SPECIAL STORY 56 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2022 INSIGHTS FROM SCANDINAVIA ON PERFORMANCE AND ROI OF BLENDED FEED ADDITIVES “Poultry producers are under increasing pressure from both regulatory bodies and consumers to raise birds without antibiotics and antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). This pressure reflects concerns about antimicrobial resistance and its harmful effects on human health. Legislation restricting antibiotics and AGPs in poultry production is requiring producers to identify new tools for supporting bird performance.” As broilers encounter multiple challenges that threaten growth, feed conversion, and production economics, there is increased interest in alternatives, in combination to the need to reduce antibiotics to support birds' health. Blended feed additives combine ingredients that address challenges while targeting specific benefits in the bird without antibiotics or coccidiostats. For example, organic acids are known to reduce the pH in the gastrointestinal tract and make it harder for some pathogens to thrive, while plant extracts aim to deliver immunomodulatory effects and support morphological and physiological effects in the bird. But while extensive research has investigated the mode of action and efficacy of individual ingredients, fewer studies have evaluated the synergism that occurs between the different classes of feed additives. Such a siloed approach to studying ingredients overlooks synergies that can influence performance results. And although the ultimate value of any nutritional intervention should always be compared to the cost of implementing it, very little research has focused on the additional value of blended solutions. At Scandinavian Poultry Research in Våler, Hedmark, Norway, a large study assessed the performance of six blended feed additives that aim to support gut health in broilers. Below, Selko® Global Product Manager Gut Health, Yvonne van der Horst shares key takeaways from the study. What questions did the study seek to address? This academic study sought to compare six commercial feed additive solutions and a control diet to understand the effects of different blends on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Additional value per broiler was calculated based on the above-mentioned data. Given the claims of different types of additive solutions – organic acids, plant extracts, prebiotics, and probiotics – it can be challenging to assess the actual performance of feed additives, particularly as ingredients in the blends interact with each other and result in synergistic effects. Researchers sought to better understand how these products work in broilers under challenged conditions and without antibiotics or coccidiostats. Yvonne van der Horst Global Product Manager Gut Health Selko® Feed Additives
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