Reduction in antibiotics and footpad dermatitis
Research has confirmed that HP AviStart from HAMLET PROTEIN is similarly effective in optimizing the weight and feed conversion rate of broilers as a wellknown antibiotic growth promoter. But efficient broiler production is not all about performance. Animal welfare issues such as foot pad lesions are an equally important concern. The results of a feeding trial indicate that starter feed with specialty soy protein could be part of the solution.
Better gut health with reduced need for antibiotics
The reduction of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and increasing restrictions on therapeutic antibiotic use have created new challenges in poultry production. Without antibiotics in feed, underlying intestinal disturbances become more visible, including those associated with dietary anti-nutritional factors.
Soybean meal is an important protein source in poultry diets, but it naturally contains several anti-nutritional factors. Among these are alpha-galacto-oligosaccharides (α-GOS), primarily raffinose and stachyose. These compounds cannot be digested by young birds and therefore pass through the digestive tract largely unchanged.
Research shows that α-GOS can contribute to undesirable digestive effects, including increased intestinal water retention, reduced nutrient utilization, lower metabolizable energy, and wetter excreta. In young animals, α-GOS may also provide substrates for a broad range of intestinal microorganisms, including potentially undesirable bacteria. This can increase nutritional pressure on birds during periods when gut health is already challenged.
Hamlet Protein has conducted research showing that replacing conventional soybean meal with specialty soy proteins containing significantly lower levels of α-GOS and other soybean ANFs can support intestinal health and performance, particularly in challenging production environments such as antibiotic-free systems and coccidiosis-vaccinated flocks.
Reduction in footpad dermatitis
Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is one of the most frequent problems that occur in broiler chicken farms today. It is characterized by lesions on the feet of poultry, which can vary in size and severity. There are a number of reasons that can influence whether or not birds show incidence of FPD. The main single factor is the corrosive effect of wet or damp litter resulting from high amounts of liquid faeces. Therefore, besides water provision, stocking density, climatic conditions and ventilation, feed ingredients play an important role in the triggering of FPD.
Soybean meal typically contains significant amounts of α-GOS, mainly raffinose and stachyose. Because these compounds are indigestible to birds, they can increase water retention within the digestive tract and contribute to wetter excreta. When litter moisture increases, the risk of footpad dermatitis also increases.
Studies have demonstrated a relationship between increasing dietary α-GOS levels and higher excreta moisture in poultry. Research has also shown that increasing α-GOS concentrations can negatively affect feed conversion ratio and reduce metabolizable energy utilization. These effects highlight the importance of minimizing α-GOS levels in diets designed for young birds.
A series of feeding trials conducted by Hamlet Protein, under different feeding conditions and production systems, have demonstrated that replacing a portion of conventional soybean meal with enzyme-treated specialty soy proteins containing very low levels of α-GOS can help reduce the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis.
Read more details about the trial by clicking below.
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