RESEARCH ▶▶▶
were arranged in a factorial 3×2 design, with the first factor being the yellow pigment level (60, 85 and 110ppm of Xantophylls). The second factor was the presence or absence of the gut-health-improving feed additive. Xantophylls (yel- low pigment) and canthaxanthin (red pigment, 3ppm) were added to the grower (11-28 days) and finisher (29-46 days) phase diets. Diets were based on yellow corn and soybean meal and ad- justed to different growth phases (starter (0-10 days), grower (11-28 days) and finisher (29-46 days)) to meet the nutritional requirements of the breed. No AGP or coccidiostats were add- ed to birds’ diets. Birds were vaccinated on the farm according
Figure 1 - The results showed that the improved yellow skin pigmentation when compared to birds in the negative control treatment at days 43 and 46, respectively.
Negative control Presan®-FY
22 20 18 16 14 12 10
+8.1 % b 16.51 17.84 a
22 20 18 16 14 12 10
Day 43
Negative control Presan®-FY
+16.5 % b 17.66 a 20.58
to local standard practices and with a commercial live coccidi- osis vaccine. In vivo skin pigmentation was measured in 27 birds per treatment at day 43 and day 46. Intestinal mor- phology was measured in the duodenum and the intestinal absorptive area was calculated.
Day 46
Figure 2 - Only the gut-health-improving additive treatments achieved the highest in vivo skin yellowness at day 46.
Negative control Presan®-FY
25 20 15 10 5 0
a b c 16.17 c 19.86 16.98 19.56 b b 22.32 19.83
Skin pigmentation can be improved The results showed that the gut-health-improving additive significantly improved yellow skin pigmentation by 1.33 (+8.1%) and 2.92 (+16.5%) b*units when compared to birds in the negative control treatment at days 43 and 46, respec- tively, (p < 0.001, Figure 1). In the trial, only the gut-health- improving additive treatments achieved the highest in vivo skin yellowness at day 46 (p < 0.001, Figure 2). Understanding the mode of action of feed additives is essen- tial to advancing poultry nutrition. Improvements in birds’ skin yellowness as shown in the study are presumably associ- ated with the positive effect that the gut-improving feed ad- ditive has on gut integrity. Previous studies have shown a synergistic effect of gut-health-improving additive ingredi- ents on improved intestinal morphology. In the Mexican trial, broilers fed the feed additive blend showed an increase in vil- lus length and width compared to the negative control group birds. This effect led to a greater intestinal absorptive area, meaning nutrients – in this case, pigments – could be better absorbed in the bird’s gut. Intestinal morphology analysis showed that inclusion of the gut-health-improving additive significantly increased the intestinal absorptive area by 0.77mm2
(+11%) per mm2 of internal duodenal wall (Table 1). 60 ppm 85 ppm 110 ppm
Table 1 – Duodenal morphology results by effect of the presence or absence of Presan-FY in broilers at 43 days.
Treatment Villi length Villi width Crypt depth # of villi/mm2 Negative control 952.7 b 78.6 b Presan-FY
Probability 0.001 26
982.0 a 84.7 a 0.001
215.8 223.7 0.166
30.7 30.6
0.860 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 8, 2020
Absorptive area, mm2 7.22 b 7.99 a 0.001
Additional research is required to understand the effects of this additive on pigment absorption. The trial results suggest adding the gut-health-improving ad- ditive could help poultry producers lower the levels of xan- thophylls (yellow pigments) from 110ppm to 85ppm while achieving similar pigment levels in broiler skin and also deliv- ering gut health improving properties. Including the gut-health-improving additive boosts both pigment and nu- trient absorption to support enhanced growth performance. The research is helping producers in Mexico meet various market demands across different production environments employing varying management practices. As with other studies completed in research centres and on commercial farms, the findings demonstrate that it is possible to meet wholesaler, retailer and consumer demands and achieve AGP- free production goals while supporting birds’ gut health and performance. These trial findings support the importance of an integrated strategy to steer gut health. By approaching poultry produc- tion with a holistic programme which includes feed, farm and health management – and tailoring that approach to the needs of the marketplace – poultry producers can reduce their reliance on antibiotics, prevent animal disease and en- hance flock performance.
Skin yellowness, b* units
Skin yellowness, b* units
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 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
