ISSUE FOCUS 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2024 “Dietary supplements, which focus on enhancing and optimizing gut microfloral diversity to aid intestinal health and decrease the animal’s susceptibility to disease, can be broadly classed as either prebiotics or probiotics. Over the past number of years, a focus has been placed on identifying how nutrition can benefit the gastrointestinal microflora. In particular, there has been an emphasis on understanding how enhancing microbial diversity influences health and performance.” Gut health and its management is an intricate and complex area governed by numerous factors, including nutrition, microbiology, immunology and physiology. When gastrointestinal health is compromised, nutrient digestion and absorption are affected, feed conversion becomes reduced, and susceptibility to disease is heightened, ultimately resulting in a negative economic impact. UNDERSTANDING THE ANIMAL’S MICROBIOME The community of microorganisms in the gut is referred to as the “microbiome” and is recognised as a very diverse community of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. Its diversity varies along the different regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with some regions having less tolerable conditions and containing reduced microbial diversity in comparison to regions more favorable to microbial growth. The gastrointestinal microbiome plays a vital role in nutritional, physiological and immune functions. Poor intestinal health is associated with increased pathogen colonization and susceptibility to infectious disease, and it leads ultimately to poor weight gain and increased mortalities. Within the GI tract, there are multiple interactions between the host, intestinal environment and microbial cells, in addition to feed components. These interactions underline the critical role of the microbiota in the health and well-being of the host, although the exact manner in which this is achieved is not yet fully understood. THE ROLE OF MICROFLORAL DIVERSITY IN REDUCING PATHOGENS IN CHICKEN The diversity of the microbiome plays a critical role in gut health, with beneficial microbes forming a protective barrier lining the gut. This barrier prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridia and Escherichia, among others. There are numerous theories on how the beneficial microbes prevent pathogen colonization. Some suggest that potential attachment sites on the gut cells become occupied, thereby reducing the opportuniHARNESSING THE MICROBIOME TO ENHANCE POULTRY HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY Dr. Richard Murphy Research Director Alltech
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