Excellent livestock production starts in the gut. An animal’s feed efficiency, growth rate and immune system all depend on the health and performance of the animal’s gut. Natural solutions to raising livestock for food production are in great demand, as consumers increasingly prefer food produced without growth-promoting antibiotics. Many producers in Southeast Asia have reduced or eliminated growth-promoting antibiotics from bird diets in response to these consumer preferences.
While there is more than one way to raise healthy antibiotic-free broilers, a recent article in Asian Agribiz shows Varium, a natural feed additive from Amlan International, consistently performs as well as or better than other strategies.
Why? It Protects the Intestinal Barrier
In the gastrointestinal tract, Varium protects the intestinal barrier, supports the microbiota in the gut and enables the immune system to function properly. Substantial disease challenges from pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. all start in the gut. Creating a healthy gastrointestinal tract means birds can process feed efficiently and are less susceptible to disease.
Trial data in the article shows Varium’s performance in commercial trials throughout Southeast Asia. The product works synergistically to support immune health, intestinal performance and feed efficiency and improve total flock performance.
When the data is averaged across all eight trials, broilers raised in antibiotic-free production systems had similar weight gains regardless of diet fed. However, broilers fed the diet supplemented with Varium were 3.7 points more feed efficient and experienced a lower mortality rate.
Click here to read the entire article and view the research data.
1Amlan International, Chicago, IL, 60061, USA 2Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR 72701, USA *E-mail: Hongyu.Xue@Amlan.com
Source: The 3rd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics (ATA)
Antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella is a major concern for public health safety. The poultry industry is compelled to seek alternative solutions to antibiotics in reducing the incidence of Salmonella colonization in broiler chickens at the farm level. NeutraPath is a formulated feed additive that features a proprietary blend of essential oils, medium-chain fatty acids and an activated toxin-adsorbing mineral. This formula has been shown to neutralize a variety of key virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria in addition to exerting direct bacteriostatic/bacteriocidal effects. This study was aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo effects of NeutraPath on Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium (ST) infection in broiler chickens.
An in vitro digestion model was used to simulate three gastrointestinal compartments with physiologically relevant pH and enzymatic conditions correspondent to that of crop, proventriculus and intestinal section respectively. In the in vivo trial, one-day old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to one of three groups (n=30 chickens), i.e., Challenged control with non-treated feed and NeutraPath supplemented at 0.25% and 0.5% in feed. Chickens were orally gavaged with 106 CFU of live ST per chicken at 9-d old. Twenty-four hours post challenge, ceca-cecal tonsils were removed to evaluate Salmonella recovery and serum was collected for FITC-d determination. Differences between treatments were analyzed using one-way ANOVA.
In the in vitro trial, 0.25% NeutraPath significantly reduced total CFU of ST recovered in the proventriculus and intestinal compartments compared with control (P<0.05). NeutraPath treatment at 0.25% and 0.5% resulted in a 41.7% and 33.3% reduction in the prevalence of ST in ceca respectively compared to the challenged control (P<0.05 for both comparisons). Both dose levels also significantly reduced total ST CFU recovered in the ceca by 1.84 and 1.79 Log10 CFU/g compared to the challenged control (P<0.05 for both comparisons). Further, NeutraPath at both doses significantly reduced serum FITC-dextran levels (P<0.05).
Based on these in vitro and in vivo data, the NeutraPath treatment had the therapeutic potential to reduce ST colonization in broiler chickens and preserve the functional integrity of the intestinal barrier of chickens during ST challenge.
Broiler growers worldwide are under pressure to reduce or eliminate growth-promoting antibiotics from bird diets. Promoting intestinal health through improved nutrition and immune system stimulation can help producers successfully replace or reduce antimicrobials without sacrificing bird health or performance.
BY DR HONGYU XUE, LIFE SCIENCES DIRECTOR, AMLAN INTERNATIONAL
Completely removing or significantly reducing the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) raises many issues for broiler producers. Their foremost concerns are whether their grow-out operations can remain competitive, profitable and free from performance-robbing intestinal diseases like necrotic enteritis.
Broiler growers moving to antibiotic-free poultry production now have the advantage of hindsight, unlike those who were impacted by the first antibiotic bans of 20-plus years ago.
Since then, many compounds have been studied for their ability to replace AGPs. Prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, organ- ic acids, minerals and other additives can be used successfully to manage gut health instead of AGPs. But, and this is a big ca- veat, these products are often used in combination and in- crease feed costs. Formulated feed additives that combine the right ingredients to replace one or more other additives and help birds grow efficiently may be just what today’s broiler producers need. Certain formulated feed additives are de- signed to use different and (ideally) synergistic modes of ac- tion to achieve desired responses. Such products are typically tested by a team of specialists to determine the optimal for- mulation so growers don’t have to experiment. Those factors help formulated products deliver value.
Intestinal health is critical
A healthy gut is essential to a healthy bird. However, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the site of substantial disease challenges, including pathogens like Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. An effective antibiotic alternative should demonstrate activity in three areas:
The intestinal lumen to reduce bacterial disease challenges,
The intestinal epithelium to strengthen the intestinal barrier,
The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) to stimulate immune function.
Varium is used worldwide in antibiotic-free poultry production to achieve equivalent outcomes as AGPs, often replacing one or more additional feed additives being used as replacements to AGPs. Multiple controlled studies and field trials demon- strate that Varium, a proprietary formulated feed additive, can replace some or all AGPs use in broiler diets. The components of the all-natural product work synergistically to provide a multifaceted approach to supporting intestinal health and im- munity, promoting efficient feed use and improving overall flock performance, see Figure 1. Those mechanisms of action support bird intestinal health and efficiency by:
Reducing total biotoxin load, which helps protect intestinal homeostasis,
Reducing pathogen load through type-1 fimbriae bacterial adhesion,
Providing enterocytes with a preferred energy source, which enhances the intestinal barrier,
Stimulating the innate and adaptive immune responses to help birds defend against pathogens.
Trials find comparable performance
For broiler producers seeking evidence-based options, pre- adoption trial data from commercial broiler producers in Brazil demonstrate how Varium performs alone or in combi- nation with other feed additives. In a 40-day feeding trial conducted under natural challenge, 2,400 day-old chicks were assigned to one of four treatments (Table 1).
In addition to the specified treatments, all diets included common anti- coccidial treatments. Captured and calculated data included body weight, feed intake, mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and percent mortality. Broilers fed diets containing Varium alone or in combination with other additives had weight gain and FCR comparable to those fed a diet contain- ing two antibiotics, a mycotoxin binder and a probiotic. No significant differences in day-40 weight gain or FCR were de- tected among treatments. However, mortality at day 40 was substantially lower for broilers consuming Varium in their di- ets. Broilers fed diets containing Varium had higher produc- tion efficiency indices (PEI) than the control group. A second trial in Brazil compared the performance of Varium to Tylosin when fed to birds at a commercial broiler grow-out operation that produced about 170,000 birds per day for slaughter. Tylosin at a rate of 55 ppm was added to diets between August 2017 and July 2018. Tylosin and a an enzyme-based mycotox- in deactivator were then removed and Varium was added at a rate of 0.1% from August 2018 through July 2019.
Captured and calculated data included body weight and age at slaughter, average daily gain, FCR, PEI, mortality and liver quality. No significant differences were detected between treatments for FCR, average daily gain, average body weight, average age at slaughter, PEI or percent mortality. Interesting- ly, faeces from broilers fed diets containing the feed additive were firmer, resulting in better quality litter than those birds receiving Tylosin in their diets, see Table 2. Better litter quality means decreased incidence of foot pad dermatitis.
Table 1 – Trial results under natural challenge. Treatments investigated in a 40-day feeding trial with natural challenge
Varium + halquinol + mycotoxin binder + B. subtilis
Va + Vir
Varium + virginiamycin + mycotoxin binder + B. subtilis
Varium
Varium (1 kg/MT)
Table 2 – Averages of key performance parameters.
Treatment
Body weight (kg)
Age (d)
Daily gain (g)
FCR
PEI
Mortality (%)
Liver quality (%)
Tylosin + mycotoxin binder
3.070
45.6
67.3
1.68
388
3.80
1.48
Varium
3.041
44.6
68.0
1.63
401
3.84
1.54
Profitable antibiotic-free production
Intestinal health becomes more important to profitable broiler production as AGPs are removed from bird diets. But it takes the right combination of feed ingredients and additives along with many other factors. Varium is helping commercial producers save money by replacing one or more feed addi- tives in broiler diets while maintaining or improving feed conversion and weight gain and decreasing mortality. Efficient broiler production without AGPs is possible.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – March 21, 2018 – Advancements in natural feed additives will help transform the poultry industry by providing a proven and reliable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) for improved performance and reduced mortality, according to Dr. Sim of Amlan International, a global leader in the development of innovative solutions to improve the health and productivity in livestock. Dr. Sim addressed producers, livestock veterinarians and industry leaders last week at ILDEX Vietnam, the biennial International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture Exposition in Ho Chi Minh City.
Dr. Maximillian Sim, DVM, Amlan’s Southeast Asia Commercial and Technical Consultant, was a featured technical speaker at the conference, where he made the well-received presentation, “VariumÔ: Your Solution to Sustainability and Profitability in Antibiotic-Free Poultry Production.”
“Poultry producers worldwide lose $6 billion annually due to disease in their flocks. The reduction and elimination of AGPs in poultry diets has led to increased intestinal health challenges and a higher incidence of diseases such as necrotic enteritis, leading to significant economic losses for producers,” Dr. Sim stated. “A series of studies has shown that Varium provides benefits for poultry producers in the form of increased weight gain, reduced mortality and improved feed conversion – leading to stronger economic performance.”
In 2017, Amlan launched both of its newest growth promotion products in Vietnam, Varium for poultry and NeoPrimeÔ for post-weaning piglets, at an event they hosted for global industry leaders and targeted regional customers.
“Amlan is receiving positive feedback from Varium customers in Vietnam, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, where changing dietary habits and rising incomes are resulting in dramatic increases in meat consumption,” says Dr. Ron Cravens, MS, DVM, President, Amlan International, a Nevada company. “Our growing portfolio of feed additive solutions is helping global producers meet the increasing demand for meat protein while also enabling them to maximize revenue and profit.”
To meet the demand, producers and nutritionists are looking for viable, drug-free alternatives to support intestinal health and improve performance. Natural, formulated feed additives such as Varium can provide an effective way to enhance performance with or without the inclusion of antibiotics.
Dr. Sim’s presentation at ILDEX focused on Varium research results and the implications for the poultry industry. He has 13 years of experience working in the animal health industry, providing field technical services and market development of nutraceutical products in Asia.
For more information about Amlan’s portfolio of intestinal health products, visit Amlan.com.
Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), a Delaware corporation doing business as “Amlan International,” has grown its product offering across the intestinal health and AGP-alternative market, driven largely by the research conducted at its laboratory campus in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Amlan International sells animal health products outside of the United States. Product associated claims do not constitute medical claims and may differ based on government requirements. Product availability may vary by country.
CHICAGO, IL—A recent study found that Varium™, the natural growth promoter for poultry from Amlan International, performed better than antibiotics alone, delivering significant reductions in mortality, and improvements in feed conversion and intestinal health, for a 10:1 return on investment.
“As the reduction or elimination of antibiotics in broiler production continues to expand worldwide, Varium is proving to be an effective way to enhance the growth-promoting abilities of antibiotics, or, when used in antibiotic-free production, to achieve bird performance equivalent to flocks receiving sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics,” said Dr. Ron Cravens, President of Amlan International, a Nevada Corporation.
“We’re very pleased our customers’ broilers receiving Varium, experienced improved villi height and a reduction in crypt depth indicating improved intestinal integrity,” said Cravens. “It’s quite notable that an improved European Efficiency Index (EEI) score was also seen, increasing from 350 to 400 points.”
Compared to the control diet that included antibiotics, feeding Varium decreased mortality by 40%, from 6.93% to 4.18%, with improvements seen throughout the growout period, not just in young birds. Feed conversion improved 15 points, from 1.64 to 1.49, with the majority of the gains seen after day 7 and a greater response seen in female broilers.
Varium is a registered product in a variety of countries, including China and Mexico. For a full list of registered countries and a complete study of the results and more information on Varium, please visit Amlan.com. Varium is sold outside the U.S.
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MEDIA CONTACT Reagan Culbertson
(312) 706-3256
reagan.culbertson@amlan.com
ABOUT AMLAN INTERNATIONAL
Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), a Delaware corporation and doing business as “Amlan International,” has grown its product offering across the intestinal health and AGP-alternative market, driven largely by the research conducted in its laboratory campus in Vernon Hills, IL. In 2013, the company’s global reach expanded with the establishment of its China subsidiary in Shenzhen. Further information on Amlan International is available at amlan.com.
