Gut health is one of the most pressing issues in broiler production.
The broiler industry plays an important role in meeting the growing global demand for meat.
Broilers are raised because they are highly efficient at producing meat, which is especially important in countries with low levels of food self-sufficiency. Ensuring broilers’ gut health and overall health is essential for animal welfare and industry profitability. Gut health remains one of the most pressing issues in broiler production, with far-reaching effects on broilers.
I. Main causes
1, Dietary factors: Nutrition plays a key role in broiler gut health. Poorly formulated diets, low-quality feed ingredients, or imbalanced nutrient levels can lead to digestive problems. For example, excessive protein has been shown to be associated with poorer gut health.
2, Microbial imbalance: The broiler gut is a complex microbial community. An imbalance in the microbiota can disrupt digestion. The use of antibiotics in feed to promote growth or prevent disease can alter this delicate balance, potentially leading to antibiotic resistance and gut health problems.
3, Stress factors: Broilers on farms are often exposed to stress, including overcrowding, transportation, and sudden changes in environmental conditions. Stress can weaken the flock’s immune system, increasing the likelihood of intestinal diseases and other illnesses.
4, Pathogens: Bacterial infections, such as Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli, as well as protozoan parasites, such as Eimeria, can cause serious intestinal health problems. These pathogens can proliferate under certain conditions, leading to diseases such as necrotic enteritis and coccidiosis.
Two. Main impacts
1, Reduced growth and productivity: Intestinal health problems can lead to poor nutrient absorption and lower feed efficiency in chickens, resulting in slower growth and reduced overall productivity. This directly affects the economic returns of broiler farming.
2, Increased mortality: Severe intestinal health problems can cause high mortality, resulting in significant economic losses for broiler producers. In addition, increased antibiotic use to address infections may promote the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, while using antibiotics to prevent and treat disease also increases production costs.
3, Quality and safety issues: Poor intestinal health can affect the quality and safety of broiler meat. This may result in chicken breast meat with a “woody” texture, white striping, or even Salmonella contamination, negatively affecting the taste, appearance, and safety of chicken and reducing its market value.
4, Animal welfare: Intestinal health problems can cause discomfort for broilers and affect their welfare. Ethical concerns related to animal suffering may lead to strong public opposition and stricter regulations.
Three. Solutions
1, Proper nutrition: Ensuring a balanced diet with optimal nutrient levels remains essential. Nutritionists and veterinarians should work together to develop diets and feeding programs that promote intestinal health and maximize bird performance.
2, prebiotics and probiotics: These beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and compounds (prebiotics) help maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Adding prebiotics and probiotics to feed can promote gut health and digestion, as can all other biological novel additives.
3, management practices: Implementing appropriate farm management practices, such as reducing overcrowding, improving ventilation, and minimizing stressors, can improve the overall health of broiler chickens. In addition, occasionally inviting an expert to walk around the chicken farm can be very helpful in identifying management issues.
4, alternative growth promoters: Producers can explore natural growth-promoter alternatives to antibiotics used to promote growth in feed, such as plant-derived compounds, organic acids, enzymes, and alternative minerals, to alleviate intestinal health problems. Not all products are suitable for every farm, so repeated trial and error is needed to find the right product or combination of products. However, this applies only in regions where the use of such antibiotics is no longer permitted.
5, vaccination and biosecurity: Preventing infections through vaccination and strict biosecurity measures can greatly reduce intestinal health risks caused by certain pathogens. The maxim “prevention is better than cure” still holds true today, but the cost-effectiveness of prevention is often difficult to demonstrate, while the much higher cost of treatment is accepted without question.
Four. Summary
Intestinal health issues in broiler chickens have multiple causes and can seriously affect the poultry industry and consumers. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach, including proper nutrition, management practices, and the correct use of antibiotics and other additives. By prioritizing intestinal health, broiler producers can improve the overall health and performance of their flocks while meeting the growing demand for safe and sustainable poultry meat.
Article source: FeedStrategy, Volume 74, Issue 06; Author: loannis Mavromichalis