ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2023 45 reliance on antibiotics. Many producers have been successful in making the transition to antibiotic-free production or antibiotic reduction, despite the inevitable challenges. To prevent disease in poultry and promote growth for broiler chicken, it is important to make both the outside and internal environments as beneficial and comfortable as possible for the animal. For the outside environment, it is helpful to have a nutritionist evaluate any environmental factors, such as drinking water and air quality. Biosecurity, farm management and vaccination programs also play an important role in keeping the flock safe. The internal environment is related to gut health, which is directly linked to immunity and growth performance. For poultry producers, ensuring good animal gut health is important for preventing the disease challenges that come with antibiotic reduction on the farm. A complete gut health program like Seed, Feed, Weed (SFW) aids in reducing antibiotic usage in poultry by: 1. Seeding the gut-favorable organisms (i.e., probiotics) 2. Feeding them and maintaining a proper environment in which they can survive 3. Weeding out the unfavorable organisms before they colonize the intestinal tract This helps prevent pathogenic bacteria from binding to the epithelium and works to maintain microbial diversity, which improves the animal’s natural defenses. In conclusion, with alarming predictions on what antibiotic resistance could do to people’s health and livelihood, the poultry industry is taking steps to reduce antibiotic use in animal feed. Many companies and farms have successfully switched to antibiotic-free production or antibiotic reduction in recent years. This shows that alternatives to antibiotics are available to help producers maintain their businesses. Additionally, a sustainable poultry production can also help companies reach a new market and gain a competitive advantage. About Tien Le Tien received her bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communications from the University of Greenwich, London, with the University Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement. She started her career at Alltech in 2016 as part of the Corporate Career Development Program, spending time in both the U.S. and Ireland before taking a role in Vietnam, her home country. Tien presently serves as the editorial content manager for Alltech, a role that allows her to fulfill her passions for writing, innovation and sustainable agriculture.
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