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Poultry production and feeding
T by AB Vista, Spain
he Fifth Online Induction Session on Poultry Production and Feeding, organised by AB Vista, was held between May 29-June 8th. In total, 15 talks were presented in five different sessions. The nine speakers invited were from both academia and industry in Spain. The objective of the induction session was to present an update of the current status on poultry production and feeding, mostly focused on the Spanish market, but with some aspects relating to a more broad and international view. The topics presented across the different sessions ranged from factors influencing feed quality; components of feed and examples of energy, fibrous, and proteinaceous sources; use of additives to support gut health, legislation; mycotoxins and pathogen control in feed mills; macrominerals and electrolytic balance and performance and meat yield as the main economic targets in broiler production. Dr Medel from Innovabiotics, a company with experience in animal and human nutrition, feed and food additives, highlighted that approximately 434,777 tonnes of feed additives are used each year in Spain, 20 percent of which are zootechnical additives. These additives have been designed to promote gut health and function and are of particular interest, given the ban on use of antibiotics as growth promoters in feedstuffs. However, feed producers are aware that none of the feed additives available in the market today are effective enough to replace antibiotics. Due to the huge range of feed additives available, it is difficult to select those combinations that will come closest to replacing antibiotics. Dr Medel pointed out the importance of supporting gut function with additives as the best way to improve animal performance and reduce the opportunity of pathogens to proliferate. Another topic discussed during the webinar by Dr Mateos was the use of fibrous materials in poultry to favour the development of the gastrointestinal tract. The value of fibre will depend on the level included, its solubility, water retention capacity, fermentability and, of course, the age of the animals. Dr Mateos 60 | November 2020 - Milling and Grain
judges an excess of soluble fibre as being detrimental for the animal (in the absence of exogenous enzymes) and, if some fibre has to be included, then it should be insoluble fibre. In particular, he suggests using insoluble fibre and indeed very lignified fibre, such as oat hulls, to stimulate the development of the gizzard and to increase intestinal peristalsis. Wheat bran is another and viable insoluble fibre source. Some caution when other types of fibre are used in poultry diets was noted. Sugar beet pulp, for example, is high in soluble fibre and this is highly fermentable, so its inclusion level needs limiting. Rice hulls are a good source of insoluble fibre but need caution in use, due to a high silica content, which can be abrasive in the gastrointestinal tract. The practical advice from Dr Mateos is to use insoluble fibre in young birds as it improves gizzard development, acid production and activation of the gastric enzymes and litter quality and, of course, improves nutrient digestibility and, hence, animal performance. Feeding insoluble fibre to pullets, laying hens and breeders is also beneficial. In pullets, such fibre also helps to bulk up feed volume and enable an increased feed intake capacity, without stimulating excessive gain. In laying hens, fermentation of fibre sources is related with less aggressive behaviour and, in breeders, it may help to mitigate the welfare impact of being severely feed restricted. Dr Mateos promotes the huge potential of fibre in the formulation of poultry diets if well handled. Dr Mateos also reviewed the effects of calcium and phosphorus in poultry diets and the differences between available phosphorus and digestible phosphorus from an analytical point of view. Dr Mateos discusses the extraordinary evolution of phytase development, and confirms that some of them can release around 90 percent of total phytate phosphorus. Finally, Dr Mateos presented some of his thoughts about calcium. Although it is the cheapest nutrient in most formulas, it can result in the most expensive consequences for meat producers, should complications occur. Currently, there is not enough data regarding digestible calcium contents or birds’ requirements, but this is research that is suspected to become available in the short-term. www.abvista.com