The Importance of Poultry Gut Health: Its Role in Chicken Growth and Performance
Poultry gut health is the cornerstone of excellent performance, sustained health, and overall flock well-being. The avian digestive system is highly vulnerable to environmental pathogens, which often lead to intestinal disorders. These infectious agents typically cause inflammation of the intestinal wall, shedding of gut cells (enterocytes), and a shortening or even destruction of intestinal villi. Consequently, the bird’s ability to efficiently absorb nutrients is severely compromised. In general, the main infectious agents that disrupt gut health are primarily bacterial in origin.
Bacterial enteritis is a common and debilitating disease in poultry that can severely impact productive performance. This complex condition has multiple predisposing factors. Fortunately, the correct use of feed additives significantly increases the chances of preventing bacterial enteritis and improving the poultry’s resilience.
The Poultry Gut Microbiome: Where Do Bacteria Come From and How Do They Evolve?
Just like mammals, chicks are born without any gut microbiome. After hatching, their digestive system gradually begins to receive and colonize bacteria from their surrounding environment, such as the litter and air, as well as from the feed they consume. In the first hours and days of life, pioneer bacteria like early strains of Escherichia coli and Streptococci grow rapidly. These initial bacteria play a crucial role in stimulating and developing the chick’s early gut immune system.
Approximately one week after hatching, the poultry gut microbiome begins to shift, and other bacteria like Clostridia and other beneficial flora quickly become dominant. Finally, after about two weeks, a stable and diverse microbial community forms in the poultry gut, primarily comprising bacteria from the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. These two groups are among the most common and important inhabitants of the poultry gut, playing a vital role in feed digestion, vitamin production, and protection against pathogens.
What Are the Signs of Gut Problems in Chickens?
Poultry gut health has a direct impact on their performance, growth, and immune system. Early detection of intestinal problems through observing key signs is a crucial step in preventing the spread of disease and economic losses. Digestive issues can manifest with various symptoms, including the following:
- Decreased Appetite and Performance: One of the most prominent signs is a sudden drop in appetite and water consumption. This is followed by poor weight gain and reduced growth rate in broilers, and a decline in egg production in laying hens.
- Changes in Feces: Feces can be a key indicator of gut health status. Loose and watery droppings, feces containing undigested feed particles, or foamy and sticky droppings are common signs of intestinal issues. Additionally, an abnormal or strong odor from the droppings can signal an imbalance in the gut microbiome.
- Pasty Vent: Feces sticking to the feathers around the vent is another sign of diarrhea or digestive problems.
- Reduced Feather Quality: Poor nutrient absorption due to gut issues can lead to low-quality and dull feathers.
- Increased Mortality and Disease Susceptibility: Gut problems weaken the immune system, making poultry more vulnerable to infectious diseases (such as Salmonella and Coccidiosis). In severe cases, this condition can lead to an increase in flock mortality.
Upon observing any of these signs, it is essential to promptly investigate the cause and take necessary corrective actions. This includes managing feed, improving environmental conditions, and using appropriate feed additives (such as probiotics, enzymes, and organic acids) to restore poultry gut health.
What Factors in Feed and Diet Formulation Endanger Gut Health?
Feed and diet formulation play a vital role in maintaining poultry gut health. However, certain factors and errors in diet preparation or raw material selection can directly damage the digestive system and disrupt the gut microbiome balance. Identifying and eliminating these factors is crucial for preventing digestive problems and preserving optimal poultry performance. Below are the most important factors to consider:
- Abrupt Changes in Diet: The poultry digestive system needs time to adapt to new feed compositions. Sudden and unplanned changes in the diet—whether in the type of raw materials or their ratios—can cause a significant shock to the digestive system. This shock can lead to impaired digestion, poor nutrient absorption, increased metabolic stress, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota (dysbiosis). The result of these abrupt changes includes diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss in broilers, and decreased egg production in laying hens. It is recommended that any dietary change be made gradually over a 7 to 10-day period to allow for sufficient adaptation. If time is limited, this process can be done over three days (e.g., with a one-third ratio change each day).
- Poor-Quality Raw Materials: Using low-quality, contaminated, or spoiled ingredients in feed is a primary cause of intestinal problems. Substandard raw materials can contain bacterial, fungal, or viral pathogens that, upon entering the digestive system, cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal wall. Additionally, raw materials with low digestibility introduce a large volume of undigested matter into the gut, which serves as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
- Nutrient Imbalance: Poultry diets must have a precise balance of protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. A deficiency or excess of any of these components can negatively impact poultry gut health. For instance, excess protein that is not fully digested can be fermented in the hindgut, producing toxic amines. Similarly, imbalanced low-fiber or high-fiber diets can affect gut motility and the microbial composition.
- Unsuitable or Spoiled Fats: The use of improper, oxidized, or low-quality fats in poultry feed has a very destructive effect on gut health and nutrient absorption. Oxidized fats contain free radicals that damage the intestinal wall cells and cause inflammation, reducing the function of absorptive cells (enterocytes). This issue is particularly prevalent in traditional or backyard farming where human food waste or unsuitable oils may be used. In commercial farming, reputable feed manufacturers typically adhere to necessary standards for fat selection and processing and use antioxidants to prevent oxidation.
Article: For a better guide on which oils or fats are suitable, please refer to the article on The Best Combination of Fats and Oils in Chicken Feed.
Identifying and Managing Stress Factors in Poultry: The Key to Maintaining Gut Health
What chicks eat has a direct impact on the microbes in their gut. However, aside from feed, other factors such as genetics and environment also significantly influence the structure and function of the poultry gut microbiome. For example, commercial chicks managed with greater precision typically show a different microbiome compared to those in traditional rearing systems.
One of the most critical factors that endangers chick gut health is stress. Just like humans experience stomach aches or reduced appetite during stressful times, chicks do too. Stress disrupts the chick’s gut; appetite decreases, nutrient digestion and absorption are impaired, which in turn weakens the chick’s immune system and makes it susceptible to disease. Therefore, understanding what causes stress in poultry is crucial for maintaining gut health and flock performance. These stressors can directly or indirectly affect the gut microbial balance and lead to digestive problems. While some of these factors differ between commercial and traditional systems, they collectively include the following:
Environmental and Management Factors
- Predator Stress: This is primarily observed in traditional poultry farming, where birds are at risk of attack from wild animals or dogs.
- Chick and Egg Care: In traditional systems, excessive human interference during the care of chicks and eggs can be stressful for the breeder birds.
- Weather Concerns: Temperature fluctuations and severe heat stress can occur in both traditional and commercial systems. Precise management of temperature and humidity in poultry houses, especially for chicks, layers, and broilers, is vital.
- Loud Noises: Loud and sudden sounds, from thunder in traditional settings to the dropping of feed trays or personnel traffic in commercial farms, can cause stress and panic in poultry.
- Sudden Power Outages: This is a very important and sudden stress factor that can have severe consequences for poultry, particularly in commercial systems. A power outage can shut down ventilation, cooling/heating, and feeding/watering systems. This situation can quickly lead to heat or cold stress, dehydration, and starvation in the flock, severely jeopardizing poultry gut health and the immune system. Proper crisis management during a power outage, including having backup generators, emergency ventilation systems, and preparedness protocols, is critical for the survival and well-being of the flock. For more detailed information on what to do during a power outage on a poultry farm, you can refer to our dedicated article.
Vaccination
- Vaccination Stress: Despite its critical importance in preventing diseases, vaccination is a stress factor for poultry. To reduce stress on chicks, it is best to perform vaccinations in a dimly lit environment with minimal noise and by experienced, skilled personnel. Proper vaccination management helps maintain the gut and immune health of poultry.
Article: “Poultry Vaccination: Factors Influencing Vaccine Efficacy” discusses the factors that contribute to the success of a vaccination program and what can cause vaccination failure. The article “Oral Vaccination” also guides you on how to prepare an oral vaccination for your flock.
The Detrimental Effects of Mycotoxins on Poultry Gut Health
Mycotoxins are toxins produced by specific species of fungi. To date, between 300 to 400 types of mycotoxins have been identified, and they thrive in warm and humid environmental conditions. In poultry feed, aflatoxins are among the most prevalent and are mainly found in ingredients such as peanut meal, cottonseed meal, soy, corn, barley, wheat, and oats. Mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed can pose serious health consequences for birds and even for human health.
Key Detrimental Effects of Mycotoxins on Poultry Health and Performance:
- Reduced Feed Intake and Impaired Nutrient Absorption: By negatively affecting the taste and smell of feed, mycotoxins cause a decrease in poultry appetite, leading to reduced feed consumption. This results in lower nutrient intake and, by disrupting the absorption processes in the gut, imbalances nutrient availability, leading to poor nutritional performance, reduced growth, and a drop in the feed conversion ratio.
- Disrupted Growth and Metabolism: Mycotoxins interfere with the metabolic processes in poultry and inhibit protein synthesis, directly slowing down the growth rate, which leads to weight loss and delayed development.
- Weakened Immune System (Immunosuppression): One of the most significant and dangerous effects of mycotoxins is the suppression of the poultry immune system. This leads to increased susceptibility of birds to infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal), the reactivation of chronic infections, adverse secondary reactions, higher medication usage, and ultimately, the ineffectiveness of vaccination programs.
- Organ Damage and Disease: The toxic effects of mycotoxins on the poultry body vary. For instance, aflatoxins primarily target the liver, leading to hepatic toxicity, impaired liver function, and potential long-term consequences. On the other hand, ochratoxins affect the kidneys, causing nephrotoxicity.
- Reproductive Disorders: Some mycotoxins, such as zearalenone, specifically disrupt the poultry reproductive system. This substance can cause hormonal imbalances, reduced fertility, and reproductive disorders like decreased egg production, poor hatchability, and abnormal development of reproductive organs.
Economic Consequences of Mycotoxins in the Poultry Industry:
The negative effects of mycotoxin contamination on poultry gut health lead to a reduced growth rate, poor feed conversion, weight loss in broilers, increased mortality, decreased egg production, and a heightened susceptibility to diseases. These issues not only negatively impact animal welfare but also severely reduce overall farm productivity and increase the mortality rate. Furthermore, managing mycotoxins involves costs for prevention, control, sampling, losses due to labor (caused by staff illness or flock problems), and research expenses, which places a heavy financial burden on the poultry farming industry.
Article: The article “Reasons for Chicken Weight Loss” examines the factors that influence weight loss or a lack of weight gain in chickens.
Antibiotic Use in Poultry Feed and Antimicrobial Resistance
Antibiotics are essential for the prevention and control of diseases in livestock and poultry. However, their excessive use in food production has become a serious global concern due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
Historically, poultry producers used low-dose antibiotics, known as antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs), to manage diseases like coccidiosis (an intestinal tract infection caused by the coccidia microbe) and to increase productivity. It was believed that using low doses of antibiotics in feed would protect poultry from disease-causing bacteria, which in turn would improve nutrient absorption and increase chick weight.
In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antibiotics solely as growth promoters. Following this ban, the poultry industry witnessed a significant increase in intestinal diseases such as necrotic enteritis and a 5% reduction in productivity, which had a considerable economic impact on the sector.
However, instead of reverting to routine antibiotic use, new approaches were adopted. Currently, the dominant strategies focus on prevention and include:
- Improved Biosecurity and Hygiene: Focusing on vaccination, pest control, and rigorous disinfection of facilities.
- Use of Antibiotic Alternatives: Such as probiotics, prebiotics, and organic acids, which help to strengthen poultry gut health.
- Better Management: Including stress control on farms and improved housing conditions.
Today, newer EU regulations (including those from 2022) have completely prohibited the routine and preventive mass use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are only permitted for the targeted treatment of sick animals, with a veterinary prescription, and in emergency situations. Furthermore, the use of antibiotics that are critically important for human health (like last-resort antibiotics) is strictly restricted and prohibited in poultry to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which poses a serious risk to humans.
Early Attention to Poultry Gut Health
At the Mid-West Poultry Federation Virtual Convention in 2020, Marcus Rustegno of Phytobiotics N.A. stated, “If your chick quality isn’t good, focusing on the first week or two isn’t very important… you have to start in the hatchery, you have to start with the first few days or the first week of a bird’s life.”
Neglecting poultry gut health during the hatchery period will lead to costly problems for producers later on. Rustegno also noted that there are six key components in any poultry production system: genetics, nutrition, health, environment, human resources, and management. Nutrition and health, when combined, directly lead to gut health. When it comes to nutrition and health, producers often pay more attention to feed ingredients because that constitutes the main cost. This is precisely the main reason for their losses, as neglecting both of these areas can lead to significant poultry gut health problems.
Poultry gut health has broad implications for the birds’ systemic health, animal welfare, flock production efficiency, food safety, and environmental impact. In fact, a healthy gut is essential for profitable production. This is why feed additives can be used in chicken feed. Preventive additives for gut health issues range from antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) and anti-coccidials to alternative additives that help maintain a healthy gut.
How to Maintain Poultry Gut Health?
Maintaining poultry gut health is essential for ensuring optimal growth, sustained health, and overall flock welfare. It is the key to achieving the best productive performance in poultry farming. Any disruption to nutrient digestion and absorption can lead to microbial imbalance (dysbiosis) or the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut, which in turn negatively impacts the birds’ overall health and performance.
The balance of the poultry gut microbiome is highly influenced by various factors, including management styles, climate, presence of diseases, and the quality of feed raw materials. Implementing proper management practices on the farm—such as preventive control, proper nutrition, access to clean water, adherence to biosecurity, and optimal environmental management—is vital for maintaining a healthy gut, and consequently, high health, welfare, and performance in poultry. Below, we examine the seven key factors that have the most significant impact on maintaining poultry gut balance:
- Nutrition and Feed Formulation: The diet and feed formulation are the most critical factors affecting the poultry gut microbiome. Sudden changes in feed, low-quality raw materials, and even the physical quality of the feed (such as particle size) can quickly disrupt gut balance and lead to digestive issues. Selecting high-quality ingredients and precise diet formulation are crucial for sustained gut health.
Related Articles: Poultry Diet and Feed Formulation
- Appropriate Brooding Conditions: The brooding period is a vital phase for the development of the chick’s digestive system and gut microbiome. Providing optimal brooding conditions (temperature, humidity, and proper ventilation) is essential to ensure the correct development and establishment of the gut microbiota. Early and easy access to quality feed and water immediately after hatching plays a key role in activating and developing their digestive system. Chicks that receive proper management during this period will have a better-performing gut with a higher capacity to withstand future challenges throughout the rearing cycle. This is why some farms use modern on-farm brooding methods like X-Treck to maximize chick access to feed and water.
Related Articles: For more information on different brooding methods and techniques like X-Treck, you can read our article on “Types of Chick Hatching and Brooding Methods“.
- House Preparation and Disinfection before Chick Placement: Thorough preparation and complete disinfection of the poultry houses before the arrival of a new batch of chicks are among the most fundamental steps to ensuring poultry gut health. A poorly cleaned and disinfected environment can be a primary source of disease-causing pathogens and harmful microorganisms. These agents can attack the chicks’ digestive systems immediately after placement, causing damage to the gut microbiome and leading to digestive diseases. Strict adherence to biosecurity protocols and the use of appropriate disinfectants can minimize the environmental microbial load and significantly aid in the establishment of a healthy microbiome in chicks.
Related Articles: The Correct Steps and Method for Disinfecting a Poultry House
- Biosecurity: Biosecurity acts as a crucial defensive barrier against the introduction and spread of pathogens on the farm. Without proper sanitation and disinfection, disease-causing agents can easily enter the houses, and by disrupting the poultry gut microbiome balance, they lead to inflammation and digestive damage. Strict implementation of biosecurity protocols is essential for protecting gut health and flock performance.
- Identifying and Managing Stress and Risk Periods: Throughout the poultry production cycle, there are sensitive periods where birds face physiological or environmental challenges. For example, times of feed changes or vaccination can cause stress in poultry and lead to fluctuations in the gut microbiota balance. If optimal management is not practiced during these risk periods, the likelihood of dysbiosis and digestive problems increases. Special attention during these times is critical for maintaining gut health.
- Environmental Conditions and Ventilation: Optimal environmental conditions in poultry houses, including precise control of temperature, humidity, and proper ventilation, have a direct impact on poultry gut health. A stressful or unsuitable environment (e.g., high heat, insufficient ventilation, or high ammonia levels) can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation in the digestive tract, disrupting the gut microbiome balance. Providing a calm and stable environment significantly helps maintain normal gut function.
- Mycotoxins and Pathogenic Infections: Mycotoxins (fungal toxins) found in feed and infections caused by pathogenic agents are major destructive factors for poultry gut health. These factors can directly damage the intestinal wall, impair nutrient absorption, and disrupt the microbiome balance. The use of toxin binders and management strategies to reduce the pathogen load in the environment and feed is essential for protecting the poultry gut.
Effective Nutritional Strategies to Address Poultry Gut Health Challenges
As the old saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention.” In the poultry industry, this has led to numerous innovations aimed at improving poultry gut health and preventing intestinal diseases. These innovations have emerged in response to the demand for quality products, consumer preferences, regulatory changes (such as the reduction in antibiotic use), and genetic improvements in new poultry breeds.
Today, producers utilize various technologies to improve poultry gut health, depending on their specific production needs and challenges. This brings up the question: What are the best supplements for chicken gut health?
- Dietary Fibers (DF): These fibers help improve the function of the digestive system.
- Probiotics and Prebiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help balance the gut microbiome, while prebiotics provide the necessary food for these bacteria.
- Nutritional Enzymes: These enzymes help improve the digestion of nutrients in feed.
- Toxin Binders and Antioxidants: These substances protect gut health by neutralizing toxins and preventing oxidation.
- Organic Acids: Organic acids help lower the pH of the digestive system, creating an unsuitable environment for harmful bacteria.
- Essential Oils and Phytomolecules: These substances have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to gut health.
In the following sections, we will delve into these solutions in more detail.
Dietary Fibers in Poultry Feed: A Role Beyond Digestion
Scientists have concluded that the use of dietary fibers (DF) has a significant impact on the development of the poultry digestive system, including the processes of digestion, fermentation, and nutrient absorption. Dietary fibers are divided into two main categories: water-insoluble fibers and water-soluble fibers, each playing a different role in gut health.
Water-insoluble fibers pass through the poultry’s digestive tract largely undigested, yet they indirectly improve digestion. A moderate amount of insoluble fiber in the diet can increase the retention time of digesta (partially digested food) in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This promotes better gizzard development and stimulates the secretion of endogenous enzymes, thereby improving the digestion of starch, lipids, and other dietary components. Moreover, improved gizzard function and increased hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion in the proventriculus help better control gut pathogens. Research indicates that adding insoluble fiber in the range of 3-5% to the poultry diet has notable effects on gut development and overall digestion.
In contrast, water-soluble fibers, found in ingredients such as barley, oats, and pectin, are fermented by bacteria in the poultry gut. This fermentation process leads to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, acetate, and propionate. Butyrate serves as the primary energy source for the cells of the intestinal wall, helping to repair and maintain their health. By influencing the gut microbial population, these types of fibers increase beneficial bacteria while reducing harmful ones. However, excessive use of soluble fibers can increase the viscosity (thickness) of the intestinal contents, which in turn can impede the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Consequently, a correct and balanced combination of both soluble and insoluble fibers in the poultry diet is essential for maintaining poultry gut health and optimizing the bird’s performance. Insoluble fibers aid in the physical improvement of the digestive system and digestion, while soluble fibers support the gut microbiome and cellular health. This smart nutritional approach is the cornerstone of sustainable and high-quality production in the poultry industry.
The Impact of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Chicken Gut Health
One of the most effective ways to strengthen and improve poultry gut health is through the use of probiotics and prebiotics in chicken feed. The poultry gut microbiome is a diverse population of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that form a complex ecosystem. Probiotics and prebiotics serve as excellent alternatives to antibiotics in broiler chicken production. They are instrumental in establishing a healthy gut microflora, which, in turn, positively impacts the growth performance and overall health of the poultry.
Probiotics are composed of live bacteria, fungi, or yeasts that positively influence the microflora of the digestive tract. These beneficial microorganisms can be administered through feed, drinking water, or spray solutions for day-old chicks in the hatchery or immediately after placement in the poultry house. This early administration ensures that beneficial microorganisms colonize the gut quickly.
Prebiotics, such as mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), inulin, and its hydrolysate (fructooligosaccharides: FOS), are important for modulating the gut microflora, stimulating a potential immune response, and promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Additionally, prebiotics help reduce pathogen colonization in the chicken digestive system.
Article: For more information on using probiotics and prebiotics in chicken feed to improve poultry health, you can read the following article.
The Role of Enzymes in Chicken Gut Health: A Strategy for Improving Efficiency
The role of nutritional enzymes as one of the most important feed additives in the poultry industry is well-recognized. Estimates show that the use of these enzymes can generate annual savings of between $3 to $5 billion in the global feed market. These savings are due to the significant impact of enzymes on poultry gut health and overall performance.
The beneficial effects of feed enzymes include:
- Neutralizing Antinutritional Factors: Enzymes deactivate antinutritional compounds present in feed, preventing their negative effects on digestion and absorption.
- Releasing Nutrients: They release unavailable nutrients (such as phosphorus bound in phytic acid) for absorption by poultry.
- Reducing Inflammation and Viscosity: By breaking down the indigestible components of the feed, they reduce the viscosity of the digesta, preventing irritation of the intestinal mucosa and the onset of inflammation.
- Controlling Harmful Bacteria: By reducing the nutrients available to harmful microbes, they inhibit their proliferation and help balance the gut microbiome.
- Supporting Microbial Diversity: By producing beneficial metabolites, they increase microbial diversity in the gut and prevent the growth of pathogens.
One important point about the use of enzymes is their sensitivity to heat. Since enzymes lose a significant portion of their activity during the high-heat pelleting process, the use of liquid enzymes is on the rise. These enzymes are sprayed onto the feed after pelleting to preserve their full potential and ensure maximum effectiveness.
As a result, the smart use of nutritional enzymes not only helps improve economic efficiency but also, by enhancing poultry gut health, creates the foundation for raising healthier and more productive flocks.
Using Toxin Binders and Antioxidants: A Key Strategy for Chicken Gut Health
One of the biggest food safety challenges in the poultry industry is feed contamination with mycotoxins. These dangerous toxins, produced by fungi, can threaten poultry gut health at various stages of the feed production chain, from the farm to the poultry house:
- Before Harvest: Fungal growth on plants like corn, wheat, and soy due to unfavorable weather conditions (high heat and humidity) or plant damage.
- During Harvest and Drying: Improper grain drying methods can provide an opportunity for fungal growth.
- During Storage and Transport: Unfavorable storage conditions (high humidity and temperature) and contamination by insects and rodents create a suitable environment for mycotoxin production.
To effectively prevent and combat these toxins, a multi-faceted approach is essential. Toxin binders and antioxidants, as two vital additives, play a significant role in this strategy.
Strategies for Mycotoxin Prevention and Control:
- On-Farm Control: Fungal growth can be reduced from the start by selecting resistant plant varieties and adhering to proper agricultural practices.
- Post-Harvest Management: Properly drying grains to a safe moisture level and storing them correctly in silos and warehouses with adequate ventilation prevents fungal growth.
- Using Feed Additives:
o Toxin Binders: These substances adsorb fungal toxins in the poultry digestive tract, preventing their absorption by the body and minimizing their harmful effects.- Antioxidants: The use of antioxidants in feed, especially to prevent the oxidation of fats and oils, is critical. Fat oxidation can lead to the production of peroxides, which damage the intestinal wall. Therefore, antioxidants improve the overall health of both the feed and the gut.
- Preservatives: The use of these materials in storage helps control pests and rodents and prevents the spread of fungi.
- Quality Control and Strict Management: Implementing stringent quality control measures at all stages of feed production and handling reduces the risk of contamination. For the correct use of additives, potential problems must first be identified to provide the appropriate solution.
By implementing these preventive strategies and correctly using additives like toxin binders and antioxidants, the risks from mycotoxin contamination can be minimized, leading to greater health, productivity, and profitability in the poultry industry.
Article: The “Complete Guide to Chicken Feed Preparation and Production” addresses the methods and equipment required for producing chicken feed.
The Role of Organic Acids in Improving Poultry Gut Health
Organic acids are carbon-based compounds that are naturally produced during the microbial fermentation process in various parts of the poultry digestive system, such as the crop, intestines, and ceca. Adding these acids to feed or drinking water is an effective way to boost gut health. These compounds improve feed digestibility by increasing the secretion and activity of endogenous digestive enzymes, which in turn aids in optimal nutrient absorption.
Organic acids not only help to decontaminate feed but also play a significant role in controlling intestinal pathogens. They pass through the bacterial cell wall and disrupt the function of bacteria such as Clostridia spp., Listeria spp., and certain coliforms.
Additionally, due to their strong antimicrobial properties, organic acids are also used in poultry drinking water. By lowering the water’s pH, these substances create an unfavorable environment for microbial growth and help eliminate biofilm from water lines.
However, it is important to note that there are limitations to using organic acids in livestock and poultry farming, including:
- Bacterial Resistance: Long-term and improper use of these acids can lead to resistance in some bacteria.
- Impact on Feed Palatability: Some organic acids have a pungent taste that can reduce a bird’s willingness to eat.
• Corrosive Properties: Acids can cause corrosion and damage to equipment and water lines. - Feed Buffering Effect: Natural buffers in feed, such as minerals, can increase pH and reduce the full effectiveness of organic acids.
As a result, organic acids must be used intelligently and with all factors considered to fully benefit from them and prevent potential problems.
Essential Oils and Phytomolecules in Chicken Feed
Essential oils (EOs) are crude plant extracts composed of various unpurified phytomolecules. They are known to stimulate appetite, improve the secretion of digestion-related enzymes, and activate the immune response. These plant-based substances have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In addition, they enhance feed digestibility, strengthen the immune system, and have anti-inflammatory potential. Many studies have also shown that supplements or complete feeds using these oils lead to increased weight gain, improved carcass quality, and reduced mortality rates (Williams & Losa, 2001). The use of specific EO blends can be effective in reducing the colonization and proliferation of Clostridium perfringens and controlling coccidial infections. Consequently, they may help mitigate necrotic enteritis.
Phytomolecules impact the digestive system in three primary ways:
- Digestive Properties of Phytomolecules: These compounds increase the secretion of digestive enzymes and enhance intestinal motility. A 2007 study by Jang reported a significant increase in the activities of pancreatic trypsin, amylase, and maltase in broilers fed various commercial essential oil blends. For instance, the essential oils in carvacrol have positive effects on the growth performance and intestinal barrier function in broilers. The intestinal barrier is a semi-permeable structure that allows the absorption of essential nutrients and provides immune sensing, while preventing the entry of pathogenic molecules and bacteria. Phytomolecules have also been shown to support the repair of intestinal damage caused by lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
- Antimicrobial Properties of Phytomolecules: These compounds can prevent the growth of potential pathogens. Thymol, eugenol, and carvacrol, when combined at low concentrations, have synergistic antimicrobial effects. One of the well-known mechanisms of phytomolecules’ antibacterial activity is their hydrophobic nature. This characteristic helps disrupt the permeability of the cell membrane and cellular homeostasis. These disruptions can lead to the loss of cellular components, the invasion of other substances into the cell, or even cell death.
- Antioxidant Properties of Phytomolecules: At the intestinal level, these compounds prevent the formation of free radicals and oxidative destruction. Oxidative destruction leads to cell death and the production of toxic and reactive aldehyde metabolites, known as free radicals. Both thymol and carvacrol have strong antioxidant activity. Oregano, when used at doses of 50 to 100 mg/kg in the chicken diet, has shown antioxidant effects in broiler tissues. It is also suggested that these essential oils be used to improve the bird’s oxidative balance. Karadaş et al. (2014) observed that a blend of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and capsicum oleoresin in the feed of Ross 308 broilers at 21 days of age significantly increased the concentration of carotenoids and Coenzyme Q10 in the liver.
- Positive Impact on Feed Palatability: Unlike some other additives that might have an unpleasant taste, phytomolecules can maintain or even improve the taste and aroma of the feed. This encourages consistent feed intake, which is crucial for maximizing growth and performance.
Overall, essential oils and phytomolecules are promising technologies with proven benefits for poultry production performance. Phytomolecules are generally recognized as safe and are commonly used in the food industry. Some phytomolecule compounds have multiple modes of action that support an efficient and sustainable reduction in antibiotic use in poultry production.
References:
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