Role of diet in NE questioned
Drs. Mathis, Schrader, Broussard and Gobbi listen to Dr. Scott's presentation.
During a lively interchange between
panel members and the audience, session
chairman Dr. Peter Scott said he has been
surprised at the higher prevalence of NE
in North America compared to Australia,
where the diet for broilers is wheat-based.
Wheat-based diets have been linked to a
higher prevalence of NE.
“Since 1989 I can count the farms where
I’ve seen necrotic enteritis,” said Scott, a
senior research fellow at the University
of Melbourne and managing director of
avian and animal health consultancy,
Scolexia. This was despite the infrequent
use of growth-promoting antibiotics,
which can be effective against NE, as well
as deep litter, which can harbor clostridial
organisms. “I really believe it comes down
to how the feeds are formulated.”
Scott called for more attention on nutrition
and gut health, such as fiber levels in
feed. “It’s there in black and white: If you
maintain adequate fiber levels in your
feed, you’ll achieve better coccidiosis
control and, by default, better necrotic
enteritis control,” he argued.
With the drought in Australia, oats and
barley have been less available and more
sorghum and soy is used, which has led
to a deterioration of gut health. “I think
nutrition needs to be looked at a lot
more,” Scott added.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal
Health’s Dr. Charlie Broussard said that,
in the US, he has observed a reduction in
the use of ionophores and growth promoters
and a move toward non-medicated,
less costly feed as soon as possible in the
production cycle. This change has
occurred for economic reasons but is
probably one reason why NE has become
an emerging problem in that country.
Reusing litter is not necessarily a negative,
he commented. “It can assist with coccidial
cycling, and you can achieve a better
balance than you do with a total
cleanout,” he added.
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