Feed Quality for Better Poultry Production

Researchers agree that the quality of feed – including its nutritional content, physical characteristics, and microbial load - significantly influence the development of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome in birds. This directly impacts overall poultry health, performance and production outcomes. Therefore, proper feed biosecurity and quality control are essential to ensure feed safety, prevent the introduction of pathogens and support optimal performance by enhancing nutrient absorption. This leads us to consider the impact of in-feed interventions on microbiome development, their roles in enhancing disease resistance, and their potential to maximize both performance and food safety standards.

Listen to the Podcast Today.

1. Understanding the Role of the Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses that significantly impact poultry health and performance. A balanced microbiome aids in:

• Nutrient absorption: Microbes help break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars and fatty acids, improving feed efficiency.
• Immune system development: A well-developed microbiome trains immune cells to recognize and respond to pathogens.
• Disease resistance: Competitive exclusion of harmful bacteria and enhanced gut barrier functions reduce inflammation and disease susceptibility.

Disruptions in the microbiota can lead to decreased feed efficiency, poor nutrient digestion and the production of harmful toxins that compromise bird health.

2. Feed Interventions for Improved Gut Health

To optimize growth performance and maintain a balanced microbiome, various feed intervention strategies can be implemented:

Probiotics and Prebiotics

• Probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria that outcompete harmful pathogens.
• Prebiotics act as food for commensal bacteria, promoting a diverse gut microbiota.

Organic Acids and Enzymes

• Organic acids lower gut pH, making it inhospitable for harmful bacteria.
• Enzymes improve nutrient digestion, reducing feed waste and gut inflammation.

Phytobiotics and Essential Oils

• Natural plant extracts have antimicrobial properties that support gut health and improve feed conversion efficiency.

While these interventions enhance gut health, their effectiveness depends on various factors like feed quality, environmental conditions and application timing.

3. The Role of Feed Sanitation in Poultry Performance

One of the most effective yet often overlooked aspects of poultry biosecurity management is feed sanitation. Contaminated feed is a major carrier of pathogens such as Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens, leading to disease outbreaks and reduced performance.

Benefits of Feed Sanitation:

• Reduces microbial load in feed: Decreases the introduction of harmful bacteria into the poultry house.
• Improves feed safety: Reduces the risk of disease transmission through feed.
• Enhances production performance: Studies have shown that sanitized feed lowers broiler breeder mortality and improves chick quality.

Methods of Feed Sanitation:

• Heat treatment: Effective but susceptible to recontamination post-processing.
• Chemical feed sanitizers: Formaldehyde-based treatments and organic acids significantly reduce microbial contamination.

Combining feed sanitation with in-feed interventions can further improve gut health by creating a cleaner environment for probiotics to thrive.

4. Impact on Broiler Breeders and Broiler Growth Performance

Recent studies have demonstrated that optimizing feed intake through feed sanitation and microbiome management leads to:

• Lower mortality in broiler breeders: A 4.5% reduction in cumulative mortality.
• Improved chick quality: A 2.1% increase in Grade A chicks.
• Reduced Salmonella prevalence in broilers: Sanitized feed lowers Salmonella transmission within the flock.
• Improved broiler growth performance: Even under challenged conditions, improvement in feed conversion ratio.

Optimizing feed quality is essential for maximizing poultry production efficiency. A multi-faceted approach that includes gut microbiome management, in-feed interventions and feed sanitation ensures better nutrient absorption, disease resistance and overall performance. By implementing these strategies, poultry producers can enhance flock health, improve productivity and contribute to safer food production.

Listen to the Podcast Today.