15 September 2022

3 minute read

By: Trouw Nutrition

Europe

Research findings presented at the 26^th World Poultry Congress (WPC) in Paris, 7-11 August, demonstrate that science-based nutrition can support broilers’ gut health and performance in “antibiotic free” conditions, and contribute to producers’ sustainability efforts. Scientists representing Trouw Nutrition and its Selko feed additives, presented results on various topics related to poultry performance, health and early life nutrition, with a total of 17 studies accepted for WPC. Research topics covered trace mineral sources, the effects of synergistic feed additive blends on gut health, and the use of alkyl esters of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) to improve zootechnical performance.

Here is a selection of few excerpts that were presented during WPC:

Meta-analysis: feeding hydroxychloride zinc improved growth and carcass yields

A meta-analysis including nine studies was conducted in Europe and looked at hydroxychloride and sulphate zinc trace mineral sources fed at two levels: 80 -ppm and/or 20ppm. Birds receiving hydroxychloride minerals had higher final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and daily feed intake (ADFI) compared to birds receiving sulphate trace minerals. Breast meat yield was significantly improved, while carcass yield also tended to be higher for birds receiving hydroxychloride minerals.

Additional findings on trace mineral sources show that feeding hydroxychloride minerals can support environmental sustainability efforts. Reducing zinc (Zn) levels in birds’ diets to 20 ppm as hydroxychloride minerals – in line with Europe’s lower dietary levels - resulted in a higher BW trend, and ADG and breast meat yield were significantly improved compared to birds fed 80 ppm Zn as a sulphate trace mineral.

Synergistic blends of feed additives improved performance in broilers raised without antibiotics

2,420 broiler chickens raised without antibiotics were evaluated on how four dietary treatments influenced their market weights and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The study included a control group (T1), a group receiving a synergistic gut health improving blend (T2), the gut health improving blend plus copper hydroxychloride (T3), and a diet including the gut health improving blend, copper hydroxychloride, plus dietary structure (T4). Final BW tended to be higher for all treatment groups compared to the control group and birds receiving the T3 diet exhibited a significantly lower FCR relative to broilers in the control group. The study demonstrated the efficacy of the synergistic gut health improving blend to improve FCR and market weights in birds raised without antibiotics. While the addition of copper hydroxychloride was effective in enhancing market weights and lowering FCR, the study found out that including dietary structure delivered no added benefit.

Alkyl esters of medium chain fatty acids enhanced broiler gut health and performance

Findings from three Selko studies provided new insights into the benefits alkyl esters of MCFAs bring to zootechnical performance.

Alkyl esters in MCFAs can reach lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract than free MCFAs or triglycerides. An analysis of jejunum samples from a study of 776 broilers exposed to a dietary challenge compared microbiota counts. Findings showed a 22% increase in microbial diversity among birds receiving alkyl ester C12 compared to birds in a control group.

A study involving 936 broilers comparing three diets (control, C12 and alkyl ester of C12) found that birds receiving an alkyl ester of C12 showed a tendency to reduce Clostridium perfringens in the jejunum compared to a control group or those receiving C12.

Additionally, birds receiving an alkyl ester diet had a 2% lower FCR in the first 3 weeks.

A re-used litter challenge involving 192 birds fed with alkyl esters of C12 showed a tendency for higher BW at 42 days compared to a standard diet.

Remarking on the findings presented at the World Poultry Congress Giseli Heim – Selko® Global Technical Manager Gut Health stated, “These studies show that not only science-based nutrition can help producers reduce the use of antibiotics in their production practices without compromising flock performance; it can also support environmental goals.”