particular, the lactic acid producing bacteria Pediococcus acidilactici CNCM I-4622 (MA 18/5M) (BACTOCELL, Lalle- mand Animal Nutrition), is registered in the EU as a zootech- nical feed additive in poultry, based on numerous efficacy trials. Over 40 publications have described the modes of action of this unique probiotic bacteria. Its potential to optimise feed digestion can be summarised in four main principles: opti- mise carbohydrate digestion, balance the gut microflora, enhance gut maturity and modulate inflammation.


Saving 100 kcal/kg An innovative trial performed at Olzstyn University showed the effect of P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 on dietary energy uti- lization. The aim of the trial was to study the effect of energy density and probiotic supplementation on the productive performance of laying hens fed diets with varying energy densities. Two experimental diets were formulated containing 2650 and 2550 kcal of AME/kg, respectively: the standard en- ergy diet and the reduced energy diet. Both diets included equivalent levels of crude protein, lysine, methionine and cysteine, threonine, calcium, and phosphorus per kcal ME. The trial involved 200 31-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens. The concept of bio-equivalence was applied to evaluate the combined effect of the dietary energy reduction and the sup- plementation of P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 on the hens’ pro- ductive performance (Figure 2). Bio-equivalence is defined by EFSA (2018) as follows: “if two products are said to be bio-equivalent, it means that they would be expected to be, for all relevant effects, the same”. The concept applied to hens’ performance criteria (i.e. laying rate, FCR, exported egg mass, feed intake) indicates that hens receiving P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 with a reduced energy diet show a bio-equivalent per- formance as with the standard energy diet in control hens (Figure 2).


   


100 120


20 40 60 80


0 Laying Rate FCR *References available on request ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 6, 2020 19   92.0


BACTOCELL *


94.8 107.7


104.8 *


 


LAYING RATE (%) 96.3 96.3 96.9 97.4


FCR (g/g)


1.958


1.975


1.982


2.043


EXPORTED EGG MASS (kg/hen)


1.656 97%


1.688


1.693 100% 


    


103%


1.724


Thus, despite a 100 kcal/kg difference, both groups showed a similar laying rate, equivalent FCR and exported egg mass. In addition, eggs from the probiotic and reduced energy diet group showed a similar eggshell thickness to eggs from the control and standard energy diet groups (360 vs. 357 µm; ns). This suggests that P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 supplementa- tion compensates for the effect of the energy reduction on performance. Moreover, when looking at the single P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 supplementation effect, whatever the dietary energy level, it appears that the supplementation leads to better pro- ductive performance than for the same diet without probiot- ics (p<0.05). This is consistent with previous results. A compi- lation of 24 studies showed that P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 is effective in increasing egg production (+3% compared to control) and improving the feed efficiency (-2.7% FCR c ompared to control), (Figure 3).


Cost management tool The new findings about the effect of P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 on dietary energy utilisation bring producers another tool to manage ration costs in poultry production. Laying hens are able to extract more energy from the feed and in- crease laying rates or feed efficiency. This tool gives nutritionists two options: to use the probiotics on top of the formula to improve overall zootechnical perfor- mance, maintain gut health and enhance energy utilisation or to use the probiotics to reduce the cost of energetic raw material (30-50 kcal/kg of feed depending on the targeted performance) and still benefit from its effects in maintaining gut health. In both cases, P. acidilactici CNCM I-4622 has a positive effect on balancing the gut microbiota, with a posi- tive outcome on animal health and preserved production potential.


% of genetics standard


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