Dr. Stéphanie Ladirat, R&D Director, NUQO

A recent research program highlights that micro-encapsulation of seaweed and plant extracts can stimulate digestive functions, improve performance, and reduce feed costs, addressing current egg industry needs.

The egg industry grapples with key challenges in optimizing nutrition and profitability for laying hens. One significant hurdle involves efficiently producing eggs while maintaining bird health and well-being. Sustainable practices, such as efficient waste management and reducing the environmental footprint, are essential to address growing concerns about the environmental impact of egg production. To tackle these issues and enhance the performance of laying hens, strategies have emerged. These include formulating balanced diets with alternative protein and energy sources, exploring feed additives like enzymes, microbials, phytogenics, and seaweed extracts. Enzymes, such as phytase, improve nutrient utilization, while probiotics and prebiotics support gut health, enhancing feed conversion and disease resistance. Natural phytogenics provide antioxidants, affect the microflora profile, and improve digestive functions, ultimately leading to increased egg production and improved egg quality. Seaweed bioactives (so called-phycogenics), contribute as well to better gut health of animals. These strategies address challenges in egg production and meet consumer expectations for high-quality, nutritious eggs, all while promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

The latest benchmark for phytogenic feed additives
Lately, a feed additives company has introduced an innovative product, NUQO©NEX (NQ), comprising metabolites sourced from both plants and algae (referred to as phytogenic and phycogenic, originating from the Greek words ‘phytos’ for plant and ‘phycos’ for algae). These metabolites are shielded by a unique micro-encapsulation technology. The utilization of micro-encapsulation has become imperative in the realm of phytogenic feed additives to mitigate the volatility of natural compounds. While the term ‘encapsulation’ is increasingly generic, it is crucial to discern authentic technology that not only safeguards but also effectively releases active ingredients, setting it apart from rudimentary methods like silica absorption or light-agglomeration, which may suffice for various compounds but fall short in preserving delicate phytogenics like essential oils.

It is of utmost importance to delve into the manufacturing technology underpinning each product, rather than solely relying on surface-level claims. With its notably high concentration of active components and remarkable stability, this novel solution assures a precise release in the digestive tract and offers a cost-effective dosage unlike any other currently available. This technology has been meticulously developed to optimize poultry performance and can serve as an alternative growth promoter or a means to enhance feed conversion ratios and overall performance, ultimately resulting in an improved return on investment for poultry operations.

Numerous trials have validated the effectiveness of this technology in enhancing the performance of laying hens across diverse contexts and geographic regions. Concurrently, scientists have conducted assessments to gauge the technology’s precise influence on feed digestibility. This research aims to provide formulators and nutritionists with greater flexibility in their decision-making processes.

Enhancing Feed Digestibility in poultry
In a recent study conducted at the University of Berlin in Germany, researchers undertook a comparative analysis of four treatments: a negative control, two commercial products incorporating phytogenics (referred to as P1 & P2), and a novel technology, NUQO©NEX (NQ). The findings revealed that the NQ treatment not only enhanced the digestibility of nutrients like crude fat, crude protein, and starch but also contributed to increased mineral digestibility, including crude ash, calcium, and phosphorus, when compared to the negative control. The other two solutions also improved the digestibility of certain nutrients and minerals but to a lesser extent than NQ. Notably, the NQ treatment exhibited the most pronounced effects on nutrient and mineral digestibility, resulting in the highest overall performance improvement. In sum, the NQ treatment demonstrated enhanced feed digestibility, ultimately leading to improved performance, in contrast to conventional products relying on phytogenics. This underlines the significance of the formulation’s composition (comprising both phytogenics and phycogenics) and the influence of manufacturing technology (micro-encapsulation) on product stability and release within the digestive system.

Concrete impact on feed costs with a conservative matrix value
The NQ technology underwent extensive testing in various global regions, including Asia, Europe, and Latin America, to evaluate its impact on the performance of laying hens. Additionally, to offer maximum flexibility to nutritionists and formulators, diverse scenarios were examined, involving the application of feed additives either “on top” of the formulation or using a “matrix value” approach, allowing adjustments to the feed formulation to reduce costs by decreasing energy and protein content. Two recent trials were conducted at Kasetsart University in Thailand under the guidance of Professor Yuwares.

In an experiment, the NQ technology was used with a “matrix value” at 75 ppm. Three treatments were tested: 1) an initial control diet [C0], 2) a second treatment that consisted of the same control diet but with reduced energy and protein content (-23 kcal/-0.25% dig.Prot) [NC], and finally, 3) a third treatment was given to animals based on the control diet, with reduced energy and protein content (-23 kcal/-0.25% dig.Prot) along with the NQ technology at 75 ppm [NC+NQ]. In this case as well, the experiment consistently delivered expected results. Applying a matrix to the control diet (NC) adversely affected laying percentage, egg mass, and FCR but did not alter feed intake when compared to the control. Applying NQ technology with a matrix value (NC+NEX) helped to restore layer performance, with the laying percentage even slightly surpassing that of CO.

Beyond performance indicators, additional assessments highlighted the influence of the NQ technology. Researchers observed a decrease in both fatty liver scores and occurrences. Moreover, there was an enhancement in eggshell thickness, whether the technology was used in a diet, with or without a matrix value.

Opt for the latest, science-backed technology to safeguard profits
In the evolving landscape of the egg industry, the NQ technology emerges as a revolutionary solution. By seamlessly combining exclusive ingredients sourced from both plants and algae, it offers a distinctive advantage. What sets this technology apart is its genuine micro-encapsulation method, ensuring the safe and efficient release of active components. Through extensive trials, the remarkable effects on laying hens’ performance, improved feed digestibility, enhanced egg quality, and notable reduction in costs have been demonstrated. NQ technology is not just one more phytogenic feed additive, but rather the most advanced nature-based technology for optimizing laying hens’ performance at competitive cost. It serves as a cornerstone for the future of egg production, delivering unparalleled advantages to producers and championing healthier, more sustainable laying hens’ operations.

Lode Nollet, Global Product Manager Poultry Enzymes, Huvepharma

Nutritional strategies to support the production of high quality, low cost and safe animal products are a must nowadays. The relationships between health, nutrition, welfare, and environment need to be considered. In poultry production, increasing feed costs are imposing pressure on the profitability of the farmer, so nutritionists seek to reduce feed costs whilst maintaining animal performance and gut health. Several strategies, with tangible tools to support this, are discussed in this article.

CONTROLLING COCCIDIOSIS

Coccidiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria, is one of the most widespread and difficult to manage poultry diseases, resulting in considerable economic losses in the broiler industry. Insufficient or inadequate control of coccidiosis will result in gut health damage and provide a pathway for other pathogens to proliferate.

For instance, suboptimal coccidiosis control combined with a high amount of undigested protein will create an ideal situation for the proliferation of Clostridia spp. Birds suffering from clinical coccidiosis will show typical signs like diarrhoea, bloody droppings, increased mortality, decreased feed intake and impaired performance.

Inadequate control of coccidiosis leads to impaired growth and feed conversion ratio, without the presence of evident clinical signs. This is subclinical coccidiosis.

Intensive methods of production of poultry favour the reproduction of Eimeria. Consequently, coccidiosis is a continuing problem requiring constant attention and, in the case of broilers, a need for continuous supplementation with anticoccidial drugs or coccidiosis vaccines, in addition to in-feed anticoccidials. Coccidiosis control combined with a good monitoring programme will be the base of any gut health management programme.

IMPROVING FEED DIGESTIBILITY

Improving digestibility of the feed can be achieved by selecting highly digestible feedstuffs. However, this will increase the feed price. The improvement of the digestibility of feed by using enzymes able to degrade Non-Starch Polysaccharides (the so-called NSPases) will not only lead to lowering the feed cost at formulation, but also exert a positive effect on the bird’s gut health.

The NSPases contain xylanase or xylanase-based enzymatic complexes, and their mode of action includes the hydrolysis of soluble arabinoxylans, which minimises intestinal viscosity, preventing the overgrowth of microflora and thereby reduces gut health disorders.

Together with the efficient reduction in viscosity, NSPases will also hydrolyse insoluble arabinoxylans. This action will unlock nutrients (mainly starch and proteins) which are trapped in the cell walls of the vegetable feed ingredients (the so called ‘cage effect’ of insoluble fibres).

Using the correct NSPase leads to improved digestibility of starch and protein. The latter is of particular importance as high levels of undigested protein in the (last) part of the intestine is a breeding ground for protein-loving pathogens like Clostridium spp, causing necrotic enteritis.

The breakdown of arabinoxylans by NSPase also yields arabino- oligosaccharides (AXOS) which are known to be fermented by the microflora in the lower part of the intestine to butyrate, which is a major energy source for villi regeneration allowing good gut health status.

Phytases have been shown not only to break down phytate to release phosphorus, but by doing so, to also destroy the anti-nutritional factor phytate.

This not only leads to a reduction of endogenous protein losses, but also liberates protein and amino acids which are complexed by phytate, enhancing their digestibility.

SUPPORTING THE MICROBIOTA

The relationship between a healthy gut and the animal’s microbiota is undeniable. As part of the holistic approach, the inclusion of probiotics in the nutritional programme offers a way of supporting gut health from a microbial perspective.

The mode of action of probiotics is usually multifactorial, including (but not limited to) the production of beneficial metabolites or the direct competition with unwanted bacteria. As a result, probiotics often help to balance the present microbiota and improve its robustness, supporting general gut health in the process. Probiotics can be incorporated into the feed or drinking water, depending on the strain and formulation used.

Although there are many commercial options available, the preferred product of choice should be based on a single unique strain, capable of forming spores and with a proven and researched mode of action. Such probiotics increase the ease of use, whilst ensuring product efficacy.

Good examples are B-Act®, containing viable spores of Bacillus licheniformis, based on Clostridium butyricum. Probiotics allow producers to support their animals’ gut health efficiently, setting them up for a successful production period from start to finish.

CONCLUSION

Gut health management is of paramount importance to the profitability of poultry farming. The strategy behind managing optimal gut health should contain a combination of the most important control tools on the market available today: an adequate and well thought-through coccidiosis control programme, combined with an NSP enzyme and a phytase, and topped off by a well-functioning probiotic.

To know more, please contact Huvepharma technical team

Huvepharma SEA (Pune) Pvt. Ltd.

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