Farmers often puzzle over what may be the cause of symptoms like health deterioration, fever, lethargy, poor performance, high mortality, digestive problems, liver damage, a frail immune system, reduced fertility, inflammations and necrosis in their livestock. Research on the occurrence of endotoxins reveals that frequently they are the villain behind such damage.
Technical Sales Manager
Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition (Germany)
In every part of the world, we see the same picture over and over again: High-yielding animals suffering from hoof infections, ear or tail necrosis, liver damage, repeated inflammations, impaired immune responses and reduced performance. The reason is almost always the same: high endotoxin loads. They can cause considerable damage and are a serious threat to the stability and profitability of farms. Yet endotoxins are still disregarded or significantly underestimated. We want to clarify what endotoxins actually are and show how you can protect your animals and your farm from endotoxin destruction.
ENDOTOXINS — THE THREAT IN THE GUT
Endotoxins are widespread in intensive livestock farming where rations high in starch and protein are needed to meet energy and protein requirements for high performance. Such diet formulations can lead to elevated endotoxin levels because they tend to influence the microflora of the gut or rumen toward gram-negative bacteria. As a result, endotoxins are formed in the digestive tract of animals when these gram-negative bacteria replicate or die during the digestive process. In addition, these intensive feeds damage the intestinal wall of the animals. Thus, the endotoxins in the intestine can be more easily absorbed through the intestinal wall and transported to the liver. If the amount of endotoxins exceeds the liver’s ability to detoxify them, the endotoxins trigger severe immune responses in the animals. As a result, clinical signs such as inflammation, liver damage and necrosis can occur and feed efficiency decreases by almost one-third.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
Farmers often puzzle over what may be the cause of symptoms like health deterioration, fever, lethargy, poor performance, high mortality, digestive problems, liver damage, a frail immune system, reduced fertility, inflammations and necrosis in their livestock. Research on the occurrence of endotoxins reveals that frequently they are the villain behind such damage. Recent studies indicate that young and high-performing animals are particularly susceptible to endotoxins. In swine, studies show that 50 to 100% of piglets are affected by tail, ear or claw necrosis from as early as their first day of life, which can be attributed at least in part to high endotoxin levels. And in the case of ruminants, where endotoxins cause laminitis and tail necrosis, as many as 90% of slaughtered fattening bulls have tail necrosis. Imagine the tremendous performance and health losses livestock producers could avoid in their animals if they were simply consistent in preventing endotoxins. An investment in endotoxin prevention is therefore always an investment in the farm with a direct impact on its profitability.
TRIPLE DOES THE TRICK
To successfully prevent endotoxin damages in high-performing animals, Dr. Eckel’s Anta®Catch follows a triple mode of action. First, it reduces the harmful effects of endotoxins across the board by reducing endotoxins in the digestive tract. In addition, its prebiotic ingredients strengthen the intestinal barrier and, finally, the phytogenic ingredients support the liver, counteracting excessive inflammatory reactions (Figure 1).
Anta®Catch is made from carefully selected raw materials that have been combined to provide the best protection against endotoxin-related problems. The product is activated in a unique process. This is achieved through rectification of the cations on the product’s surface, thus enabling Anta®Catch to immobilise endotoxins over a wide pH range, effectively catching a large amount of endotoxins in the animal’s digestive tract (Figure 2).
In addition, the micronisation of the phytogenic ingredients in Anta®Catch improves the efficiency of their release and increases their effectiveness in protecting the liver by counteracting excessive inflammatory responses. Thereby, Anta®Catch protects poultry, ruminants, swine and aquatic species effectively against endotoxin effects. This is an enormous step towards improving animal welfare and farm profitability.
Like to learn more about endotoxins and their effects from an academic perspective? Register here for an on-demand webinar with international specialist Professor Qendrim Zebeli, Chair of the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna to get an exclusive perspective from a leading specialist.
About Dr Muhammad Umar
With a degree in veterinary medicine and a master in dairy science, Muhammad Umar has already several years of experience in the field of animal nutrition. His special expertise are ruminants and the use of phytogenic feed additives to improve performance and sustainability. As Technical Sales Manager at Dr. Eckel, Muhammad Umar focusses on supporting our customers with the best phytogenic solutions for their needs.
