Latest Pancosma poultry research at PSA 2022

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At the PSA 2022 we will be presenting exciting new findings with our feed additives in laying hens. Come and talk to our scientists and technical experts behind the research  11th -14th July 2022 in San Antonio, Texas, USA

Register for PSA 2022

The PSA Annual Meeting offers attendees exposure to the latest science and research within the poultry science field. With presentations from industry and academia, this conference will offer a variety of information and offerings to all poultry scientists. We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio in-person.

Scientific abstracts to be presented at PSA 2022

Dietary phytogenic inclusion level effects on egg production, egg quality and expression of ovarian cytoprotective genes in laying hens –Link

Ioannis Brouklogiannis , Evangelos Anagnostopoulos , Vasileios Paraskeuas , Eirini Griela , Andreas Kern , Konstantinos, C. Mountzouris

 

Effects of various doses and combinations of phytonutrient and tributyrin on the performance of 55 to 85-week-old Hy-Line W36 laying hens –Link

Mike Persia, E. Nicole Thetga, Nathaniel Barrett, Brian Glover, Jose Charal, Milan Hruby

 

Production performance and gut cytoprotective response in laying hens fed with  different phytogenic levels –Link

Evangelos Anagnostopoulos , Ioannis Brouklogiannis , Vasileios  Paraskeuas , Eirini Griela , Andreas Kern , Konstantinos C. Mountzouris

 

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Novel yeast supports broilers in necrotic enteritis challenge

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Case study describing the response of broilers to a novel yeast in their diet during a necrotic enteritis challenge.

Published in Livestock and Feed Business, June 2022

Author: Sarah Cooper

Pathogenic and physiological challenges are ubiquitous in animal production systems as they threaten efficient and profitable production. Tools (like growth-promoting antibiotics and ionophores) once used to improve production efficiency are increasingly being restricted. As such, there is a growing interest in evolved management and nutritional practices.

Yeasts have been fed to animals for over 100 years due to their nutritional richness and reported effects to support health and growth performance. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most used yeast in animal feed applications. Yeast cell walls contain various bioactive components like ß-glucans and mannan oligosaccharides, which have shown to have beneficial impacts across various species. Several studies revealed that dietary ß-glucans interact with intestinal cells affecting the modulation of the intestinal immune response. Mannan oligosaccharides have also been demonstrated to bind and limit the colonisation of intestinal pathogens with beneficial consequences related to gastrointestinal health and ensuing performance.

Pichia guilliermondii, an extraordinary yeast

Pichia guilliermondii is a novel yeast with unique morphology, structure and consequent activity. The way yeast cells in animal feed behave in the animal’s intestinal environment (interacting with intestinal epithelium and luminal contents) depends on the morphology, cell wall structure and composition.

The comparative morphology and physical characteristics of P. guilliermondii and S. cerevisiae were assessed in a side-by- side study. There are significant differences between them: P. guilliermondii is a smaller cell and has a greater surface area to volume ratio. It is also more hydrophobic compared to S. cerevisiae.

Additionally, the distribution of various glycoproteins in the yeast cell wall varies, suggesting that P. guilliermondii has a different cell wall structure and composition to S. cerevisiae. These particularities may be associated with significant differences in how both yeast cells behave when used in animal feeds.

The function of P. guilliermondii and associated influence on physiological and performance parameters have been assessed across various animal species. This body of research has focused on exploring the impact that may be associated with P. guilliermondii on the immune system, pathogen load, gastrointestinal health and performance, especially during stress and pathogenic challenges.

Pichia in action: A broiler case study for necrotic enteritis challenge

Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis represent the greatest threat to poultry production globally, being detrimental to animal welfare and having economic impacts.

In an experimental necrotic enteritis study with broilers, birds that received P. guilliermondii supplementation showed indications of increased resilience and improved performance compared to control birds that did not receive any P. guilliermondii in their diet.

In this 42-day long study, newly hatched Ross 708 broilers were assigned to either the three-phase basal control diet or the three-phase basal diet plus 0.1% P. guilliermondii until day 28, then 0.075% P. guilliermondii until day 42.

The necrotic enteritis challenge consisted of adding used litter to introduce coccidia on day 4 and challenging birds with Clostridium perfringens on days 17, 18 and 19.

A group of birds on the basal control diet did not receive the challenge and acted as the non-infected control group. On day 21, birds from each group were randomly selected and euthanised, with their intestines examined for necrotic enteritis lesions. Lesion scores range from 0 (for normal) to 4 (for the most severe lesions).

Birds receiving P. guilliermondii in their diet had lower intestinal lesions compared to challenged birds receiving only the control diet. The significantly lower intestinal lesion scores in the P. guilliermondii-fed birds suggest greater physiological resilience  in the face of the necrotic enteritis challenge, compared to the birds with more severe lesion scores in the infected control group.  At the end of the study, on day 42, P. guilliermondii– supplemented birds had improved performance parameters compared to the infected control group. The adjusted feed conversion ratio was better in the group that had received P.guilliermondii in their diet. These birds also had a significantly greater body weight. Of note, day 42 mortality was numerically lower in the P. guilliermondii group compared to the infected control group.

P. guilliermondii has unique morphological properties influencing its efficacy in animal feeding. Research has demonstrated that the addition of P. guilliermondii to the diet of broilers may be associated with beneficial impacts on parameters in the face of coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis

 

Relevant articles

Webinar recording – Necrotic enteritis advances in control

 

Sustaining egg quality in laying hens

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Maintaining egg quality for longer is key to enabling longer laying cycles, which is required to reduce economic cost and environmental footprint of egg production.

Author: Gwendolyn Jones, PhD, Product Manager Gut Agility Activators

Published in International Poultry Production, June 2022

A tough economic climate, combined with consumer concerns around environmental impact, are driving the need for increased laying cycle lengths in egg production. However, a prerequisite to achieving profitable longer laying cycles is the ability to maintain the quality of eggs produced by older hens.

Genetic and nutritional advances made to support the productivity of key organs involved in egg production may help sustain egg quality for longer.  The benefits of making hens lay longer are both financial and environmental. For example, it has been calculated that for an increase in 10 weeks of production, 1g of nitrogen could be saved per 12 eggs produced. This again would reduce the nitrification impact of egg production significantly. Longer laying cycles enhance lifetime egg production per hen housed, which also means a reduction in the number of hens required to produce the same number of eggs. This has knock-on effects not only for the environmental footprint, but also for financial savings, as it reduces the amount of animal feed required to maintain the hens.

On the other hand, the main reasons for replacing laying hen flocks at around 72 weeks of age is a decline in egg numbers combined with a deterioration in egg quality during the production cycle. Extending laying cycles to a target of 92-100 weeks then calls for strategies that increase persistency in lay and stability in egg quality. It is well known that the reduction in quantity and quality of eggs over the egg production period is linked to ovarian ageing.

Studies have shown that one of the most important factors inducing ovarian aging is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defence system. ROS accumulate during metabolic activity, which can be exacerbated in periods of high productivity and when the bird is challenged by stressors in its environment or feed.

Previous research in laying hens has demonstrated that a decline with age in antioxidant capacity of ovaries is linked to down-regulation of Nrf2 gene expression in the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway, which is a signaling pathway involved in the mobilisation of cellular antioxidant defences.

On the other hand, additional studies have proven that it was possible to upregulate Nrf2 expression with a positive knock-on effect for gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thereby delay the aging process of ovaries by nutritional means in laying hens.

Important egg quality parameters are eggshell strength, albumen height and Haugh units (HU), all of which decline as the hen ages throughout the laying period. Both albumen height and HU were depressed in studies where the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway was impaired by the experimental design in laying hens. Recent research investigating the effect of supplementing laying hen diets with a gut agility activator on egg quality parameters in the late laying period and on the expression of Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway related gene expression in ovaries, indicated the potential for sustaining egg quality longer by upregulating the Nrf2- KEAP1 pathway in ovaries (Brouklogiannis et al 2022) .

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Laying persistency – 500 eggs in a single laying cycle in 100 weeks

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Scientific abstract: Anagnostopoulos et al (2022). Production performance and gut cytoprotective response in laying hens fed with  different phytogenic levels

Scientific abstract: Brouklogiannis et al (2022). Dietary phytogenic inclusion level effects on egg production, egg quality and expression of ovarian cytoprotective genes in laying hens

Animal science turns to advancing resilience for heat tolerance

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Several research groups across the world are researching the challenge of enhancing resilience for heat tolerance in livestock.

Animal science turns to advancing resilience for heat tolerance

Author: Gwendolyn Jones, PhD, Product Manager Gut Agility Activators

Published in: Feed and Additive Magazine, June 2022

Several research groups across the world are researching the challenge of enhancing the resilience of livestock to climatic variability and change. Understanding adaptive mechanisms right down to cellular responses are key to finding technological solutions to advance animal nutrition in its supportive role in optimizing animal performance as the climate is heating up in many countries.

Scientists from leading agricultural universities in the UK, United States, India, Australia and the Netherlands all essentially agree, the adaptation to climate change requires technological advances for climate resilient animals in livestock production. On the other hand, continued selection for greater performance in the absence of consideration for heat tolerance will result in greater susceptibility to negative impacts from rising temperatures for productivity and animal welfare. This is due to the strong relationship between production level and metabolic heat production.

Animal resilience in the context of environmental challenges

Researchers at the University of Armidale claim that for the concept of resilience the animal’s reactions with its environment are central. They describe resilience as the capacity of the animal to return rapidly to its pre-challenge situation. In other words, it is a comparative measure of differences between animals in the impact of a challenge they encounter. Researchers from Wageningen share a similar definition for resilience in farm animals. Thus, resilience relies on the animal’s response or better adaptability to naturally occurring stressors in its environment.

Several disciplines in animal production, including genetics, veterinary sciences and nutrition are currently striving to find ways of positively influencing resilience in farm animals. Better understanding the adaptive processes and finding ways to best measure improvements is integral to enhancing resilience in farm animals.

The role of adaptability

Animals have adaptive mechanisms to cope with rising temperatures, which involve morphological, behavioural and genetic capacity for change. Behavioural changes to rising ambient temperatures are seen in animals, include using shade whenever they have access to it and a reduction in feed intake.

The adaptive processes can further include physiological, neuro-endocrine and cellular responses. Some of the physiological parameters for adaptation to rising temperatures are respiration rate, pulse rate, skin temperature and sweating. However, there are differences between species in the expression of these characteristics. For example, poultry has the characteristics of rich feathers, no sweat glands, strong metabolism and high body temperature. As a result, the production performance of poultry is easily impacted by elevated ambient temperatures.

Research into the physiological changes accompanying high temperatures in tropically adapt- ed species is increasing the understanding of the mechanisms that the animal uses to accomplish the necessary functions effectively, and to find ways to support a more efficient response to minimize the negative impact on performance and animal well- being. Identifying relevant biomarkers in animals capable of maintaining high levels of productivity at high ambient temperatures will also help to breed for climate resilient animals.

Adaptive responses at the cellular level

Exposure to challenges, including environmental ones such as ambient temperatures above thermal comfort zones, induce adaptive responses that al- low cells and organisms to continue normal functions in the face of adverse stimuli. At the cellular level adaptive responses involve multiple changes in gene and protein expression, including induction of cellular defenses, e.g., antioxidants and heat shock proteins to enable the cell to survive.

On the other hand, exposure to challenges will increase cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The balance between the generation of ROS and cellular antioxidants determines the level of oxidative stress, which again impacts the animal’s ability to attain performance potential and sustain good health.

A key cellular adaptation mechanism discovered in species surviving extreme environmental conditions is the enhanced expression of the cytoprotective system NRF2-KEAP1, which is involved in protection from oxidative stress, detoxification and protein homoeostasis. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2), is part of a complex regulatory network that responds to environmental cues. The subsequent evolution of cysteine-rich Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) provided animals with a more sophisticated way to regulate NRF2 activity. Exposure to oxidants disrupts the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, which leads to translocation of NRF2 to the nucleus, which in turn increases the transcription of cytoprotective and antioxidative genes. This also leads to activating antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase.

Optimizing NRF2-KEAP activity in farm animals

A better understanding of the biological function, activation and regulation of NRF2-KEAP1 will help find ways of optimizing its activity for increased resilience in farm animals. Insights from in vitro studies carried out on hyperthermia treated bovine mammary epithelial cells demonstrated that the activation of NRF2 leading to upregulation of expression of downstream genes was associated in attenuating heat shock-induced cell damage.

To date it has been established that certain molecules including phytochemicals can activate NRF2. However, scientists also warn of arbitrarily activating the NRF2-KEAP1 pathway and call for more research into optimizing and properly timing interventions to the activity of NRF2. Peer reviewed exploratory research carried out to investigate the effect of a gut agility activator, based on bioactive substances derived from herbs and spices combined with functional carriers, showed that it increased the expression of critical genes of the NRF2-KEAP1 pathway in the gut of broilers. This coincided with increased levels of total antioxidant capacity in breast meat and in organs key to sustaining high productivity (e.g., gut, liver) in broilers. The study also highlighted the importance of evaluating different application levels, as the effects were dependent on inclusion levels.

Conclusion

The above insights suggest that nutritional technological advances involving phytogenic molecules, such as gut agility activators, could potentially play a supportive function in enhancing resilience of poultry. Further research is required under temperatures above the thermal comfort zone and to confirm the positive impact on recognized resilience performance indicators.

Relevant articles

Frequent monitoring reveals poultry resilience indicator

Free Ebook 3 steps to greater resilience in poultry

Animal Resilience – Economic value in livestock production

References

  1. Mountzouris, K.C., Paraskeuas, V.V., Fegeros, K. (2020). Priming of intestinal cytoprotective genes and antioxidant capacity by dietary phytogenic inclusion in broilers, Animal Nutrition, Vol 6(3), pp. 305-312
  2. Stenvinkel, , Meyer, C.J., Block, G.A., Chertow, G.M. and Shiels, P.G. (2020). Understanding the role of the cytoprotective transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2—lessons from evolution, the animal kingdom and rare progeroid syndromes, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 35 (12), pp. 2036-2045
  3. Berghof, T.V.L., Poppe, M. and Mulder, H.A. (2019) Opportunities to Improve Resilience in An- imal Breeding Programs, Frontiers in Genetics, Vol 9, pp 692
  4. Jin, X.L., Wang, K., Liu, L. Liu, H.Y, Zhao, F.Q., Liu, J.X. (2016). Nuclear factor-like factor 2-antiox- idant response element signaling activation by tert-bu- tylhydroquinone attenuates acute heat stress in bovineBerghof, T.V.L., Poppe, M. and Mulder, H.A. (2019) Opportunities to Improve Resilience in An- imal Breeding Programs, Frontiers in Genetics, Vol 9, pp 692

Persistency in lay – achieving 500 eggs in 100 weeks

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Egg producers are striving to increase persistency in lay. Laying hens with the capacity to produce quality eggs for longer,  are capable of producing up to 500 eggs in a laying cycle of 100 weeks.

In Europe, the priority is to increase egg production by breeding for increased persistency in lay and stability in egg quality so that the laying cycle of commercial flocks can be extended to 90–100 weeks. Breeding programs are particularly focusing on improving laying persistency and egg quality at the end of the laying cycle.

Author: Gwendolyn Jones, 2018

Reducing cost of egg production

Economic reasons play an important role in taking this decision. It means less feed is required per egg. Keeping the birds longer will decrease the financial contribution of the 18-week-old pullet to the cost per table egg. Maintaining egg size and quality beyond 75 weeks and up to a target of 100 weeks can have a big impact on the profitability of a flock. The time required to reach the economic break-even of the hen has increased from 34 weeks in 1998 to 52 weeks in 2016. This indicates that longer production cycles are imperative in a tough economic climate.

More sustainable egg production

Longer laying cycles lead to a lower carbon footprint per egg. Furthermore, it was calculated that around 1 g of nitrogen could be saved per dozen eggs for an increase of 10 weeks in production (Bain et al 2016). This can significantly reduce the nitrification impact of increasing or maintaining production, which is especially important in nitrate sensitive areas.

More efficient use of resources and reduction of waste will help to reduce the environmental impact of egg production and preserve the environment.

First commercial flock achieving 500 eggs in 100 weeks

Free range laying systems are following the trend for longer laying periods. The case for extending free-range laying cycles.

Actually, the first commercial flock achieving 500 eggs in 100 weeks, was a free-range laying flock and was reported in June 2018. It involved a 40 000 Dekalb White flock based in Germany. A key success factor in this was that the farmer likes to learn new things.

How to get to 500 eggs in 100 weeks

A decline in egg numbers combined with a deterioration in shell quality are the main reasons for currently replacing flocks at or around 72 weeks of age.

The benefits of genetic selection for improved persistency in lay and stability in egg quality can only be realized if they are matched by improvements in hen nutrition and careful monitoring of the effects of this process on the health and welfare of the hens.

To extend the laying cycle of commercial flocks, long-term maintenance of the tissues and organs involved in producing eggs is required.

Motivational video for 500 eggs in 100 weeks

Nutrition supporting persistency in lay

Genetic progress and longer production cycles have consequences for nutrition. Benefits of genetic selection for improved laying persistency and stability in egg quality can only be realized if they are matched by improvements in hen nutrition. There are three important areas that come to mind, when it comes to supporting laying persistence by nutritional means:

1) Careful management of feed/nutrient intake around start of lay and in early laying period

2) Maintaining organs that are important for egg production healthy, e.g. liver

3) Minimizing common stress reactions such as oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and reduction in feed intake to maintain birds healthy and efficient

Supporting birds to keep a positive nutrient balance in the first 10 weeks of lay will help provide a reserve for mid/late lay egg output and improved shell quality.

With older birds it is important to maintain liver health. Consider supporting liver function with relevant additives, such as choline and vitamin E. Adding certain plant extracts to diets has been shown to improve the antioxidant status in laying hens and can be used to prevent oxidative stress. This then also has the potential to prevent fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS).

Managing nutritional stressors

Monitoring mycotoxins in feed also plays a key role for liver health in layers, as mycotoxins will cause oxidative stress and damage to the liver. Laying hens are more sensitive than other poultry to mycotoxins. A longer life makes laying hens ideal candidates for chronic mycotoxicosis, caused by continuous exposure to low levels of toxins.

Poor bird health and environmental stress affect egg formation and the ability of the hen to maintain persistency. This can be aggravated by nutritional stressors in the diet, such as dietary changes, reduced nutrient digestibility, endotoxins, antinutritional factors and mycotoxins.

Nutritional concepts designed to support gut agility, increase the bird’s capacity to adapt to nutritional challenges and live up to its performance potential, particularly under situations of increased stress. Overall, they are a sustainable alternative to help reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry diets, whilst maintaining robust and efficient birds for consistency in the cost-effectiveness of diets at high performance levels.

Adding a product including phytogenic components with antioxidative power and designed for gut agility to the late laying period of a commercial ISA Brown parent layer flock, improved the persistency in lay compared to birds on a control diet.

Recommendations from breeding companies

Feeding laying hens to 100 weeks of age – Lohmann

How to feed layers for a longer production cycle and high performance – Dekalb

Progress in Layer Genetics Longer production cycles, a genetic perspective – ISA

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Sustaining egg quality in laying hens

Bain et al (2016) Increasing persistency in lay and stabilising egg quality in longer laying cycles. What are the challenges?

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Gut agility helps organs vital for resilience in chickens

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Effect of a gut agility activator on underlying mechanisms for adaptive capacity of organs vital for resilience in chickens

Scientific abstract published in the proceedings of the Feed Conference 2021

By Jones, G.M. and Mountzouris, K.C.

Adaptive mechanisms on the cellular level in the gut and liver of broilers were investigated in response to a gut agility activator (GAA) comprising a botanical formula.

One-day-old male Cobb broilers (n=500) were allocated to 4 different treatments diets with 0, 750, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg GAA (Anco FIT Poultry) for 42 days. Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 25 birds each. Birds were euthanized at 42 days and tissue samples of liver and mucosa along the intestine were taken from 10 chickens per treatment for analysis of gene expression and 20 birds per treatment for biochemical analysis. Data were analysed by ANOVA and significant effects (P≤0.05) were compared using Tukey HSD test. Polynomial contrasts tested the linear and quadratic effect of GAA inclusion levels.

Total anti-oxidative capacity (TAC) was improved in the liver (P=0.040) and at 1000 g/kg intestinal TAC was higher in the duodenum (P=0.011) and the ceca (P=0.050) compared to the control. Furthermore, critical genes for enzymes belonging to the Nrf2/ antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway (SOD1, GPX2, HMOX1, NQO1, Nrf2 and Keap1) were upregulated in the duodenum and the ceca mainly in a quadratic way (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control. Increasing GAA downregulated genes for NF-KB1 in a quadratic pattern and TLR4 and HSP70 linearly in the duodenum and ceca.

The data indicates that the GAA is positively impacting underlying adaptive mechanisms at the cellular level in the liver and certain parts of the gut which could play a role in the response of birds to stressors and thus increase resilience. The effects were dependent on GAA inclusion level. Commercial applications using the effective inclusion levels of this experiment showed a positive effect on performance in the face of stressors such as heat and mycotoxins in broilers and increased laying persistence in layers at the later stages of the laying cycle. Establishing standards to evaluate resilience in poultry along with further research using the GAA under stress-challenge environments are warranted.

 

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Frequent monitoring reveals poultry resilience indicator

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Frequent measurements of body weight revealed a poultry resilience indicator. Body weight measurements have long played an important role in laying hen production. Research shows that if measured frequently, the resulting data can provide new insights into how breeding and feeding management can be further optimized in laying hens. This may also stimulate new methods for evaluating feed additives in commercial diets.

Published in International Poultry Production by Gwendolyn Jones, April 2021

Several disciplines in animal production, including genetics, veterinary sciences and nutrition are currently striving to find ways of positively influencing resilience in farm animals. There are two reasons for that: On the one hand developments such as reduction in the use of antibiotics, climate change and a shortage in farm labour are increasing the need for resilient animals. On the other hand, continuous breeding for improved animal performance has been shown to reduce the resilience of farm animals.

Resilience affects the animal’s response to changes in its production status (e.g. start of lay or peak lay) as well as challenges in its environment and diet. However, our ability to influence and improve resilience in farm animals depends on knowing how to measure it in the field. Advances in sensor technologies and automated weighing systems are enabling more frequent monitoring of birds increasing the quantity of parameters measured and data collected in poultry production systems. This is helping to gain new insights into the wellbeing of birds and make better decisions in real time on farms.

Body weight management

Body weight is one of the most important parameters to track in layer flocks. Breeding companies say this is true not just during the rearing period but also once the bird starts laying and throughout its life. Reaching the target body weight during rearing is key to production performance in the laying period. Whereas regularly monitoring body weight throughout the laying period provides insights into how well the environment is supporting the optimal productivity of the bird.

The sooner body weight deviations are detected the quicker adjustment can be made, which means the more frequent the measurements are made the better to prevent any long-term damage. Breeding companies recommend a minimum of weekly measurements of body weights in laying hens from day old to 26 weeks of wage, every two weeks from 26 to 35 weeks of age and every 4 weeks beyond 35 weeks of age.

Technological advancements in collecting data

New technologies and digitalization are paving the way for more frequent and precise monitoring of key parameters in birds for productivity and wellbeing.  Increasing the frequency of weighing and sample size will lead to more precise prediction of live weight in flocks. New sensor-scales can feed live, accurate weight recordings into analytics platforms, which helps to recognize any variation in growth rates to act on.

Computer vision technology is another area that is promising to facilitate frequent monitoring of birds in the field and has been applied to automation of house management, behaviour, disease detection and weight measurement. Computer vision uses computational models to gain high-level understanding from digital images or videos. It has been proposed that camera-based weighing systems may have the potential of weighing a wider variety of birds, in a flock that would avoid a platform weigher.

These new technologies can provide information on what is happening in real time compared to what should happen. So, if there are deviations from where things should be, it is a simple way of showing the farmer that he needs to act.

Poultry resilience indicator in laying hens – how to measure

Some of the economic value in improving resilience in farm animals is based on reduced labour and health costs on farms. Once we know how to measure resilience effectively in birds in the field, we can start managing for it. Researchers from the University of Wageningen are proposing natural logarithm-transformed variance (ln(variance)) of deviations in body weights measured over time as a reliable resilience indicator in laying hens.

More resilient animals are expected to show fewer and smaller deviations compared to less resilient animals, because they are less influenced by disturbances. Figure 1 illustrates the difference in ln(variance) in body weights of laying hens; a more horizontal standardized body weight line over time indicates a lower ln(variance) and thus a greater resilience.  The key to gaining these insights on bird resilience are regular body weight measurements as frequently as possible throughout the life of laying hens.

Best results for improved resilience in birds are likely to be achieved via a combination of breeding, nutrition and other management strategies. While we may only be at the beginning of being able to manage for poultry resilience, progress will certainly be accelerated as and when new monitoring technologies coming to the market are adopted on farms more widely.  However, in research trials these technologies and new parameters may already be used to evaluate not only genetic progress but also responses to new nutritional strategies in birds.

Illustrating the poultry resilience indicator

Figure 1 Example to illustrate differences in ln(variance) of body weight in laying hens. A more horizontal standardized body weight line over time indicates a lower ln(variance) and thus a greater (hypothesized) resilience. (adapted from Berghof et al 2019)

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Anco FIT Poultry proof of mode of action in broilers

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Scientific proof of the mode of action of Anco FIT Poultry in broilers.

The Animal Nutrition journal published a scientific paper with research involving the application of Anco FIT Poultry in broilers and its effects on the expression of cytoprotective genes at the gut level.

Link to full scientific paper published online in Animal Nutrition

Abstract

Priming of intestinal cytoprotective genes and antioxidant capacity by dietary phytogenic inclusion in broilers

Konstantinos C. Mountzouris, Vasileios V. Paraskeuas, Konstantinos Fegeros

The potential of a phytogenic premix (PP) based on ginger, lemon balm, oregano and thyme to stimulate the expression of cytoprotective genes at the broiler gut level was evaluated in this study. In particular, the effects of PP inclusion levels on a selection of genes related to host protection against oxidation (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], glutathione peroxidase 2 [GPX2], heme oxygenase 1 [HMOX1], NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 [NQO1], nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 [Nrf2] and kelch like ECH associated protein 1 [Keap1]), stress (heat shock 70 kDa protein 2 [HSP70] and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 [HSP90]) and inflammation (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 [NF-kB1], Toll-like receptor 2 family member B (TLR2B) and Toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4]) were profiled along the broiler intestine. In addition, broiler intestinal segments were assayed for their total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Depending on PP inclusion level (i.e. 0, 750, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg diet) in the basal diets, 1-d-old Cobb broiler chickens (n = 500) were assigned into the following 4 treatments: CON, PP-750, PP-1000 and PP-2000. Each treatment had 5 replicates of 25 chickens with ad libitum access to feed and water. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and means compared using Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) test.

Results

Polynomial contrasts tested the linear and quadratic effect of PP inclusion levels. Inclusion of PP increased (P≤ 0.05) the expression of cytoprotective genes against oxidation, except CAT. In particular, the cytoprotective against oxidation genes were up-regulated primarily in the duodenum and the ceca and secondarily in the jejunum. Most of the genes were upregulated in a quadratic manner with increasing PP inclusion level with the highest expression levels noted in treatments PP-750 and PP-1000 compared to CON. Similarly, intestinal TAC was higher in PP- 1000 in the duodenum (P= 0.011) and the ceca (P=0.050) compared to CON. Finally, increasing PP inclusion level resulted in linearly reduced (P≤ 0.05) expression of NF-kB1, TLR4 and HSP70, the former in the duodenum and the latter 2 in the ceca.

Conclusion

Overall, PP inclusion consistently up-regulated cytoprotective genes and down-regulated stress and inflammation related ones. The effect is dependent on PP inclusion level and the intestinal site. The potential of PP to beneficially prime bird cytoprotective responses merit further investigation under stress-challenge conditions.

 

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How can Biomimicry help innovate sustainable solutions?

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Biomimicry has already generated many new technologies inspired by nature. Is there something that we can take away from it for the design of animal feed solutions for sustainable animal nutrition?

by Gwendolyn Jones

What is biomimicry?

Biomimicry, or biomimetics, is the study of nature and leveraging solutions that have evolved in nature to innovate and solve problems for the benefit of humans.  So essentially it is about piggy backing on nature or emulating what has already been proven by nature to work and to be sustainable throughout time.

Biomimicry is thought of as a field with potential to bring answers to many different disciplines, including medicine, architecture, agriculture, industry. It can pretty much apply to all sectors. Examples for innovations stemming from the application of biomimicry are architectural designs with improved thermoregulation inspired by termite mounds, robotics inspired by motor mechanisms of insects or velcro, which is derived from the observation of hooks implemented by certain plants that stick to animal coats. Aircraft engineers are inspired by birds and sharks to design lighter and more fuel-efficient aircrafts.

Advantages of applying biomimicry to innovation for sustainability

The field of biomimicry has experienced significant growth in recent years and has been popularized by Janine Benyus. It is now a tool to accelerate innovation for small and large companies.

Biomimicry is explained to be different from other bio-inspired design, because of its focus on learning from nature how to be sustainable. Designs following biomimicry are thought to be more efficient, resilient and sustainable, if they emulated biological lessons on form, process and ecosystem. The outcome is superior to that developed through any artificial means.

Biomimicry applied to the design of sustainable animal feed solutions

Farm animals possess limited physiologic responses to challenges such as for example high ambient temperatures, reproduction, oxidation or infections. However, amongst the millions of other species on earth facing the same challenges, we can find many other strategies or adaptations, which could be superior. This means that, within nature there are not just a handful of solutions, but a huge variety of strategies we could potentially adapt to solve physiological needs and equip animals to cope better with stressors.

How did nature solve this?

Plants evolved with sophisticated strategies to cope with stressors, since they can not move away from them and are bound to their locations. We can also learn from other organisms and species in nature that survive under extreme conditions, which strategies give them an advantage. What can we leverage from that in animal nutrition to support adaptive and coping mechanisms in animals?

New benchmarks in animal production and better ways of measuring improvements call for new approaches in the design and evaluation of feed solutions. Biomimicry offers a framework for innovation with sustainable outcomes. There is certainly no harm in asking how nature solved something as a source of inspiration.

Webinar – Necrotic enteritis: advances in control

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Watch a virtual discussion on necrotic enteritis control. What are the latest strategies for non-antibiotic control of necrotic enteritis and how effective are they?

To answer this and other burning questions related to necrotic enteritis we invited Dr. Charles Hofacre, to speak at our webinar. In addition to this renowned expert on necrotic enteritis control in poultry production systems, two technical and research managers from ADM Animal Nutrition are part of the discussion panel.

Webinar hosted by Misset Group through Poultry World media.

Necrotic enteritis – current status and advances in non-antibiotic control

Watch the recorded webinar

Watch the recorded webinar

 

Agenda

Necrotic enteritis (NE) prevalence under an antibiotic free (ABF) and “no antibiotics ever” (NAE) environment 

  • Overview of necrotic enteritis and its impact in ABF and NAE programs
  • Management and alternatives to overcome necrotic enteritis
  • Current research and methods to evaluate NE outcome

 Performance as underlying response to gut health and immunity

  • The impact of necrotic enteritis on gut health
  • The impact of necrotic enteritis on immunity

About the speakers

Charles Hofacre, Ph.D.

President of Southern Poultry Research Group, Inc and Professor Emeritus

Charles Hofacre , commonly known as Chuck, is from a small Ohio farming community, Wooster.  He holds  a  B.S.  in  Agriculture,  an  M.S.  in  Poultry  Science,  and  Doctorate  in  Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University.  He also has a Master of Avian Medicine and PhD in Veterinary Medical Microbiology from The University of Georgia.

His career to date included positions as  Director  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at  a  turkey  production  company,  cuddy  Farms,  Inc.  in  Marshville,  NC, Vice-President  and member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  for  Ross  Breeders,  Inc.,  in  Huntsville,  Alabama and Manager  of  Technical  Service  for  Bayer’s  poultry  business  in  the  U.S.   Chuck also served as the  Executive  Vice  President  of  the  poultry veterinary  organization,  the  American  Association  of  Avian  Pathologists  (AAAP),  from 2003 to 2016. Chuck retired from The University of Georgia after 19 years as a Professor in the Department  of Population  Health and  the  Director  of  Clinical  Services  for  the  Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center in Athens, Georgia. In  May  2013,  Chuck and  his  wife  Christa started  a  private  contract  research company The Southern Poultry Research Group near Athens, Georgia.

 

Jose Charal, Ph.D. 

Technical Services Manager, ADM Animal Nutrition 

Jose Charal is from an agricultural region around Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, and currently resides in Georgia, US. He holds a B.S. in Agribusiness from El Zamorano University, a M.S in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois, and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the Louisiana State University.

He has held positions in the private sector managing procurement and nutrition development for multinational companies and has served as scientific research associate in the education sector.  He is an active member of the Poultry Sciences Association and American Association of Animal Sciences, and continues to be active in basic and applied research internally and in collaboration with Universities and Research Partners. During the last 6 years, he has been involved in developing ADM’s Animal Nutrition portfolio of services and feed additives and providing technical support to the North American market and worldwide. 

 

Mohamad Mortada, Ph.D 

Monogastric Research Scientist, ADM Animal Nutrition 

Mohamad Mortada is a monogastric research scientist at ADM. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Poultry Science at The University of Georgia and his master’s degree in poultry science from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

During his Ph.D., Mohamad focused on mitigating Campylobacter in poultry by characterizing chickens’ immune response to Campylobacter and evaluating different on-farm control strategies, including probiotics and symbiotics. During his master’s research, Mohamad developed an autogenous vaccine for Newcastle Disease Virus in poultry. Mohamad is trained in One Health from Duke University, where he became an advocate for the multidisciplinary approach to health that includes human, animal, and environmental health. 

Mohamad’s broad research interests are focused on maintaining gut health in chickens through supplementing innovative feed additives. At ADM, Mohamad is focused on developing microbiome solutions for poultry, screening animal feed enzymes, and understanding the mode of action of different feed additives.