Figure 1 - Forest plot showing meta-analysis results. –0.6086


S1 - 14 DPI S2 - 13 DPI S5 - 13 DPI S4 - 11 DPI S3 - 11 DPI S1 - 7 DPI S5 - 6 DPI S4 - 4 DPI


S3 - 4 DPI –0.1606


S1 - 3 DPI Meta-analysis result Fysal® Fit-4


–0.429 Favours Fysal® Fit-4 –2 –1.5 –1 –0.5


Treatment differences (log CFU/g) 0.5


0 Below 0.0 favours the multifactorial concept group and above 0.0 favours the control group. S = study number; DPI = days post-inoculation. 1 1.5 Favours control 2 –1.2534 –0.05068 –0.2775 –0.5721 –0.5667 –0.1710 –0.2725 –0.4114


out in Spain, Thailand and Brazil. Birds were randomly allo- cated to either a diet including the multifunctional concept or a negative control diet. No antibiotics were included in either diet. Depending on the study, birds were either directly challenged with Salmonella (inoculation model) or brought in contact with Salmonella-infected birds in the same pen (seeder infection model). Salmonella counts in the birds’ caeca were assessed on several days following the challenge (2, 4, 6, 7, 13 and 14 days post-challenge). As the shedding of the bacteria is most pronounced in the first two weeks following exposure to Salmonella, this is the best period to evaluate the efficacy of any intervention.


A 63% reduction of Salmonella What did the meta-analysis reveal? Inclusion of the multi- functional concept in the diet reduced Salmonella coloniza- tion in the caeca of broilers by 0.429 log CFU/g compared to broilers receiving the control diet (until 14 days post infec- tion, p<0.05; Figure 1). Each data point in Figure 1 shows the difference between the means of the two treatment groups at the various days post-inoculation in the various studies as well as for the combination of all studies. Microbial load is expressed as “log count” (e.g. 1000 = 103


= log 3) of “colony


forming units” (CFU, the number of visible colonies after cul- tivation on a petri dish). In this case a reduction of 0.429 log CFU represents a reduction from 1,251 to 466 CFU/g, equal- ing a 63% reduction in Salmonella counts up to day 14 post- infection. When it comes to fighting Salmonella contamina- tion, food safety will always be the top priority, with the main focus on control interventions across the production chain. Most cases of Salmonella in broilers are sub-clinical, and no


visible signs of a problem may occur until a flock tests posi- tive. Usually, birds will not suffer from a Salmonella infection, although some loss in performance due to inflammation may occur. Trials studying the multifunctional concept were not designed to study performance effects for which larger numbers of birds would have been necessary. However, the concept tended to improve final body weight by 21.8 g compared to the control diet.


An integrated approach Data from the meta-analysis prove the efficacy of the mul- tifunctional concept in supporting the natural defense mechanisms of the bird, resulting in reduced colonisation of Salmonella in broilers after infection. However, Salmonella has multiple entry points in the feed-to-food chain and also poses a risk to raw materials, feed in storage as well as during processing. Hygiene procedures at a processing plant may be insufficient to manage contaminated birds. Therefore, critical control points across the feed-to-food chain need to be iden- tified and managed and any intervention strategy must begin early and tackle the contamination at its source. The product described in this article is part of Trouw Nutrition’s Salmonella Control Programme, a portfolio of products designed to safe- guard feed raw materials, support feed and water hygiene, and strengthen the bird’s natural defenses. This integrated approach will not only help to reduce the microbial load and pathogen pressure in the flock; it will also ensure food safety, while protecting producers’ businesses.


*Bart D’heer is Global Programme Manager of Salmonella Control, **Ellen Hambrecht is Product Manager of Fysal Fit-4.


▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 29, No. 9, 2021 27


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36