ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2023 21 ON THE FARM SUCCESS DEMONSTRATES THE BENEFITS OF AN INTEGRATED APPROACH Antimicrobial reduction efforts around the globe have shown that an integrated approach to reducing antibiotics on the farm must consider feed, farm, and health management. Introduced in 2022, Trouw Nutrition’s “Small Switches. Big Change” antibiotic reduction program is tailored to the objectives of each producer. For some farms, the goal may be to reduce the use of antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes or to achieve certain reduction targets. Other farms may aim to eliminate antibiotics from their production. The program consists of five steps: 1. profile and understand the producer’s objective 2. assess the entire production environment 3. design a value-added program tailored to the farm 4. assist with implementation 5. evaluate the results and determine how much further to take the program Farms’ results show that small changes can indeed drive big improvements. A broiler integrator in Spain reduced its use of antibiotics by 95% over a six-year period, while lowering mortality by 36%. Similarly, a swine feed mill in Spain saw a decrease in year-over-year antibiotic use and, by 2021, it had reduced antibiotics by 86% compared to 2016. The feed mill continues to reduce antibiotics without sacrificing animal performance. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO STEER GUT HEALTH When reducing the need for antibiotics, maintaining gut health is essential. Many times, chronic health issues in pigs and poultry are related to gut health challenges. About 70-80% of antibiotics used in poultry are intended to manage gut health problems. Given that most immune cells are in the gut, it stands to reason that improving gut health can also support immunity. This realization introduces possibilities to deploy feed additives such as combinations of organic acid blends; or change the source of existing dietary elements, like trace minerals, to better support gut health. Recognizing the importance gut health plays in animal health and performance, the Selko® portfolio of feed and water additives is designed around five-pillars (Figure 1). Selko invests annually to evaluate feed additives’ mode of action. R&D trials and field studies are conducted in global research centers, through partnerships with universities and on real-world commercial farms. Such research validates science-based feed additives that support the five pillars of gut health. Organic acids delivered in feed and in water provide an interesting opportunity to support multiple gut health objectives. For example, specific blends of organic acids dosed at the proper level have been demonstrated to lower the pH in the crop, provenFigure 1. Five gut health pillars of Selko Feed Additives.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==