Fat digestibility, in particular, will be affected to a large extend by bacteria that impair the function of bile acids, vital components of the fat digestibility apparatus.


status and subsequent fat digestion was compared between birds reared in sterilised conditions and conventional reared birds. Birds reared in sterilised conditions showed a higher li- pid faecal apparent digestibility compared to conventionally reared birds, confirming the negative effect of some bacteria on fat digestion. This can be explained by the difference in the concentration of conjugated bile salts.


The need for a nutritional emulsifier Fat digestion is influenced by many factors (e.g. fat source, age). Less attention is given to the effect of the microflora. Considering the literature work stated above it should be an important factor to take into account. Orffa engineered a nu- tritional emulsifier to reach maximal potential in the intestinal environment and improve digestion. The most important pa- rameter to choose the optimal emulsifier for every specific ap- plication is HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance). An emulsifier with a low HLB is more fat soluble (lipophilic) and an emulsifi- er with a high HLB is more water soluble (hydrophilic). Due to the fact that an animal consumes almost twice as much water as feed, the intestine is a very watery environment. The goal of a nutritional emulsifier is to optimise the emulsification and micelle formation in the intestine and therefore an emulsifier with a high HLB (hydrophilic) is most efficient. In recent years, several faecal metabolic studies with broilers have been performed by Orffa to examine the effects of the nutritional emulsifier, Excential Energy Plus. The results show that the nutritional emulsifier is able to increase energy (+76 kcal AMEn/kg), crude fat (+2.81%), dry matter (+1.41%) and crude protein (+1.68%) digestibility on average to a high ex- tend versus the control treatment. The increase in digestibili- ty seems to depend on the crude fat percentage in the diet.


Conclusion A disbalance in gut microflora has an important negative ef- fect on digestibility. To counteract this the activity of a nutri- tional emulsifier should be considered. Orffa’s nutritional emulsifier has the proven ability to increase nutrient diges- tion, which is important in a healthy broiler, but crucial in a pathogen challenged bird.


References are available on request


Table 1- Contents of the proximal part of the small intestine in chickens and ileal absorption coefficients at day 35.


Broilers, d35 With antibiotics Without antibiotics


Contents of the proximal part of the small intestine Clostridium perfringens (log10 CFU/g digesta) Conjugated bile acids (µmol/g digesta)


Ileal absorption coefficients Total fatty acid absorption (%)


Source: Knarreborg et al. 2004 a,b


5.48a 11.7a


82a Different superscript shows significant difference between groups (P<0,05)


Table 2 - Lipid faecal apparent digestibility (%) in broilers


Broilers, d21 Conjugated bile acids (µmol/g) Lipid faecal apparent digestibility (%)


Source: Maisionnier et al. 2003 a,b


Limited microflora (birds 88.9a Different superscript shows significant difference between groups (P<0,05) ▶ GUT HEALTH | DECEMBER 2020 97 Conventional microflora


reared in sterilised conditions) (conventional reared birds) 17a


3.3b 81.4b


7.14b 8.88b


73b


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