Issue Focus

Grain began being cultivated in the Neolithic, and the Sumerians became the first society to store it by ca. 4000 B.C. Grain represents the most important nutritional element, both for humans and animals. Its storage is especially important to guarantee food safety, but also for price stability.

The review of the current knowledge of the most relevant gut health biomarkers for poultry production are summarized in this article and effect of the probiotic solution Bacillus subtilis DSM 29784 on modulating these markers are also highlighted.

Most farmers nowadays are aware of the value in adding small amounts of organic acids to the feed or drinking water to support the intestinal health of their livestock. Scientists have analyzed the preservative, gut health and antimicrobial benefits of these additives extensively.

Commercial piglets weaning implies sharp changes of the intestinal morphology and commensal gut microbiota. These changes can predispose piglets to post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD).

Since decades nutritionists all over the world are using dietary fibers in animal nutrition to optimize performance. In the early years of the 21st century the industry started to focus more on the prebiotic aspects of certain fiber and sugar combinations. This is what is called the second generation of fibers.

“The ‘Seed, Feed, Weed’ concept is a comprehensive programme developed in order to improve the gut health of birds, whether breeder, broiler or layer. Improved performance has been measured across all types of birds, however if good gut health can be established in the breeding population this will provide the biggest benefit to chick and hence bird performance.”

Trouw Nutrition researchers found that adding hydroxychloride copper (IntelliBond®) to swine diets could help improve growth performance and reduce negative interactions between copper and added vitamins or enzymes. The use of high levels of copper also was found to limit the overgrowth of unwanted bacteria helping to manage gut health, increasing average daily gain (ADG) throughout production and improving hot carcass weight.

Sustainability and safeguarding the environment are key issues for the poultry industry. The industry is proactively managing its environmental obligations in the face of toughening environmental legislation and governmental initiatives, particularly where ammonia and nitrogen output is a focus.

About 40 percent of livestock emissions consist of enteric methane. Nitrous oxide and methane from fertilizer management are other emissions from livestock. Although it seems very difficult to control these two resources that arise as a result of a natural process, alternative solutions are also developing rapidly. Some studies are showing that changes to be made especially in the nutritional diets of animals decrease this rate.

The Covid-19 pandemic was the main agenda for 2020. Like every sector, livestock and feed sectors have had their share of this outbreak. At the beginning of the pandemic, with the effect of panic purchases, the demand for meat, milk and fishery products increased. However, disruptions in raw material supply, logistics, and labor resources due to restrictions made it difficult for the industry to respond to consumer demands at the same pace.