INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES | Sponsored
Importance of gut health in reducing antibiotic use still underestimated by poultry producers
Ron Eskens Soowpictures
“While antibiotic use in poultry has already been reduced significantly in several markets, a lot of countries are still using them irresponsibly. Much more can and should be done to reduce the need for these therapies and to safeguard their use for protecting animal welfare.” This is what Barbara Brutsaert, Antibiotic Reduction Programme Lead at Trouw Nutrition, shared with Feedinfo during a recent catch up to discuss, amongst other things, the importance of the poultry industry continuing its efforts to further reduce the therapeutic use of antibiotics in production. Of equal importance, according to her, is increasing the industry’s awareness of just how critical bird gut integrity can be. “While the industry understands its importance, its role in antibiotic reduction is probably still underestimated”. So, in this Industry Perspectives, Feedinfo sits down with both Ms. Brutsaert and Yvonne van der Horst, Global Product Manager for Gut Health at Trouw Nutrition’s feed additive Barbara brand Selko®, to find out Brutsaert how the feed additive solutions provider is helping the industry improve its approach to bird gut health as a means of addressing the antibiotics gap. We also find out how its popular Selko Presan®-FY product, a blend of a phenolic compound, slow release C12, target release butyrates, mediumchain fatty acids (MCFA) and organic acids, remains a valuable tool in supporting gut integrity in poultry 10 years after its market release, contributing to antibiotic reduction strategies. [Feedinfo] What should farmers be considering when developing an effective antibiotics reduction strategy?
22 | SUMMER 2022
[Barbara Brutsaert] First, a good antibiotic use analysis is needed, focusing on what certain antibiotics are used for and what the producer wants to achieve with their use. Second, an assessment of the feed, farm, and health status of the full production chain needs to be done to fully understand the current situation, including understanding the real triggers for antibiotic use, and also the opportunities and challenges. Based on these assessments a customised value-added programme should be designed, which includes nutrition, farm management and health management solutions. It should also consider economics and animal welfare, to increase the chance of long-term success. [Feedinfo] And when it comes to supporting gut integrity in birds under this strategy, what should be kept in mind? [Barbara Brutsaert] When people think of antibiotics the first aspect that comes to mind is the microbiota itself. However, several antibiotics also have anti-inflammatory properties. Beyond that, it is important to fully understand the primary triggers (eg. immune suppression by viral infection or mycotoxins) which lead to the health challenges for which antibiotics are used. Because most of a bird’s immune cells reside in the gut, maintaining a healthy intestinal environment is critical to supporting its health in general, even under challenges that originate outside the gut (e.g., locomotory, respiratory, etc.). By improving gut integrity, you not only improve the absorption of nutrients necessary to fight diseases, but also the immune system and resilience of the animal. A healthy gut barrier also enables good digestion of feed and, for example, avoids the oversupply of fermentable protein in the hindgut, which can cause harmful microbial overgrowth. This is often a trigger for antibiotic use, making both microbiota management and gut integrity key aspects in the effective reduction of the use of antibiotics. [Feedinfo] To help producers improve the gut health of their flocks, you are proposing Presan-FY, a product which was launched 10 years ago. Considering how rapidly the landscape surrounding antibiotic reduction in poultry production has changed during this time, how effective a tool can it still be here? [Yvonne van der Horst] As mentioned before, it’s important to create a holistic programme based on a producers’ individual situation through an assessment of the full value chain. Presan-FY has a broad-spectrum effect; it both balances the microbiota and directly impacts the gut integrity, both of which are crucial to keep a bird’s gut healthy. It does this through its blend of phenolic compound, slow
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