ARTICLE 54 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2023 In every part of the world, we see the same picture over and over again: High-yielding animals suffering from hoof infections, ear or tail necrosis, liver damage, repeated inflammations, impaired immune responses and reduced performance. The reason is almost always the same: high endotoxin loads. They can cause considerable damage and are a serious threat to the stability and profitability of farms. Yet endotoxins are still disregarded or significantly underestimated. We want to clarify what endotoxins actually are and show how you can protect your animals and your farm from endotoxin destruction. ENDOTOXINS — THE THREAT IN THE GUT Endotoxins are widespread in intensive livestock farming where rations high in starch and protein are needed to meet energy and protein requirements for high performance. Such diet formulations can lead to elevated endotoxin levels because they tend to influence the microflora of the gut or rumen toward gram-negative bacteria. As a result, endotoxins are formed in the digestive tract of animals when these gram-negative bacteria replicate or die during the digestive process. In addition, these intensive feeds damage the intestinal wall of the animals. Thus, the endotoxins in the intestine can be more easily absorbed through the intestinal wall and transported to the liver. If the amount of endotoxins exceeds the liver's ability to detoxify them, the endotoxins trigger severe immune responses in the animals. As a result, clinical signs such as inflammation, liver damage and necrosis can occur and feed efficiency decreases by almost one-third. KNOW YOUR ENEMY Farmers often puzzle over what may be the cause of symptoms like health deterioration, fever, lethargy, poor performance, high mortality, digestive problems, liver damage, a frail immune system, reduced fertility, inflammations and necrosis in their livestock. Research on the occurrence of endotoxins reveals that frequently they are the villain behind such damage. Recent studies indicate that young and high-performing animals are particularly susceptible to endotoxins. In swine, studies show that 50 to 100% of piglets are affected by tail, ear or claw necrosis from as early as their first day of “Farmers often puzzle over what may be the cause of symptoms like health deterioration, fever, lethargy, poor performance, high mortality, digestive problems, liver damage, a frail immune system, reduced fertility, inflammations and necrosis in their livestock. Research on the occurrence of endotoxins reveals that frequently they are the villain behind such damage.” ENDOTOXIN CONTAMINATION - DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGER Dr Muhammad Umar Technical Sales Manager Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition (Germany)
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