SPECIAL STORY 56 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2022 There is limited information available on the effect of fiber on litter quality in broiler breeders. Nelson et al. 2010 from Aarhus University in Denmark compared the effect of three different feed formulations on selected health related parameters in broiler breeders. They evaluated a low fiber control formulation (Total Dietary Fiber 3,03 %) and two high fiber formulations (TDF 4,19 and 3,75 %). The two high fiber formulations differed mainly in the ratio of soluble/insoluble fiber. One was high in insoluble fiber (insoluble NSP 90% of total NSP) and the other contained more soluble fiber (insoluble NSP 79% of total dietary fiber). The formulation containing high fiber with an elevated proportion in soluble fibers caused significant problems with wet litter. Results are shown in Table 1. It can be concluded from this trial that high fiber levels can help to control the litter moisture, but the fiber needs to be insoluble. Soluble fiber has adverse effects. There is evidence that the positive impact of insoluble fibers on the wet litter scenario is related to the impact of the insoluble fibers on the transit period. Insoluble fiber speeds up the transit of the digesta in the small intestestine. Thus harmful bacteria cannot colonize and produce endotoxines, which often cause a release of water into the lumen. FIBER AND CANNIBALISM Beside the management, the genetics and the lighting program dietary factors are discussed as a cause for cannibalism. Low protein diets, low sodium intake as well as a lack of some essential amino acids are seen as a cause of cannibalism. More and more trials show the importance of an adequate level of insoluble fiber in the formulations to prevent cannibalism. A trial at the University of New England in Australia demonstrated that the inclusion of mill run as an insoluble fiber source significantly affect the cannibalism related mortality in layers. During the laying stage the mortality in the control group fed the wheat based feed (2.9 % crude fiber) was 29%. By using mill run the mortality was significantly reduced down to 14%. Similar results have been observed at the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany. Here an insoluble crude fiber concentrate resulted in a reduction in feather pecking in layers from 10.8 % in the control group to 2.9% in the crude fiber concentrate-Group. In this trial the insoluble crude fiber concentrate caused better feather conditions as well (Table 2). Grashorn and his group from the University of Hohenheim, Germany did interesting trials that help to explore the mode of action of fibers on the cannibalsm scenario. They established that strains with high incidence of feather pecking ingest more feathers than a strain with low incidence of feather pecking. Harlander discovered that feathers have the same effect on the intestinal tract as insoluble fiber, which is the acceleration of the intestinal transit time. A logical conclusion is that the animals ingest the feathers to overcome a deficiency of insoluble fiber. For sure this postulated mode of action for fiber deficiency related feather pecking and cannibalism is valid for broiler breeders as well. In broiler breeders there is evidence that the occurrence of cannibalism and feather pecking caused as well by the restricted feeding practice. Table 1: Litter dry matter of broiler breeders as influenced by the fiber source a,b: means differ significant (p<0.001) Control (low fiber) 41a High fiber (insoluble) 70b High fiber (elevated level soluble) 25c Litter dry matter Table 2: Feather pecking and feather conditions as influenced by an insoluble crude fiber concentrate (University of Hohenheim, Germany) 0=intact feathering; 5=no feathers left *ARBOCEL, JRS Germany Feather pecking (%) 10.8 2.9 Head + Neck 0.31 0.11 Feather conditions Chest 1.56 1.21 Control Crude fiber concentrate*
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==