GUT HEAL ▶▶▶TH
Creating an egg is a biologically complex process that needs a healthy hen with a healthy gut.
ILLUSTRATION: ALLTECH
taken into account in management practices. Many produc- ers have been successful in improving gut health and the mi- crobiome through the implementation of Alltech’s Seed, Feed, Weed programme to manage the composition of the intestinal microbial community. This involves accelerating the evolution of the microbial community to a steady state and then maintaining the status quo. By seeding the gut with favourable organisms, feeding the favourable organ- isms and weeding out the unfavourable organisms, this will help to improve shell quality. Overly elevated levels of calcium can also significantly im- pact gut health. In an aqueous solution, calcium becomes al- kaline and so can neutralise the acids produced in the proventriculus and gizzard. These acids are the first step in protein digestion and if this is impaired, protein can pass into the small intestine. Bacteria in the intestine are then able to use this as a substrate for fermentation. Dysbiosis and associated issues can then occur.
Gut health for a healthier, longer lay The laying hen can naturally continue to produce eggs for many years. However, her peak production will naturally de- cline with age. Genetic advances in recent years have al- lowed birds to produce nearly one egg per day, from week 18 to week 75. But, due to the push for large eggs which come at end of lay, this period is now being extended to 80 or more weeks in some cases. As the laying period is length- ened this will put more stress on the bird, as she must create a metabolically rich egg while also maintaining her body weight and dealing with any additional challenges from the environment that may impact the immune system.
16 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 4, 2020
It is worth noting that if the energy requirements of the bird are not being met, at a certain point her body will shut down the reproductive system that was producing the eggs in fa- vour of supporting her body weight and providing energy for vital bodily systems. Maintaining and promoting gut health in flocks increases villi height, reduces villi:crypt ratio and improves tight junctions between cells. Consequently, as already discussed, certain gut health supplements can help support immune function and also promote factors such as villi development. Villi with improved height will have more surface area and, therefore, can absorb more nu- trients to sustain the hen for longer laying cycles. Improving tight junctions will prevent bacteria from becoming translo- cated into the bloodstream. This is a common issue in stressed birds and can lead to a multitude of problems — in the worst case, diseases like Colisepticemia. Disease and mi- nor inflammation in the gut caused by dysbacteriosis will cause energy expenditure on powering the immune system which will prevent the hen from converting that energy into eggs. As previously noted, producers are coming under pressure. They are looking for ways to help their birds to continue to lay more, ideally from less. Improving the gut health of birds in lay will enable them to absorb a greater proportion of their feed, meaning that less is going to waste in the faeces. Quality food will help layers to produce quality eggs, but the best results come with good gut health. If the bird is not able to absorb the necessary nutrients, her egg production will suffer. Studies have looked at the impact improved gut health has had on laying rate, with benefits seen in laying intensity, egg weight and feed conversion.
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