reduced production performance of poultry, mainly due to increased gut health issues.<\/p>\n

Good gut health is a must for profitable production<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cThe intestinal health of poultry has broad implications for the systemic health of birds, animal welfare, the production efficiency of flocks, food safety, and environmental impact,\u201d state Oviedo-Rond\u00f3n (2019). The main challenges for ABF chicken or turkey production fall under the same heading of gut health, in particular the prevention and control of coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis (Cervantes, 2015).<\/p>\n

What are the most effective ways to mitigate gut health challenges?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Depending on specific production needs and challenges, various technologies are used by the poultry producers to address gut health issues. Some of the most commonly used innovative technologies include:<\/p>\n

Dietary Fibers (DF)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Scientists have found that DF have an enormous impact on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, digestive physiology, including nutrient digestion, fermentation, and absorption processes of poultry (Jha & Mishra, 2021).<\/p>\n

\"\"The water-insoluble fibers are seen as functional nutrients, as they can escape digestion and modulate nutrient digestion: \u201cA moderate level of insoluble fiber in poultry diets may increase chyme retention time in the upper part of the GIT, stimulating gizzard development and endogenous enzyme production, improving the digestibility of starch, lipids, and other dietary components\u201d (Mateos et.al. 2012). The insoluble DF, when used in amounts between 3\u20135% in the diet, could have significant effects on intestinal development and nutrient digestibility.<\/p>\n

Dietary fibers influence the development of the gizzard in poultry birds. \u00a0A well-developed gizzard is a must for good gut health. Jim\u00e9nez-Moreno & Mateos (2012) noted that the coarse fiber particles are selectively retained in the gizzard, that ensures a complete grinding and a well-regulated feed flow and secretion of digestive juices, and regulates GIT motility & feed intake. The inclusion of insoluble fibers in adequate amounts improves the gizzard function and stimulates HCl production in the proventriculus. Thus it can help in the control of gut pathogens.<\/p>\n

Probiotics and prebiotics<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Probiotics and prebiotics have drawn considerable attention as alternatives to antibiotics in animal feeds. Supplementing diets with probiotics and prebiotics is a significant factor contributing to modified intestinal microflora, which, in turn, may effectively influence the birds\u2019 growth performance and health (Yang et al. 2009).<\/p>\n

Probiotics introduce desirable microorganisms into the intestinal tract through the diet (feed or water). They consist of live bacteria, fungi, or yeasts that positively contribute to the gastrointestinal flora. As such, they are important for a well-formed and well-maintained digestive system, and are indirectly essential to growth performance and to the overall health of animals in general. Probiotic supplementation could have the following effects, as stated by Jha et al:<\/p>\n