Excential Butycoat in Poultry Nutrition
NETHERLANDS - Slow-release sodium butyrate has potential as an alternative to or in combination with antibiotic growth promoters, says Excential, part of Orffa International Holding BV.
3 May 2012
4 minute read
By: Since the EU ban on the use of in-feed antibiotics (AGPs) in livestock, organics acids (OA) have been found as valuable alternative. Among the OA, particularly important are short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Butyrate has a strong bactericidal effect and stimulates villus growth while inhibiting apoptosis. Non–protected OA are absorbed in the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), inhibiting their action.
Excential Butycoat’s microencapsulation addresses the release and bioactivity of butyrate throughout the whole GIT, modulating micro flora and targeting Salmonella. Proper micro–encapsulation ensures safe gastric passage.
In the small intestine, small amounts of sodium butyrate are released when lipase and bile salts starts to digest the fat matrix. In this part of the intestine, butyrate increases the villi length, enabling better uptake of nutrients from the diet. The remaining sodium butyrate from Excential Butycoat is released in the caeca and colon.
Butyrate is a highly effective energy source for epithelial cells in the colon. Increased mucus production reduces invasiveness of pathogenic bacteria. Lastly, a direct antimicrobial effect of butyrate on pathogenic bacteria in the colonic intestinal lumen can be expected.
Rao, 2011 (IPME Pune, India) evaluated several feeding strategies showing improved broiler performance and decreased mortality when Excential Butycoat was added to the diet either alone or combined with AGP.
| Table 1. Trial results Excential Butycoat on production performance and economical evaluation (Rao, 2011) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excential Butycoat treatments | T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 |
| PERFORMANCE | ||||
| Final body weight (kg) | 2.09 | 2.17 | 2.13 | 2.13 |
| Feed conversion (kg feed/kg growth) | 1.98 | 1.89 | 1.93 | 1.91 |
| Mortality (%) | 4.0 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 2.0 |
| ECONOMICAL EVALUATION | ||||
| Feeding cost | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Average feed cost (US$/kg) | 4.15 | 4.10 | 4.12 | 4.08 |
| Average feed consumption (kg) | 1.25 | 1.24 | 1.24 | 1.23 |
| Total feeding cost (US$/kg) | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.46 |
| Chick cost (US$/bird) | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Medication/vaccination (US$/bird) | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Administrative cost (US$/bird) | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Total production cost (US$/bird) | 1.84 | 1.83 | 1.83 | 1.82 |
| Average live body weight(kg) | 2.095 | 2.177 | 2.134 | 2.1360 |
| Production cost per kg live weight (US$) | 0.88 | 0.84 | 0.86 | 0.85 |
| T1: Control diet T2: Excential Butycoat @ 750g, 500g and 250g per/MT of prestarter, starter and finisher diet with AGP T3: Butycoat @ 1000g, 500g and 500g per/MT of prestarter, starter and finisher diet without AGP T4: Butycoat @ 300g, 250g and 200g per/MT of prestarter, starter and finisher diet with AGP |
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In order to test Excential Butycoat further, a farm trial with 284,831 day–old chickens was carried out in Mexico. Excential Butycoat (1kg/t feed) was compared against a negative control (AGPs). Trial period was from one to 58 days of age and barn was considered as repetition.
Excential Butycoat improved health and growth performance of broilers. Feed conversion improved 6.5 per cent and mortality decreased by 31.2 per cent compared to the control. An economic benefit of 9:1 US$ (ROI) was achieved computing decreased mortality and improvement in FCR.
Excential Butycoat allows lower inclusion rates and is safe with vitamins and other active ingredients.
| Table 2. Effects of Excential Butycoat on performance and economical evaluation (Mexico, 2011) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groups | Control + AGP | Butycoat | Difference: Butycoat vs control |
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| PERFORMANCE & ECONOMICAL EVALUATION | ||||
| Initial body weight (g) | 30.2 | 30.2 | ||
| Final body weight (g) | 3002 | 3010 | ||
| Adjusted feed conversion ratio | 2.15 | 2.01 | + 6.5% | |
| Mortality (%) | 15.18 | 10.45 | - 31.2% | |
| Broiler Production Index (BPI)* | 187 | 2.08 | ||
| * BPI = Average weight (kg) × Survival (%) ÷ FCR × Age (d) | ||||
It can be concluded that Excential Butycoat can be used in diets containing AGP, improving broiler performance and lowering production costs.
Moreover, Excential Butycoat can be used to replace AGP in diets ensuring a healthy gut.
Excentials BV continues to find new applications for its portfolio of specialty feed additives via its state–of–the–art R&D programme.
Excentials headquarters is located in the Netherlands; Excentials has opened own offices and/or appointed staff in India, Jordan, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and USA. Approximately 25 countries in Latin America, Middle East and South East Asia are now serviced via a network of exclusive distributors.
