ISSUE FOCUS 36 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2023 “All animals are born without an adaptive immune system in place, it must be developed from scratch. It should be noted that most aquatic species only have the innate immune system to protect them from foreign invaders. With these challenges in mind, researchers have been evaluating how ß-glucans in the diet can support young animals’ immunity and resilience.” THE RACE TO IMMUNE COMPETENCE HOW β-GLUCANS CAN HELP Sanne van Beers Product Manager Selko Global All livestock and aquaculture production species are exposed to challenges that may subsequently affect their health and performance. Immune competence is a common denominator among resilient livestock and aquaculture species. As scientists learn more about the effects that different molecules exert on animals’ immune status, attention is focusing on how beta-glucans (ß-glucans) in feed additives may support animals’ immunity. Below, we consider the importance of establishing an immune competent status early in life and look at how ß-glucans in the diet may influence an animal’s immunity. Going beyond theory, we share results from scientific trials involving chickens, swine, calves and aquatic species that evaluated a feed additive containing specific ß-glucans. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT YOUNG ANIMALS’ IMMUNE SYSTEMS? All animals are particularly vulnerable during the first few weeks/months of life when their immune system is not fully developed. Consider that a broiler chicken’s immune status requires 4-6 weeks to fully develop. Given that in most production regions chickens are harvested at 5 weeks of age, a bird may never achieve a fully developed immune system. A similar delay in achieving full immune status is observed in post-weaning piglets and calves. INNATE AND ADAPTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEMS When we talk about an animal being immune competent, we are considering more than the innate (non-specific) immunity that is present at birth/ hatch. The adaptive (specific) immune system develops to help the animal fight targeted pathogens and remember them so that antibodies can respond in case of a new infection with the same or a similar pathogen. Because all animals are born without an adaptive immune system in place, it must be developed from scratch. It should be noted that most aquatic species only have the innate immune system to protect them from foreign invaders. With these challenges in mind, researchers have been evaluating how ß-glucans in the diet can support young animals’ immunity and resilience.
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