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Calibrin®-Z: An in-depth Look at the Speed and Superior Binding Efficacy

May 7, 2025
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An Urgent Need for Antibiotic Alternatives

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial species, capable of surviving in a variety of animal and plant hosts and causing opportunistic infections. Its resistance to multiple antibiotics and disinfectants makes it a significant concern in modern medicine and animal production facilities. The World Health Organization lists carbapenem resistant P. aeruginosa as one of the top three pathogens in which new antibiotics or alternative treatments are critically needed. Aside from human medicine, livestock and companion animals are known hosts for serious infections from P. aeruginosa. Notable infections include mastitis in cattle, respiratory diseases in poultry, ear infections in dogs and reproductive infections in horses (Table 1). P. aeruginosa infections in livestock have a significant economic impact due to factors like increased morbidity and mortality, reduced production yields, higher veterinary costs for treatment and the need for stricter biosecurity measures to prevent spread. Given its pathogenic potential and resistance to antibiotics, P. aeruginosa infections in livestock require effective preventive measures and targeted therapeutic strategies to minimize economic losses and animal health impacts. 

Table 1. List of diseases caused by P. aeruginosa in various hosts

Pyocyanin, a Key Virulence Factor  

One of the crucial toxins produced by P. aeruginosa is pyocyanin. It is a phenazine compound known for its role as a virulence factor, contributing to the pathogenicity of the bacteria. Pyocyanin generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage host cells by disrupting cellular functions, impairing immune responses, and inducing oxidative stress. It also interferes with cellular respiration and signaling pathways. Pyocyanin is notable for its characteristic color and is often used as a diagnostic marker for P. aeruginosa infections. Its ability to modulate the host immune system and disrupt cellular functions makes it a key target for research on antibacterial strategies and therapeutic interventions.

Fig. 1 | Pyocyanin is a nitrogen-containing aromatic metabolite. The color of pyocyanin is blue-greenish at the neutral and alkaline pH levels and that changes to purple-red in acidic conditions. It has a low molecular weight, which enables easy biological membrane permeation.

A proven toxin binder 

Calibrin-Z is backed by over 15 years of research, proven to bind bacterial pathogens and their toxins, as well as mycotoxins, protecting production animals from a broad spectrum of biotoxins that reduce performance and cause morbidity or mortality. A one-ingredient feed additive, Calibrin-Z is made from our selectively sourced calcium montmorillonite with opal-CT lepispheres that undergoes proprietary thermal processing to promote the binding of multiple biotoxins in the intestine. Calibrin-Z’s ability to rapidly bind this broad spectrum of toxins sets it apart from others in its class. 

During research to determine if Calibrin-Z would rapidly target pyocyanin, two pyocyanin solutions were used. As shown in Figure 2, the pyocyanin solution is purple/red at pH 3 and blue at pH 7. Granules of Calibrin-Z were added into each solution. Then the samples were mixed briefly by vortexing. When minerals settled on the bottom, the pyocyanin solution looked clear suggesting the removal of pyocyanin from water solution. The fact that Calibrin-Z neutralized pyocyanin demonstrates its speed and effectiveness toward harmful toxins.  

Commercial Farms Recognize the Proven Benefits of Calibrin-Z 

Calibrin-Z offers the critical advantage of rapid toxin binding, helping prevent harmful biotoxins from being absorbed into the bloodstream—something that can happen within minutes of ingestion. Once toxins enter the bloodstream, they can causesystemic damage and disease, significantly reducing animal performance while also compromising the safety of meat, milk, and eggs. By using a proven toxin binder like Calibrin-Z, producers can help protect both animal health and food security. Backed by numerous commercial case studies, Calibrin-Z consistently delivers results,  making it a reliable solution for both poultry and livestock production. 

To begin your own Calibrin-Z trial, or for more information about the benefits of using Calibrin-Z for biotoxin control, contact us at info@amlan.com. 

References: 

Wang, D. and H. Xue. 2021. Clay mineral-based treatments in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection control. United States Patent Application. Application No.: 17/504,338 

 

NeutraPath® Effectively Inhibits Salmonella Colonization in Poultry

April 22, 2025
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Salmonella is one of the most common food-borne pathogens. The CDC estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.35 million illnesses in the United States each year, resulting in 26,500 hospitalizations annually. Previously, subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics used for growth promotion could control enteric pathogens like Salmonella. However, concerns about antibiotic resistance have led to regulations and restrictions on the use of antibiotics in animal feed. As a result, the demand for antibiotic-free alternatives that control enteric pathogens has increased dramatically.   

 To meet this growing need, Amlan International offers innovative solutions that support poultry health and performance without the use of antibiotics.   

 NeutraPath®, available in select international markets, optimizes poultry production efficiency and economic performance through a proprietary blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids, and Amlan’s thermally processed calcium montmorillonite. This synergistic formula works through multiple modes of action to improve intestinal health, boost feed efficiency, and reduce mortality in disease challenged birds. 

 NeutraPath: Proven to Inhibit Salmonella and Reduce Colonization

A study at the University of Arkansas evaluated  NeutraPath’s ability to inhibit Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium PHL2020 isolate (ST-PHL2020) intestinal colonization in broiler chickens. The research  demonstrated that NeutraPath effectively inhibits ST-PHL2020 colonization in various parts of the upper gastrointestinal tract using an in vitro model designed to simulates conditions of a live digestive environment.   

 The in vitro digestion model consisted of three compartments that were simulated to match the pH, enzymatic composition, and temperature of the crop, proventriculus, and intestinal section of the chicken gastrointestinal tract.   

 The lowest concentration of NeutraPath used in this model (0.25%) reduced ST-PHL2020 colonization in the proventriculus and intestinal compartments compared to the control. An increase of NeutraPath concentration led to increased inhibition of ST-PHL2020 colonization. The 0.5% treatment reduced colonization in the crop and there was no detectable colonization in the proventriculus and intestinal compartments.   

The in vivo section of this study revealed that a 0.25% supplementation of NeutraPath resulted in a 2-log reduction of bacterial load in the cecal tonsils compared to the control. This dosage of NeutraPath also reduced total prevalence of Salmonella in the ceca to 58% compared to 100% in the control. The findings from this study suggest that the unique blend of Amlan’s mineral, select essential oils and medium chain fatty acids inhibited Salmonella spp. in vitro and decreased Salmonella spp. populations within the chicken ceca in vivo.

Downregulation of Salmonella Virulence Genes

In addition to the inhibitory effect on Salmonella growth, NeutraPath also displayed the ability to modulate virulence gene expression. ST-PHL2020 was grown in LB culture media with or without supplementation of 1mg/mL of NeutraPath for 12 hours.  

 After incubation, RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed, and then subjected to qPCR to analyze the expression of several Salmonella virulence genes. The expression of hilA and invF in samples treated with 0.5g/mL of NeutraPath was downregulated 1.71 and 10.71-fold respectively when compared to the control. The hilA and invF genes are necessary for the assembly of the TTSS (Type III secretion system) within Salmonella that is responsible for delivering effector proteins into the cytoplasm of host cells to promote virulence and colonization. NeutraPath also downregulated the expression of sopB, sopE, and sipA compared to the control. These genes encode effector proteins that stimulate inflammation and enhance the efficiency of host cell invasion.

These findings demonstrate NeutraPath’s ability to inhibit bacterial colonization in the chicken gastrointestinal tract and to neutralize important virulence factors. The results suggest that NeutraPath can be a viable alternative to antibiotics for controlling enteric pathogens in poultry production. To learn more about NeutraPath, visit amlan.com or connect with a local representative here. 

References:   

Eichelberg, K., & GaláN, J. E. (1999). Differential regulation of Salmonella typhimurium Type III secreted proteins by Pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI-1)-Encoded Transcriptional Activators INVF and HILA. Infection and Immunity, 67(8), 4099–4105. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.67.8.4099-4105.1999  

 Xue, H., Wang, D., Hargis, B., & Tellez-Isaias, G. (2022). Research Note: Virulence gene downregulation and reduced intestinal colonization of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium PHL2020 isolate in broilers by a natural antimicrobial (NeutraPathTM). Poultry Science, 101(6), 101822.   

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)  

 

The Value of a Good Strategy to Combat Mycotoxins in Dairy

April 2, 2025
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Dr. Wade Robey, President of Amlan International, recently sat down with Zana van Dijk of Dairy Global to discuss the significant challenge mycotoxins pose to the livestock industry. In dairy cows, mycotoxins can severely impact feed efficiency, reproduction, and milk production. Dr. Robey highlighted how climatic and agronomic conditions influence mycotoxin prevalence and stressed the importance of proactive mitigation strategies. He emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance, testing, and the use of binder products to protect animal health and maintain farm productivity. Check out the full interview for more insights on managing this persistent challenge here.

Billions with a B: The Global Cost of Coccidiosis in Poultry

March 10, 2025
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Estimates of the global cost of coccidiosis in poultry vary widely, but most place the figure in the tens of billions of U.S. dollars. Coccidiosis is characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, intestinal lesions, morbidity, and mortality, along with decreased weight gain and feed efficiency.   The intestinal damage caused by the disease can lead to secondary issues such as necrotic enteritis, which has become more prevalent as poultry producers reduce antibiotic use.  The majority of losses stem from reduced production due to subclinical coccidiosis.  The lack of overt disease emphasizes the importance of vigilance and proactive management systems.

To combat the impact of coccidiosis in poultry, producers rely on a range of methods, each offering unique benefits and presenting specific limitations.  Traditional control methods include the use of vaccines, ionophores, and chemical coccidostats.  However, natural alternatives for managing coccidiosis have been developed through the years, including the use of phytogenic compounds.

A Sustainable Natural Alternative

Phylox® (available from Amlan International in select international markets), a natural feed additive featuring a select blend of bioactive phytochemicals was researched to determine its effects on broilers challenged with multiple species of Eimeria. Phylox is designed to interrupt the complex Eimeria lifecycle at several key points, preventing damage to the host and reducing the risk of growing resistance. It works by compromising the sporozoites’ cell membrane, inhibiting oocyst sporulation, enhancing anticoccidial immunity, and supplying essential energy to the intestinal cells. By targeting all three stages of the coccidia lifecycle, Phylox helps protect intestinal integrity and support overall bird health. 

Research shows that Phylox decreases the effects of coccidiosis on gut health and improves bird performance. Two experiments that lasted 28 days each were used to study its effects on young broilers during an Eimeria challenge. Both studies used a multi-species coccidia challenge that included giving an oral dose of E. maxima (50,000 oocysts), E. acervulina (100,000 oocysts), and E. tenella (75,000 oocysts) to each bird on the 14th day of the experiment. Six days post-challenge five birds per pen (eight pens per treatment) were euthanized so that intestines could be inspected for coccidial lesions. The Johnson and Reid (1970) scoring method was used to assess the severity of intestinal lesions caused by coccidiosis, with a score from 0 (no visible lesions) to 4 (severe, widespread lesions). No coccidia vaccine or medication was used in the first study, which evaluated the effect of Phylox on both unchallenged and challenged broilers. The second study was conducted to compare Phylox to drugs currently used to control coccidiosis in the field.

Feeding Phylox improved gut health in broilers challenged with multiple Eimeria species. This was evidenced by lower coccidia lesion scores in birds fed Phylox compared to untreated, challenged birds (Study 1), with scores decreasing from 2.43 to 1.85. Lower lesion scores, indicating improved gut health, are expected to result in better feed efficiency. Feeding Phylox to birds challenged with multiple Eimeria species improved feed conversion, both during the critical period following the challenge and overall. Additionally, no negative effects were observed in unchallenged birds fed Phylox.

In Study Two, feeding Phylox, salinomycin, or Nicarbazin equally reduced lesion scores compared to challenged but untreated birds. The resulting improvement in gut health led to improved feed conversion ratios for all treatments. Each of the three coccidiosis treatments produced similar results, with improvement in feed conversion observed both during the post-challenge period and throughout the overall experimental period. This research demonstrates that feeding Phylox to Eimeria-challenged broilers mitigated the effects of coccidiosis, with outcomes comparable to those of commonly used treatments.

Immune Function

The gut of any animal faces constant challenges. Broilers continuously ingest bacteria, parasites, toxins, and other harmful substances along with their feed and water. The intestinal wall acts as a crucial barrier, preventing these pathogens from entering the body. This is why the majority of a chicken’s immune tissue is located in the gastrointestinal tract.

A third experiment examined the effects of coccidia and Phylox on immunity and gut microbiota. The research showed that Phylox helped preserve immune homeostasis by enhancing the anticoccidial immune response during coccidial challenge. Specifically, Phylox preserved the function of protective mucosal immunity by promoting a non-terminally differentiated helper T-cell subset (CD8-CD28+). This helps ensure a competent T-cell response during pathogen challenges, such as the Eimeria challenge used in this experiment.

Additionally, Phylox reduced Eimeria challenge-associated upregulation of cecal IL-10. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine with potent immunosuppressive effects. Intracellular parasites like coccidia can use the immunosuppressive properties of IL-10 to help them survive in a hostile environment. When coccidia causes an increase in IL-10 during a challenge, as seen in this experiment, it results in a decreased immune response just when the animal needs the immune response to help fight the disease. Phylox fed broilers showed suppression of IL-10 during the coccidia infection, allowing a proper and effective immune response to occur. This was shown by decreased cecal IL-10 mRNA when Phylox was fed.

Summary

To mitigate losses associated with coccidiosis in poultry, innovative solutions are essential to complement existing vaccines and drugs. Producers require new, consumer-accepted alternatives to effectively manage coccidiosis on their farms. Phylox serves as a valuable addition to the available tools, helping to address this persistent challenge and support poultry health and productivity. To learn more about Phylox, or to begin a field trial, contact your local Amlan representative here.

Dr. Robin Jarquin Addresses Persistent Mycotoxin Challenges in LATAM

January 7, 2025
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At OVUM in November, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Amlan’s Director for Latin America, Dr. Robin Jarquin, spoke with Benjamin Ruiz of Cátedra Avícola Latam about the ongoing risk of mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed. Factors such as climate change and contaminated grains directly impact the health and performance of poultry across Latin America. Backed by extensive research, our Calibrin®-Z provides an effective solution. The all-natural feed additive offers broad-spectrum protection against toxins to enhance intestinal integrity and boost animal productivity. To learn how Calibrin-Z can safeguard your flock and improve your bottom line, click here.

Varium®’s Long History of Boosting Poultry Performance Expands with New Swine Study

November 18, 2024
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Varium® and its sister product, NeoPrime, were developed as non-antibiotic alternatives to improve production by optimizing gut health in poultry and swine respectively. Amlan has decided to streamline product offerings, research shows Varium’s patented blend of natural ingredients can provide equal benefits in swine. In a recent study, Varium improved feed conversion, reduced mortality rates and improved the overall well-being and performance of swine on a commercial farm in Mexico.

Weaned piglets are particularly susceptible to digestive disorders that can lead to poor performance.  Weaning is a critical stage for piglets, as their digestive systems are still developing and highly vulnerable to disruptions. The abrupt change in diet, combined with the stress of separation from the sow, often leads to digestive disorders like post-weaning diarrhea. These conditions can hinder nutrient absorption, weakening the piglets’ immune system and overall health. This reduction in performance early in life creates a fallback lag for the challenged piglet, which follows the animal all the way to maturity. Piglets left unsupported during weaning display lower market weight as this extended period of decreased feed intake, poor nutrient absorption, and diminished weight gain hinders healthy and efficient growth early in life. This, in turn, negatively affects the bottom line of producers worldwide. To mitigate these challenges, it is important to implement strategies to support gut health during this transition to maintain the health and performance of weaned piglets.

The patented technology of Varium offers a synergistic blend of ingredients designed to address the key challenges faced by weaned piglets. Varium was specifically designed with 3 unique modes of action to improve performance and reduce the challenge an animal faces when exposed to pathogenic bacteria and toxins. Varium works by binding pathogenic bacteria and their toxins,  protecting the gut from intestinal damage linked to performance loss, and provides an energy source to fuel the growth of healthy enterocytes vital for nutrient absorption. Additionally, it supports immune cell heath and function ensuring that the animal’s natural immune system is operating in an optimal state. Proven effective in the market for over the past 10 years, Varium was tested in a 148-day trial on weaned piglets, delivering promising results in promoting gut health and overall performance.

This trial compared the performance of 180 weaned piglets, randomly distributed in blocks of 90 males and 90 females between two treatments: Diet formulated with Varium, and diet formulated without Varium. The parameters for success included daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion, mortality and diarrhea incidences. In all categories, the Varium group showed improvements over the control group.

Feed Conversion

 

Pigs that were fed Varium showed a advantage in feed conversion over the control group, most notably during feeding phases 3 and 6.

 

Mortality Rates

 

Mortality rates showed the most notable difference during phase two, when pigs fed Varium showed a mortality rate that was more than 60% less than the control group. The accumulated mortality rate over 7 phases for the Varium group showed a 43% reduction in mortality rate when compared to the control.

 

Diarrhea Incidence

 

The addition of Varium to the pigs’ diet cut the incidences of both pasty and liquid diarrhea in half, indicating an improvement in intestinal integrity provided by Varium.

 

Body Weight

 

After 148 days, pigs in the Varium group weighed an average of 9% more than those on the control group, further supporting Varium as a beneficial addition to pigs’ diet.

 

Feed Intake

 

The Varium group showed lower feed intake at all 7 stages over control. This, combined with improved feed conversion rates and higher live weights indicate a more efficient use of feed from the Varium group.

Improved Feed Efficiency and Gut Health is a Beneficial for Producers

Weaned pigs fed Varium in this study simply performed better than the control group. The improvement in feed conversion, along with the positive trend in body weight and reduction in mortality, suggests that Varium can be an effective tool for improving herd health and overall performance in swine.

To learn more about Varium, contact your local representative at amlan.com

 

Company Information

Amlan is the animal health business of Oil-Dri Corporation of America, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of sorbent minerals. Leveraging over 80 years of expertise in mineral science, Oil-Dri Corporation of America, doing business as “Amlan International,” is a publicly traded stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ODC). AmIan International sells feed additives worldwide. Product availability may vary by country, associated claims do not constitute medical claims, and may differ based on government requirements.

A How to Guide to Including Calibrin®-Z in Your Dairy Rations

October 10, 2024
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For over a decade Calibrin ® -Z has been shown to increase milk production. However, Feeding Calibrin-Z also improves the performance of the dairy herd by promoting the general health as indicated by decreased somatic cell count, decreased death loss and abortions, and increased conception rates.

This discussion helps to show how much Calibrin-Z to include in a ration for your herd regardless of whether you are using a Total Mixed Ration or feeding a concentrate and forages separately.

The typical suggested feeding rate for Calibrin-Z for lactating dairy cows is 20 grams/head/day, although this may increase during times of high challenges. Table 1 shows how much Calibrin-Z needs to be added to a Total Mixed Ration to ensure that the desired amount is consumed at different Calibrin-Z inclusion rates and different dry matter intakes.

 

If you are feeding the concentrate and forage separately, then Table 2 can be used to aid in the calculations. For inclusion in a dairy concentrate take the number you identified from the chart above based on your dry matter intake and multiply it by a factor of; 1 ÷ the percentage of dry matter coming from the concentrate.

For example: If you are using a ration where 40% of dry matter is coming from the concentrate with 60% of the dry matter coming from the forage then the multiplier for 40%, would be 2.50, while for 50% it would be 2.00, and for 60% it would be 1.67.

So, to supply 20 grams of Calibrin-Z per head per day when a cow is eating 16 kg of DM per day and the concentrate supplies 40% of the dry matter. Chart 1 tells us that 1.25 kg would be needed in the Total Mixed Ration:

Thus, we add 3.1 kg of Calibrin-Z in the concentrate when 40% of the DM is coming from concentrate and cows are averaging 16 kg of DMI per day.

Adding Calibrin-Z helps protect your herd and is easy to incorporate in your rations. Visit amlan.com to contact your local Amlan representative and learn how Calibrin-Z can work for you.

Understand How Calibrin®-Z Controls T-2 Toxin in Broilers

January 19, 2024
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Poultry producers mostly know T-2 toxin by the horrific lesions seen on the beaks of poultry. The fast-acting T-2 toxin has a major impact on the growth and performance of poultry and livestock. Luckily it is not the most common trichothecenes toxin produced by Fusarium molds, deoxynivalenol would fill that spot, but T-2 is considered the most toxic of the trichothecenes. This poison can be inhaled or adsorbed through the skin or the gastro-intestinal tract and causes multiple problems in poultry and livestock. A short list of problems includes decreased gain and feed efficiency, decreased egg production and hatchability, decreased immune function, and increased mortality. It has been shown to have a synergistic negative effect with other mycotoxins in the diet or when administered in conjunction with lipopolysaccharide (aka LPS). This may be one reason why there is additional negative impact when there is a co-challenge with T-2 and gram-negative bacteria. Control of other dietary mycotoxins or LPS concurrently with T-2 may be important in any attempt to decrease its effects.   

 

T-2 toxin decreases the productivity of poultry and livestock by inhibiting protein synthesis at the cellular level and causing cell death. In eukaryotic cell’s DNA, RNA, and protein, synthesis is inhibited by T-2 toxin. It also induces apoptosis or programmed cell death.

A major concern in poultry is how T-2 affects the gastrointestinal tract starting with lesions of the beak and gizzard and going through the entire gut. These lesions will affect feed intake, gain, and feed efficiency. But T-2 can affect all aspects of production and reproduction, so egg production and hatchability also need to be considered. In early research looking at the effects of T-2 on hatchability, 2 ppm of T-2 toxin was fed to laying hens, egg production decreased by 3.8 percent, fertility of the eggs that were laid decreased by 1.7 percent, and hatchability of fertile eggs decreased by 5.6 percent. This is a substantial loss of hatched chicks because of the toxin in the feed.

T-2 is quickly adsorbed. And it can be adsorbed through the lungs, the skin, or through the gastrointestinal tract when ingested in the feed. Approximately 90% of T-2 is adsorbed into the body within 30 minutes of ingestion, but it does have a short half-life of less than 20 minutes. T-2 producing Fusarium molds can occur in feedstuffs either during a warm and moist growing season or during storage under high moisture, especially if stored grains have damage such as broken or cracked kernels. The best option for producers is to use feedstuffs free of all toxins, however, the reality is that this is not always possible. In those cases where feedstuffs are being fed that may contain T-2 it would be beneficial to have a fast-acting toxin binder in the diets.    

Because T-2 is so damaging and so rapidly absorbed, the toxin binder that is used needs to work and work fast. Calibrin®–Z, available in select international markets, adsorbed ~70% of T-2 toxin within 1 minute in research looking at speed-of-binding in vitro. This was approximately 24 times faster than the other products used in the trial. Additionally, Calibrin-Z had previously been shown to bind other mycotoxins and LPS in vitro and in vivo, which may be important during a T-2 challenge. A test to determine the binding ability of Calibrin-Z in vitro was conducted to look at seven common fungal biotoxins where the binder-to-toxin ratio was as if there was 1 kg of Calibrin-Z per metric ton of feed vs. observed concentrations of mycotoxins in feed. In vitro data showed that Calibrin-Z could bind LPS, but it has also been seen in vivo when Calibrin-Z was being fed to laying hens.

Calibrin-Z Mitigates the Effects of T-2 Toxin in Broiler Chicks

Recently, research was conducted at a large university in Brazil to determine the effects of Calibrin-Z on broiler chickens challenged with dietary T-2 Toxin. For this experiment, a total of 180 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used. At the beginning of the trial the birds had an average body weight of 47 grams, with the average initial weight for each bird being equal. They were fed three different treatments 1) Unchallenged Control; 2) Challenged Control with 2 ppm T-2 Toxin; and 3) 2 ppm T-2 Toxin with 0.5% dietary Calibrin-Z. They were fed the treatment diets for 21 days. No aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, T- 2 Toxin or zearalenone were detected in the feed ingredients that were tested before mixing the diets. The T-2 Toxin that was added to the feed for the challenged treatments was produced by Fusarium sporotrichioides fungi, and was 82% T-2 Toxin, 18% HT-2 Toxin.  There were 6 pens that were randomly assigned to each treatment and there were 10 chicks in each pen. Chicks had free access to a constant supply of food and water. The diet was corn-soybean meal-based and formulated according to requirements in the Cobb Broiler Management Guide.  

The intent of the study was to determine the effect of T-2 toxin on growth performance of broilers and how the addition of Calibrin-Z helped to mitigate any negative effects. Calibrin-Z is a unique calcium montmorillonite that has been shown to bind toxins, both fungal and bacterial, as well as lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

Feeding Calibrin-Z to the birds challenged with T-2 toxin increased body weight by 5% compared to the birds that were fed diets with T-2 toxin and no Calibrin-Z. This improvement returned body weight to that of the unchallenged control birds. In this experiment, there was no effect of feeding T-2 on feed intake with birds on all three treatments having equal feed intake.

Because there was no difference in feed intake the feed conversion ratio followed the same pattern seen in body weight. Feeding Calibrin-Z to birds challenged with T-2 toxin improved feed conversion by 8 points, with values of 1.50 for Calibrin-Z fed birds compared to 1.58 for birds that only received T-2 toxin in the feed.

While aflatoxin is the mycotoxin best known for its negative effects on the liver, T-2 toxin can also have bad effects. In this study, relative liver weight was higher in the challenged control, 3.33%, compared to the unchallenged control, 2.84%, but feeding Calibrin-Z again mitigated the negative effect of the T-2 toxin, with challenged birds fed Calibrin-Z having a relative liver weight of 2.96%.   

T-2 Toxin is a fast-acting mycotoxin that has a tremendous impact on animal performance. It acts in a synergistic way with challenges from other mycotoxins and lipopolysaccharide. To decrease its impact, you need a fast-acting toxin binder to control T-2 quickly while also controlling other potential problems. Calibrin-Z is a fast-acting multi-toxin binder that has proven results.   

 As the animal health business of Oil-Dri® Corporation of America, Amlan products are backed by Oil-Dri’s 80-plus years of mineral science expertise. Oil-Dri and Amlan are vertically integrated and own every step of the production process to consistently deliver safe, high-quality animal health products around the world. Calibrin-Z, a calcium montmorillonite clay, is sold as a broad-spectrum toxin binder. To understand how Calibrin-Z can work in your production system, contact your local Amlan representative.

 

References:  

Chi, M. S., C. J. Mirocha, H. J. Kurtz, G. Weaver, F. Bates, and W. Shimoda. 1977. Effects of T-2 Toxin on Reproductive Performance and Health of Laying Hens. Poultry Sci. 56:628 – 637.  

Tai, J.-H. and J. J. Pestka. 1988. Synergistic interaction between the trichothecene T-2 toxin and Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide in C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice. Toxicol Lett 44:191–200.  

Mycotoxins: Risks in Plant, Animal, and Human Systems. 2003. Task Force Report No. 139 Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. Ames, Iowa, USA.

Mineral-based solution for dairy cow gut health

October 26, 2023
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During the 2023 World Dairy Expo held in Madison, Wisconsin, Ann Hess from Feedstuffs 365 spoke with Amlan, the Animal Health business of Oil-Dri, about mineral technology as a solution to support gut health and improve diary performance. Listen to Dr. Marc Herpfer, VP of New Technologies, Regan Culbertson, VP of Strategic Marketing, and Jay Hughes, Director of Technical Services, Americas discuss how the unique, thermally processed calcium montmorillonite with opal lepispheres are driving economic, bottomline, performance in the dairy industry.

Watch the interview here.

Calibrin®-Z Decreases Gizzard Erosion in Day-Old Chicks

January 10, 2023
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The gizzard is an important part of the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. The gizzard works to grind feed which enables digestion and absorption of nutrients to take place in species that lack teeth.

While the gizzard is a tough, muscular organ, the lining of the gizzard can be susceptible to damage as it interacts with the feed coming through the gastro-intestinal tract. Damage to the gizzard lining can cause reduced feed intake, low growth rates, poor feed conversion, and in severe cases increased mortality – all leading to poor flock performance. Gizzard erosion has numerous causes and is seen as early as day-old chicks. Early damage to the gizzard lining leads to increased morbidity and mortality in newly hatched chicks and can be attributed to the incubation process or to the hen’s diet.

Gizzard damage is not a new problem in the industry. It was discussed in research publications in the 1930s. But gizzard damage, and the loss of performance that it causes, continue to be a prevalent problem. In 2018 gizzard damage was reported as the most common enteric problem of flocks in Asia (Elanco Field Report presented at the 11th Asia Pacific Poultry Conference March 25-27, 2018). “Gizzard erosion can act as a hidden destroyer of performance in broilers. While it rarely outright kills the birds it will make them back off of feed and decrease growth rates. Field data has shown that hen feeds containing mycotoxins can have a negative impact on progeny.  The transmission of mycotoxins through the egg can produce gizzard erosions in chicks before they ever take the first bite of feed themselves,” said Jay Hughes, Director of Global Technical Service for Amlan International.

In addition to gizzard damage from nutritional deficiencies reported in early research, numerous further causes have been found for gizzard erosion (Figure 1). These include genetic predisposition, management factors such as feed outages or feed form, infections agents such as adenovirus and Clostridium perfringens, or toxins such as aflatoxin or gizzerosine. It has long been known that the diet of the hen could impact the newly hatched chicks. This was reported in research published in the journal Poultry Science as early as 1942. Tepper and Bird showed that gizzard damage in day-old-chick could be reduced by the changes to the hen’s diet.

Several poultry breeder farms in Asia were experiencing gizzard erosion in day-old chicks (Picture 1). The farmers theorized that toxins in the diet they were feeding their hens could be the problem. Calibrin-Z, available in select international markets, has been shown to bind multiple biotoxins, including Aflatoxin, Cyclopiozonic Acid, and the toxins produced by clostridium perfringens – all of which can contribute to damage to the gizzard. Therefore, the producers tested Calibrin-Z to see if adding it to the breeder flock diets would solve their problem. Several farms ran experiments to find this answer.

Picture1. Damage in gizzards of day-old chicks prior to adding Calibrin-Z.

 

On Farm 1, 30 newly hatched chicks were collected at random in the hatchery. Calibrin-Z was fed for one month, at a dose of 1 kg/metric ton of feed.  After feeding the hens Calibrin-Z for one month, 30 one-day-old were examined at hatch. Adding Calibrin-Z to the diet decreased gizzard erosion. Calibrin-Z was fed for another month at a stepped-down rate of 500 g/metric ton of feed. When 30 chicks hatched from eggs collected at the end of that period were examined the erosion problem had continued to improve, with zero gizzard erosions that were classified as severe or moderate (Picture 2).

Picture 2. Gizzards from one-day-old chicks from breeder hens fed Calibrin-Z for fifty-one days. Erosions improved at 30 days and improved further by day 51. No gizzard showed moderate or severe erosion after 51 days of feeding.

In a second experiment, five one-day-old chicks were dissected, and all 5 chicks had severe gizzard erosion. Calibrin-Z was added to the hens’ diet at 1 kg per metric ton and fed for 30 days. Chicks hatched from eggs collected at that point were examined. There were no observed gizzard erosions in those chicks.

A third breeder farm had a similar gizzard erosion problem in day-old chicks, but this farm also observed that the chicks hatched with discolored livers. Livers had a yellow coloring, which sometimes indicates incubation stress or mycotoxicosis. Calibrin-Z was fed at 1 kg /metric ton for one month and chicks from eggs gathered at the end of that period had normal, healthy colored livers and no gizzard erosions.

In both experiments, the results show feeding Calibrin-Z to breeder hens significantly reduced gizzard erosion in day-old chicks. The health status of newly hatched chicks can be affected by the quality of the diet fed to hens. Breeders can help reduce gizzard erosion and other clinical signs of mycotoxicosis by adding Calibrin-Z to their diets. To learn more about Calibrin-Z and to start a breeder hen trial, contact your local representative.

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