ISSUE FOCUS 38 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE September 2024 Multiple stressors can affect the functioning of body cells, therefore performance and economic profitability of breeder chickens during their production cycle. As opposed to the early laying phase where the intrinsic antioxidant capacity is usually sufficient, birds during Phase 2 of lay do suffer from excessive stress. Their oxidative challenge leads to a reduced production-, fertile fraction- and hatchability of hatching eggs. Consequently, for an optimal performance these breeders can truly benefit from tools such as bioactive antioxidants added sufficiently to their diet. OXIDATIVE STRESS, AN IMPORTANT METABOLIC CHALLENGE Oxidative stress is a major and still underestimated issue in breeder production leading to significant egg performance- and reproductive losses. It can be caused by multiple factors such as • aging • climatic stress, e.g. heat stress • animal stocking density • vaccinations • pathogenic pressure (low hygiene) • antibiotic treatments • animal handling • feed quality and -transitioning • ventilation and lighting • induced molting High metabolic activity, linked to intensive production systems, also represents a key predisposing factor. When too many of these stressors impact the bird, they create an imbalance between the formation of unstable oxidants (i.e. free radicals) and the biological capacity of body cells to detoxify them. Thus, during such challenging conditions, the bird fails to produce sufficient endogenous antioxidants itself. Such an oxidative pressure causes damage to biological constituents of all body cells (incl. lipids, DNA, proteins) and leads to tissue injury. Especially in heavyweight Phase-2 broiler breeders, such oxidative stress occurs and results in a suboptimal functioning of vital organs (e.g. intestines, liver, bones and the sensitive reproductive tract) as well as in an increased disease susceptibility. Economically, this affects laying performance, egg fertility, hatchability (incl. egg quality/embryonic development) and day-old chick quality. To avoid this common state of oxidative stress, aging breeders are in need of bioactive antioxidants provided sufficiently to their diet. Bioavailable and potent polyphenols, for instance, are such highly protective compounds and of plant origin. KEY CRITERIA FOR BIOACTIVE DIETARY ANTIOXIDANTS Truly preventing a body state of oxidative stress requires extra dietary supplementation of in vivo INCREASING LAYING PERSISTENCY & EGG HATCHABILITY OF PHASE-2 BREEDERS WITH A NATURAL ANTIOXIDANT Steven Beckers Global Product Manager Antioxidants Impextraco - Belgium
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