ISSUE FOCUS 44 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2024 About Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez has over 35 years of experience in the feed, poultry and swine industries. Following his completion of a degree in agricultural science from the University of Puerto Rico, he went on to further his education with an MBA in Technology Management. As Technical Services Manager for the Americas, Ramirez aids producers in understanding feed as a fomite and works alongside leading producers to implement effective feed-source pathogen mitigation and milling efficiency strategies. ceptibility to infectious diseases. Recent research has revealed that certain microbiome makeups are related to better immune responses in broilers and lower mortality in broiler breeders. FEED SANITATION PROMOTES COMMERCIAL LAYER GUT HEALTH Feed contains variable microbial loads and is a proven fomite for bacteria and viral pathogens. Unlike other fomites, it is centrally produced, systematically disseminated throughout commercial layer operations and consumed daily. A variety of avian pathogens including bacteria, viruses and fungi have been linked to feed. In a study evaluating mixed feed samples from different commercial mills, Clostridia was determined to be prevalent in most of the samples tested. Similarly, Salmonella has recurrently been associated with animal feed in more than 500 publications. More recently, the use of CRISPR SeroSeq has shown prevalence of Salmonella serovars of animal and human health relevance in feed mills around the world. Incorporating feed sanitation practices in layer production diminishes the influx of microbes into the system and contributes to fostering gut development, a balanced microbiome and health and overall performance. Anitox has observed through initial data generated in ongoing studies that the adoption of efficient feed sanitation methods can deter Salmonella colonization in hens via feed, consequently enhancing egg production during peak laying periods. Additionally, feed sanitation influences microbiome composition, laying the groundwork for healthier birds and bolstering their well-being throughout the production cycle. Given the heightened demands of modern poultry production, where birds are expected to produce more while maintaining safety and nutrition, feed sanitation presents the opportunity to establish an additional line of separation to reinforce existing biosecurity programs and help control of feed-source pathogens. Ensuring clean feed at the point of consumption plays a crucial role in mitigating pathogen prevalence within live production systems. Pathogen-free feed not only promotes gut health but also facilitates efficient energy conversion, ultimately reducing the incidence of performance-limiting diseases, bird mortality and egg contamination within layer production systems. Only a true feed sanitizer, such as Termin-8® and Finio®, offers producers the highest level of feed pathogen control and continued protection against recontamination for at least 14 days. While best-inclass feed sanitation may not be necessary in every scenario, Fortrol® offers an alternative solution for achieving a general reduction in feed microbial loads. This organic acid product, enhanced with Anitox application technology, provides producers with valuable options for strategically managing feed microbial levels. By incorporating Fortrol® and Finio® into a multi-point intervention program, producers can effectively control feed microbial loads and ensure long-term protection in targeted areas as needed.
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