ISSUE FOCUS 52 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2022 The gastrointestinal tract is the largest, most significant point of pathogen entry into live poultry production. In addition, it is the system responsible for extracting nutrients used in vital physiological functions promoting growth and homeostasis in birds. Enteric diseases negatively impact performance because they disrupt the poultry gastrointestinal tracts’ ability to derive essential nutrients required to grow and drive production. Therefore, preventing performance and productivity challenges associated with poor enteric health depends on our ability to mitigate pathogen prevalence in the GIT. What is the most impactful way to do that? Ensure that the most significant input into poultry production, feed, is of the highest quality. REDUCED GUT HEALTH AND ITS IMPACT ON PERFORMANCE Gut health is complex. Supporting bird survival and growth is a delicate balance of converting energy from nutrients and modulating immune responses, all the while supporting a synergistic community of microorganisms. In the healthy GIT, feed is digested with the assistance of the microbiota. The nutrients that are absorbed are used in energy cascades that promote essential physiological functions as well as growth and productivity. In a sick bird, energy is diverted and used to support immune responses instead of growth. The GIT is the largest entry point for pathogens. As such, it is critical for producers to carefully consider what impact feed quality has on gut health and, as a result, poultry performance. Disruption within the GIT prevents poultry from efficiently utilizing nutrients and triggers immune responses that divert energy from growth. Performance-limiting intestinal diseases such as necrotic enteritis are linked to inflammation, dysbiosis and damage to the mucosal barriers, as well as losses on feed conversion and body weights and increased flock mortality. HOW DO FEED-SOURCE PATHOGENS IMPACT GUT HEALTH? High microbial loads in feed negatively impact feed quality by potentially increasing the likelihood of spoilage, but more significantly through introducing pathogens directly to the GIT. Over the past few decades, Anitox has collected data on feed microbial loads and pathogen prevalence in different feed materials. We have observed CAN MITIGATING FEED-SOURCE PATHOGENS PROTECT GUT HEALTH AND POULTRY PERFORMANCE? Matt Oldnall Technical Services Manager EMEA/AP Anitox
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