ISSUE FOCUS 36 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2022 Many factors contribute to the profitability of livestock production. Feed intake, body weight, daily gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality are all interrelated parameters that impact the economy of livestock farming. According to the regulations in the European Union, livestock production must also be conducted with animal welfare in mind and in a way that minimizes the effect of livestock farming on the environment and climate change. Can the gut be the common denominator of all these parameters? A HEALTHY GUT MEANS… The gut is a complex structure crucial for animal production performance for many reasons. Effective absorption of nutrients is one of them. The performance of birds relies on gut health, which is often described as the proper functioning of the intestinal barrier. The economic profit is hidden just there! The major factor is the integrity of the intestinal barrier that protects the body from pathogens as well as xenobiotics entering the GIT. The gut is a complicated structure with many different components: a mucus layer, microbiota, the immunological system, and, of course, tightly connected enterocytes, goblet cells (mucus production), and undifferentiated cells. The role of any of the mentioned components cannot be underestimated. It is worth reminding that immunity play a very important role here and that immunity on a large scale comes from the belly. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) forms the local immune system, which is crucial for the overall immunity of the bird. A dynamic interaction links all these structures with each other. Epithelial cell monolayer maintains the integrity and permeability of the intestinal barrier. Enterocytes are connected by many different junctions: desmosomes, gap junctions, adherent junctions, and TJs (tight junction proteins). The most recently studied transmembrane proteins necessary for maintaining mucosal homeostasis are: CLDNs (claudins), OCLN (occludins), JAMs (junctional adhesion molecules), and ZO (zonula occludens protein). They connect the epithelial cells, regulate paracellular permeability, and are involved in the signalling pathways. When it comes to gastrointestinal or systemic diseases, the changes in the structure of the intestinal barrier can be observed at the molecular level. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli or Salmonella can disrupt the function of the mucosal barrier in chickens by modifying TJs with bacterial-derived proteases. Proper functioning of Tjs is necessary for maintaining mucosal homeostasis and, therefore, the performance of birds. CAN GUT HEALTH SAVE THE POCKET OF A FARMER AS WELL AS … THE PLANET? Paulina Abramowicz-Pindor, PhD Department of Research and Development AdiFeed Co Ltd.
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