Colonization of the intestinal tract by (potential) pathogenic bacterial in young broilers can lead to increased mortality and reduced production performance, reduced efficiency of nutrient digestibility and utilization, bone disorders, wet litter problems and welfare problems. Different feed additives like organic acids and their monoglycerides, botanicals, pre- and probiotics can be used to prevent pathogen colonization of the intestinal tract. Elan®Control is formulated as such a product with a strong antibacterial efficacy against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria, based on monoglycerides of four different fatty acids (C3, C4, C8 and C10) and cinnamaldehyde.
Elan®Control C12 is further enriched with monolaurin to enhance the immunocompetence of broilers. The effect of this unique blend of active ingredients was tested in a broiler experiment under ‘commercial’ conditions.
Category: Uncategorized
PHYTOGENIC FEED ADDITIVES AS SUPPLEMENTATION TO SUPPORT COCCIDIOSIS VACCINATION IN POULTRY
Coccidiosis is a common and challenging disease in poultry, significantly impacting bird health and performance. At Olus, we research and develop innovative solutions to mitigate these effects. By carefully selecting natural ingredients and leveraging extensive research and practical experience, we create products that not only support animal welfare but also help boost the growth of your business. This article delves into how phytogenics can help control coccidiosis by boosting immunity, reducing secondary bacterial infections, and improving nutrient digestibility. We also highlight our phytogenic feed additives, Elan®Biotic and Elan®Cox, which leverage the power of essential oils to support gut health and overall poultry performance.
ELAN®AC34 TO CONTROL SALMONELLA AND E.COLI IN BROILERS
Poultry health and productivity face significant challenges due to the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. These pathogens, commonly found in the gut of poultry, are classified as opportunistic, meaning they exploit weakened immune systems to cause disease. Olus has developed Elan® AC34, an advanced liquid feed additive designed to support a healthy and balanced gut, with strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.
ELAN®COX SUPPORTS POULTRY GUT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE
It is well-known that feed costs are the major portion of production costs for broiler. To get a maximum benefit from the feed, it is imperative to have good intestinal health. Any disturbance in gut health leads to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients, ultimately resulting in reduced production performance and profitability.
HYDROLYSED LECITHIN IMPROVES BROILER PERFORMANCE
Dietary supplementation with Elan®Digest improves production performance in broilers, due to the emulsifying properties and metabolic effects of lysolecithins (hydrolysed lecithin). Supplementation of broiler diets with 500 g Elan®Digest/t improves the dietary energy value by 50 to 65 kcal/kg. Using this energy matrix makes it possible to lower the dietary energy concentration without loss of performance. Moreover, due to its emulsifying capacity, fat digestion is become less dependent on the intestinal health status of the birds. The current experiment was done to get additional data on the effect of Elan®Digest on production performance in broilers, under ‘commercial’ conditions.
ALPHA-MONOLAURIN STIMULATES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Bacterial challenges with gram-positive bacteria in monogastric animals have a large impact on several aspects of animal husbandry, including higher medication costs, development of antibiotic resistance and reduced growth rates and feed efficiency. Among the many gram-positive bacteria that have a devastating effect on animal health and production, the following are the most common:
- Staphylococcus spp (facultative anaerobic cocci)
- Streptococcus spp (non-motile, non-spore-forming facultative anaerobic cocci)
- Clostridium spp (obligate anaerobes)
MYCOTOXIN MANAGEMENT WITH FEED ADDITIVES
More than 90% of animal feed is contaminated with mycotoxins, posing a significant threat to the health and performance of farm animals. These harmful metabolites are produced by fungi that infect crops both in the field and during storage, making them prevalent in almost all agricultural products worldwide. To address the risks of mycotoxins in farm animals and to prevent their transfer from contaminated feed to food of animal origin, Olus has developed the Elan®Tox feed additive portfolio.
MONOGLYCERIDES SUPPORT ANIMAL GUT HEALTH
In recent years, the escalating global concern over antibiotic resistance, particularly in animal agriculture, has prompted regulatory actions. The European Union and numerous other nations have implemented bans on the use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs). In response to this issue, there is a pressing need for alternatives that are not only safe and easy to handle but also devoid of microbial resistance, especially in the treatment of various diseases in poultry and other animals.
EFFECT OF LYSOPHOSPHOLIPIDS ON BROILER PERFORMANCE WITHOUT ADDED DIETARY FAT
LYSOPHOSPHOLIPIDS (LPL)
Hydrolysed lecithin (lysolecithin) is the key active ingredient in Elan®Digest, created by an enzymatic process that transforms soy lecithin into lysophospholipids (LPLs). These lysophospholipids exhibit increased hydrophilicity and greater fluidity, significantly enhancing their capability to facilitate the formation of oil-in-water emulsions. The lysophospholipids in Elan®Digest have distinctive physical and chemical properties that have been observed to enhance nutrient absorption and optimise feed efficiency in various animal species. These benefits originat from the improved emulsification properties of lysolecithin over lecithin, leading to more efficient nutrient digestion, absorption, and utilisation by the animal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
- 400 male Ross 308 broilers (starter weight 45.6 g) were distributed over 16 floor pens (25 birds/pen) placed in the middle of a commercial broiler house to simulate health and climate challenges similar to commercial practice. Wood shavings were used as bedding material.
- A 3-phase corn/wheat/soya diet was used: starter, 0-14 days; Grower, 15-28 days and Finisher, 29-35 days of age with salinomycin as anticoccidial in the starter and grower diet. All birds received the same basal diet.
- Treatments: the control group received a diet in which dietary fat was originated from vegetable sources, whereas the treatment group received the same diet with 500 g Elan®Digest/t (or 32 g LPL/t) on top.
- The dietary fat level was 4.0%, 4.7% and 6.0% by using full fat soybeans. Additionally, 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% soybean oil was added to the different phases.
- Measurements: production performance parameters (body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality) were measured per phase.
- Feed and water were ad libitum available.
RESULTS
Production performance during the 35-day production period is given in Table 1.
*FCRc: FCR corrected for the average body weight (0.02/100 g BW)
Broiler performance was high, reaching a final body weight of 2’700 g at 35 days of age, whereas feed intake was over 3’800 g. Dietary supplementation with Elan®Digest had only a slight positive effect of final body weight (NS), but resulted in a significant improvement of the FCRc. A lack of effect on body weight gain was also shown in previous trials, which is due to the high dietary contents of digestible amino acids in the experimental diets. Although lysolecithin potentially stimulates the production of pancreatic proteases, an increased protein digestibility would not results in an improved body weight gain as amino acids in this trial were not limiting for growth. Elan®Digest did significantly reduce FCRc by 2,8 points. This confirms that lysolecithin improves fat utilization, resulting in improved feed efficiency when added on top, also in diets where dietary fat originates from vegetable feedstuffs.
CONCLUSIONS
Our research has shown that dietary supplementation with 500 g Elan®Digest/t to a wheat/corn/soy diet significantly improved feed conversion ratio of broilers during a 35-day production period. In this trial, dietary fat originated from corn and full fat soybeans. Given the current grain and fat prices, it is worth noting that the ROI of Elan®Digest remains very high at 5.5:1.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Elan®Digest can benefit your livestock or have any questions about our products, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR![]()
Jan Dirk van der Klis – Consultant Animal Nutrition
Jan Dirk van der Klis is a renowned poultry consultant with a PhD in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University. Throughout his career, Jan Dirk has made noteworthy contributions to the industry. With his extensive expertise, he is offering valuable nutritional guidance to enhance the health and productivity of poultry. Jan Dirk’s profound knowledge and experience are pivotal in meeting the specific nutritional requirements of poultry and devising effective feeding strategies to yield optimal results. Since 2019, Jan Dirk has been working with Olus.
SAVE FEED COSTS WITH HYDROLYSED LECITHIN
Over time, advancements in broiler breeding have enhanced the growth potential of chicks, enabling them to grow more rapidly and utilize dietary nutrients more efficiently. The key to realizing the genetic potential of broilers lies in optimizing farm practices and diets. Formulating these diets involves the incorporation of substantial levels of fats, which need to be effectively emulsified to maximize their utilization by the birds. Hydrolysed lecithin, also known as lysolecithin, emerges as a promising solution for reducing dietary fat levels or replacing costly fat sources with more affordable alternatives. Hydrolysed lecithin produced by Olus, not only lowers expenses but also supports animal health and maintains productivity.