“We're really excited to have the pushing boundaries theme again. It carries on the research that we've started over the past few years,” said Scott Hine, Vice President Chief Innovation Officer at Novus International. “This is a continuation of our focus around innovative products, research-based applications and improving and delivering great customer service around the solutions that we've developed which are really core to our business - to help the industry sustainably meet the growing needs for poultry meat and eggs.”

Novus has been focused on and conducts research on maternal feeding, gut health, meat quality and structural health because those are the topics that their customers are most interested in and concerned about, said Mercedes Vazquez-Añon, Senior Director of Animal Science at Novus International.

“We are bringing science to topics and finding solutions about how we can better feed the hen so the progeny of those hens can improve,” said Dr. Vazquez-Añon. “Working with breeders and breeder companies, we can improve productivity using molecular biology and epigenetics to understand the role of maternal feeding in the development of the embryo.”

In the area of gut health, Novus has been working to understand the role of ingredients, specifically quality. For example, Novus is studying the variation found in soybean meal and how it can affect gut health in the animal. Given the reduction in antibiotic use, the industry is experiencing more problems with gut inflammation and necrotic enteritis, so the Novus team is also trying to better understand these aspects of gut health and find new solutions for their customers.

“Some of our findings were presented at our scientific meetings,” she noted. “Looking at essential oils, they can improve the immune system of the animal, and there are organic acids that can be used as antimicrobials and reduce the problems the animal is experiencing. In the area of structural health and meat quality, we've been working to help reduce myopathies and woody breast.”

The research, which is a portion of the solutions that customers need, is really related to improving productivity and performance and making sure they're profitable and have a sustainable business over time, noted Hine.

“The research takes on a very special place from the nutritional aspect especially with regard to the improvement of animal longevity, their productivity and meat quality,” said Hine. “The cost to the industry of white striping and woody breast is about $200 million per year, which is incredible. We're really proud to be part of helping the industry solve that problem.”

Novus shares their solutions with producers and the scientific community through scientific meetings and industry events like the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE).

“IPPE offers an excellent opportunity to dialogue with the industry and share research on minerals like MINTREX® and eubiotics products such as NEXT ENHANCE® 150, ACTIVATE® DA and AVIMATRIX®,” concluded Dr. Vazquez-Añon.