HEAL ▶▶▶TH
As more and more producers are coming un- der pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics, gut health has become more important than ever. A profes- sional nutrition programme creates a sound foundation.
by taking samples from a flock to monitor the response to the vaccination, is critical. Disease incidence should also be looked at as it occurs. If a certain disease is on the increase, the programme needs to be adjusted accordingly. There are a lot of resources out there to help. Consultants, such as vaccine companies, have technical sales staff and vet- erinarians who can advise. They’re extremely useful in help- ing us both revise our programmes and evaluate the vaccina- tion process. In the end, the overall goal is to do a better job of giving vaccinations which will help prevent disease and ultimately reduce antibiotic usage.
Maintain good gut health Eggshell quality and gut health are still hot topics in today’s poultry production. As more and more producers are under pressure to reduce the use of antibiotics, gut health has be- come more important than ever. Here there are three compo- nents to conquer. The first is a professional nutrition pro- gramme. Work with competent and experienced nutritionists. They will help you create diets that are consistent with the conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. Avoid changing diets and ingredients too often and use ingredients that are sup- portive of promoting better gut health. The second is incor- porating non-antibiotic intestinal health aids, such as
26 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 5/6, 2021
prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. These can be useful in maintaining the stability of the microflora and helping to pre- vent bacterial diseases. The third is controlling mycotoxins. Mycotoxins found in feeds are a threat to the health and well- being of animals and birds. A build-up of mycotoxins can cause oxidative damage to gut tissue, in addition to systemic toxicity effects. The goal is to implement a good programme as offered by the nutritionist or veterinarian, to help control mycotoxins in the feed or the feeding system in the house.
Reduce pathogen exposure Pathogens, like Salmonella spp. and E coli, continue to be an issue. When layers are exposed to pathogens the gut is the primary target, resulting in clinical disease or contamination of food products. To help reduce exposure to pathogens, there are three elements to be addressed: • Water sanitation: This is very critical to be aware of, as pathogens can get into water lines and biofilms, which can lead to issues such as disruption of the microflora or dysbac- teriosis. This can potentially lead to birds getting infections and the need for treatment or antibiotics. • Biosecurity: Some bacterial diseases are primarily bacterial pathogens that would need to be treated with antibiotics. With biosecurity the aim is to control people, equipment and
PHOTO: HENK RISWICK
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