ISSUE FOCUS 28 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2025 HOW IS BIOSTRONG™ DUAL SUPPORTING ANIMAL PERFORMANCE? The microbiome plays a key role in supporting animal performance. In a comparison between the microbiome from birds sampled from well-performing farms and under-performing farms using an advanced gut microbiome surveillance tool (Galleon™), the data showed that the major difference is coming from microbiome maturation pattern. In good performing birds, the gut microbiome follows a typical pattern with a higher abundance of lactic acid producers in early life, which is replaced by butyrate producers in the later stage. The higher abundance of lactic producers (such as Lactobacillus) results in increased production of lactic acid which is used by butyrate producers as a substrate to grow in abundance. Once the butyrate producers grow in abundance, the concentration of butyric acid (which is beneficial for improved gut integrity) increases in the gut, making the gut microbiome more resilient to challenges and supports health as well as performance. In addition, the levels of Proteobacteria (such as E. coli) were always lower in good performing birds. In short, the key is that the faster we can get to the more resilient gut microbiome, the better it is for improved broiler performance. As Galleon™ uses samples collected in a non-invasive (cloacal swabs) way, multiple samples can be collected for different time points from the same bird to track the microbiome maturation pattern. In one of the recent studies, samples were collected from the same set of birds at different time points to follow the microbiome profile. Interestingly, the results showed that at 7d of age, broiler fed Biostrong™ Dual had significantly higher Lactobacillus compared to the basal diet-fed control birds. In addition to that, the abundance of Lachnospiraceae (butyric acid-producing microbe) was significantly higher in Biostrong™ Dual, birds at 21d of age. Similarly, a meta-analysis across four different previous studies showed Biostrong™ Dual birds had higher Lachnospiraceae along with lower undesirable bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens at 21 and 35d of age. The microbiome profile from Biostrong™ Dual birds in that meta-analysis at 21d of age was already closer to that of control birds at 35d indicating the microbiome maturation is faster in those birds. Overall, the pattern in microbiome development seen in Biostrong™ Dual birds follows the typical microbiome maturation pattern seen in good-performing birds at a faster rate compared to control birds. This accelerated maturation of gut microbiome seen with the feeding of Biostrong™ Dual, mainly by supporting the beneficial bacteria (such as Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae) could be contributing to performance benefits we observed in birds early on. CONCLUSION By leveraging a data-driven, science-based approach, Biostrong™ Dual delivers a consistent, performance-enhancing solution for broilers. Its unique blend of SCFP and EOC promotes gut health, promotes microbiome development, and optimizes feed conversion. Poultry producers looking to maintain both flock health and production efficiency can benefit from incorporating this synergistic feed additive into their nutritional programs. References may be provided upon request.
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