FERMNUTRAL: A POSTBIOTIC INNOVATION TO MAXIMIZE GUT HEALTH AND EFFICIENCY IN POULTRY PRODUCTION

Gut Health: The Key to Modern Poultry Production
The expression of the genetic potential of poultry largely depends on intestinal health. The gastrointestinal tract houses nearly 70% of the immune cells and constitutes the primary barrier against enteric pathogens. However, during the early stages of life, immune immaturity increases susceptibility to infections and microbiota imbalances, particularly under intensive production systems.

Traditionally, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) have been used to improve productive performance and reduce health-related challenges. However, their continuous use has been associated with antimicrobial resistance, intestinal dysbiosis, and concerns regarding food safety and public health.

In this context, postbiotics have emerged as a sustainable alternative. They are defined as preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their bioactive components, including short-chain fatty acids, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides, peptides, and cell

wall fragments. Unlike probiotics, postbiotics offer greater stability, safety, and consistency, making them an effective alternative to AGPs (Zhong et al., 2022).

Postbiotics vs. Probiotics: A Real Competitive Advantage
The probiotics most commonly used in poultry production, such as Lactobacillus spp. and spore-forming Bacillus spp., present certain limitations when compared with postbiotics.

Lactobacillus species are heat-sensitive microorganisms; therefore, their survival during feed pelleting and storage may be compromised. In addition, factors such as chlorination of drinking water can reduce their viability and, consequently, their biological efficacy.

In contrast, Bacillus spp. exhibit high resistance to elevated temperatures due to spore formation. However, their beneficial effects may depend on successful intestinal germination and on the physiological and microbiological conditions of the host. Furthermore, these bacteria do not permanently colonize the gastrointestinal tract, meaning that their biological impact may depend on continuous administration through feed or drinking water.

Postbiotics exhibit high stability during feed processing and storage, as well as in chlorinated drinking water, because they do not rely on cell viability. Moreover, their bioactive compounds can exert their effects immediately upon ingestion, without requiring germination or intestinal colonization. This allows for a faster, more reproducible, and more consistent response (De Marco et al., 2018).

FermNutral: Bioactive Profile of a Full-Spectrum Postbiotic
FermNutral is a postbiotic developed and manufactured by CPBIO through the controlled biological fermentation of the Clostridium butyricum CPBIO3000 strain using natural raw materials. (Figure1)

The product is supplied as granules with demonstrated stability at temperatures exceeding 80°C (simulating the feed pelleting process). The recommended inclusion rate for poultry is 300–500 g/t of feed. FermNutral is produced under FAMI-QS, FDA-cGMP, and ISO 9001/14001/18001 certifications, which have been maintained since 2001.

FermNutral contains a diverse range of bioactive compounds generated during the fermentation process, including teichoic acids, lipoteichoic acids, butyricin, antimicrobial peptides, and exopolysaccharides.

Within its short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) fraction, butyric acid represents approximately 40% of the total SCFAs. Other SCFAs are present at lower concentrations, including acetic acid (21.6 mg/kg) and propionic acid (81.6 mg/kg).
The vitamin fraction includes vitamin E (13.9 IU/kg), vitamin B1 (17.2 mg/kg), vitamin B2 (5.08 mg/kg), vitamin B5 (57.3 mg/kg), vitamin B6 (98.3 mg/kg), vitamin B12 (0.34 mg/kg), folic acid (30.9 mg/kg), and vitamin K3 (1.97 mg/kg). The mineral profile provides calcium (15.2%), total phosphorus (0.76%), iron (760 mg/kg), zinc (42 mg/kg), magnesium (3,600 mg/kg), and chromium (11.67 mg/kg). Additionally, FermNutral contains 17 amino acids, including glutamic acid (1.37%), alanine (0.59%), valine (0.46%), leucine (0.50%), and lysine (0.29%). Altogether all amino acids are between 10-12% in product.

This unique combination of bioactive metabolites, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids supports intestinal integrity, microbial balance, immune function, and productive performance in poultry.

Figure 1: A postbiotic product derived from biological fermentation of Clostridium butyricum CPBIO3000 using natural raw materials

FermNutral: Bioactive Compounds
FermNutral contains a wide range of bioactive compounds generated during the fermentation process, with butyric acid being the predominant short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), representing approximately 40% of the product. Butyrate serves as a major energy source for enterocytes and promotes epithelial renewal, mucin synthesis, and the expression of tight junction proteins. These effects contribute to maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and reducing intestinal permeability.
In addition, butyrate exhibits immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties through its ability to regulate epigenetic processes, promote goblet cell differentiation, and stimulate the activation of regulatory T lymphocytes. It may also enhance intestinal serotonin release, which has been associated with the gut-brain axis and productive performance. Acetic and propionic acids complement these effects by regulating the intestinal environment and inhibiting undesirable microorganisms.

FermNutral also provides teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids, which are recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) on the intestinal mucosa. These components modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses, promoting a balance between immune defense and tolerance while helping to control intestinal inflammation (Pasquina et al., 2013; Muhammad et al., 2021).

Furthermore, FermNutral supplies butyricin (a bacteriocin), bioactive peptides, and antimicrobial peptides produced during fermentation, which contribute to the control of undesirable microorganisms and the modulation of intestinal microbiota. Exopolysaccharides are also present and have been reported to stimulate secretory IgA production and strengthen the mucosal barrier. In addition, the product’s vitamin and mineral profile acts synergistically to support immune function, antioxidant status, intestinal integrity, and productive performance.

FermNutral in poultry production
Several experiments conducted in China and Thailand have demonstrated the efficacy of FermNutral in poultry production. In a study at Guizhou University (China) comparing a control diet with additives such as FermNutral, Clostridium butyricum, protected sodium butyrate, and tributyrin in broiler chickens, the postbiotic (FermNutral) was confirmed to improve weight gain (+13%) and reduce feed conversion ratio (-11.68%) compared with the control and other experimental treatments.

In addition, another experiment carried out in a commercial broiler farm in China found that FermNutral reduced the feed conversion ratio (1.73 vs 1.77) and improved viability (+1.94) and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF; 338.70 vs 315.30) in relation to the control diet.
Likewise, in a commercial broiler farm in Thailand, the use of FermNutral increased weight gain (+4.2%) and EPEF (+11.70%) and reduced feed conversion ratio (-7.69%). Furthermore, other trials conducted at Guizhou University (China) showed that FermNutral increased villus height in the duodenum (+9%), jejunum (+4%), and ileum (+8%), and improved the villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) in the duodenum (6.92 vs 6.27) and jejunum (5.71 vs 5.04).

Figure 3 : FermNutral effect on Immunoglobulins

Additional results from this experiment reported that FermNutral decreased the population of Escherichia coli in the duodenum (0.014 vs 0.234) and jejunum (0.0004 vs 0.013). Moreover, it promoted the growth of Lactobacillus in different intestinal segments, as determined by the relative abundance of microorganisms through 16S rDNA sequencing. (Figure 2) Finally, the inclusion of FermNutral in the diet improved the concentration of IgA (+13%), IgG (+19%), and IgM (+24%) compared with the control diet. (Figure 3)

Figure 2 : 16S rDNA sequencing to determine relative abundance of microorganisms in Poultry Intestine

Other trials conducted on a commercial farm in China with 48-week-old laying hens showed that FermNutral improved laying rate (+1.4) and shell thickness (+0.05 mm), while reducing feed conversion ratio (-0.06) and broken eggs (-2.6%), without affecting other productive performance parameters.

Likewise, in an experiment carried out at Henan Agricultural University, China, using 50-week-old laying hens, FermNutral increased egg weight (61.63 vs 59.77 vs g) and improved feed conversion ratio (2.08 vs 2.11 vs), while reducing dirty eggs (0.17 vs 0.45 %), broken eggs (0.32 vs 0.47 %), and unfit eggs (0.15 vs 0.28 %). These results demonstrate that FermNutral is an innovative and differentiated alternative within the new generation of postbiotics.

References
De Marco S, et al. (2018). Probiotic cell-free supernatants exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Liu H, et al. (2023). Postbiotics modulate gut health and laying performance in laying hens. Animal Nutrition, 14, 244–256.
Muhammad I, et al. (2021). Lipoteichoic acid from Bacillus subtilis improves immune function of broiler chickens. Antioxidants, 10(9), 1414.
Pasquina LW, et al. (2013). Teichoic acid biosynthesis as an antibiotic target. Current Opinion in Microbiology, 16(5), 531–537.
Zhong R, et al. (2022). Gut microbiota and its interactions with postbiotics in animal production. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 831495.
About CPBIO – A Global Biotech Company, Based on the global practice of Charoen Pokphand Group in the agricultural, animal husbandry and food industry chain, CPBIO has extensively and deeply participated in the health cause of animals, the earth and human beings with the thinking of the whole industry chain. Organizations and individuals in large-scale validated products and solutions.

About CPBIO – A Global Biotech Company, Based on the global practice of Charoen Pokphand Group in the agricultural, animal husbandry and food industry chain, CPBIO has extensively and deeply participated in the health cause of animals, the earth and human beings with the thinking of the whole industry chain. Organizations and individuals in large-scale validated products and solutions.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) health impacts poultry productivity. It is known to be the pillar of poultry success. The poultry microbiome has myriad functions which range from protection against pathogens and nutrients production, to host immune system development. Healthy poultry birds possess a natural resistance to infection. Since optimum performance and growth rate are central to animal production, the host-microbiome relationship remains integral.

A healthy gut ensures:

• Proper digestion and absorption of valuable feed nutrients
• Less wastage of nutrients
• Minimum foul odour.
• Provides resistance against entero-pathogens
• Checks mortality and morbidity losses
• Optimizes feed conversion ratio.

Figure 1 : The gastrointestinal tract of a chicken.

Apart from nutrient absorption and digestion, three important part of gut function are gut integrity, gut immunity, and gut microbiome. Intestinal integrity may be described as the intactness of the intestine in maintaining its structure and function or simply an unimpaired and sound intestine.

Gut integrity maintains a strong barrier of defense. Physical barriers protect against the entry of foreign materials and organisms into the bloodstream and access to other viscera thus helping intestinal integrity. On occasion due to improper nutrition or an unhygienic environment, when the load of foreign invaders increases these barriers are breached.

1. Mucus (Mucus: material secreted by intestinal cells) acts as a barrier to bacterial and fungal invasion.

2. Gut epithelial cells (enterocytes): These cells form a semi-permeable surface that selectively allows passage of fluid, electrolytes, and dissolved nutrients. Every epithelial cell in the digestive tract is part of a continuous physical barrier. When organisms and toxic agents damage epithelial cells, the integrity of this protective barrier is broken.

3. Fluid secretion: fluid having large amounts of water mixed with electrolytes. The fluid in the upper small intestine is protective and keeps bacteria in suspension and washes them downstream.

4. Vascular supply: supply under the gut epithelial layer serves to rapidly dilute and carry away any agents or chemicals (endogenous or exogenous) that may breach the mucosal barrier.

Gut integrity can be affected by physical barriers Stress factors, Feed toxins and toxicants, dietary factors, health status and gut microflora.

Gut Immunity: Poultry GIT can be considered an immune organ. GALT (Gut associated lymphoid tissue ) is a secondary immune organ and developed early stage in birds life.

Gut microbiome: Consists of species of bacteria, protozoa and fungi in the GIT.

Early life and Gut health
Early life care is an important factor in maximizing profits from broiler operations. Early nutrition mainly in the first 7 days of life for broilers may program the birds’ systems and set a pattern for growth and productivity. A larger percentage of early growth (upto 5 times the growth rate of other tissues) occurs in the digestive tract and those organs involved in digestion. If digestive growth is hampered during this period, overall growth rate may be compromised. Newly hatched chicks are more prone to gut infections as its natural defence is yet to be strengthened. So proper care should be taken during this period.

Functions of Gastrointestinal Tract

Role of Environment in Poultry Gut health:

Role of Dietary Factors in Improving Intestinal Integrity
1. Quality feed ingredients: Supplementation of quality feed ingredients helps in maintaining natural gut health. Mycotoxins which are present in most of feed raw materials like Aflatoxin, Fumonisins, T2, DON, Zearalenone, Ochratoxins affect the gut integrity thereby affecting the gut health and giving rise to bacterial issues like E coli and Clostridium which is directly correlated with the presence of multiple mycotoxins. .

2. Processed feed: Many incriminating factors of feed are destroyed due to processing.

3. Pelleted feed: Pelleting provides scope for utilization of high fibre feed resources. Use of steam- pelleted feed seems to be of value in maintaining gut health.

4. Feed additives: Like Anticoccidials and Ionophores Coccidiosis, a managemental disease, causes devastating losses to the poultry industry. Other feed additives which can help maintain gut health are organic acids, probiotics, prebiotics, mycotoxin binders etc.

Conclusion: To summarise, gastrointestinal tract is the key organ that converts feed to meat and eggs. It is largest organ exposed to foreign matters and serves as first line of defence. GIT is continuously exposed to multiple foreign materials and irritants. Regardless of the level of hygiene and biosecurity imposed at production level, poultry will be exposed to multiple infections and toxic agents through the feed and environment.

Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, toxin-producing fungi, and protozoan parasites (coccidian) are challenging to be eliminated from poultry production units.

Because of the potential development of antibiotic resistant human pathogenic bacteria, the use of antibiotics, have come under increasing scrutiny and feed safety concerns in the food chain. Hence, today’s intensive animal agriculture industry must adapt to producing poultry and take care of holistic factors that affect gut health right from maintaining biosecurity ,early chick health and also by implementing nutritional strategies that would strengthen the gut health by securing gut integrity, gut immunity and gut microbiome .

Dr. Sundus Gazal1, Dr. Sabahat Gazal2, Dr. Anvesha Bhan3 and Dr. Shalini Pandey4
1,2,3Division of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, SKUAST-Jammu
4Department of Veterinary Microbiology, RPS Veterinary College, Mahendragarh

Introduction:
The increasing human population has created an emerging global agrarian crisis due to limited available land resources. As the world’s population continues to burgeon, the demand for efficient and sustainable means of food production has never been more pressing. These growing demands have ultimately signified the role of livestock in catering the nutritional demands of the population. Among the livestock species, poultry sector has emerged to be the fastest growing enterprise over the years with their significant contribution to the total animal protein production as well as consumption. Accompanying this growth, the poultry industry is faced with an enormous challenge to maintain the health and well-being of the birds. Amid the myriad factors that contribute to successful poultry farming, one often-underestimated element stands out: gut health. The gastrointestinal tract of poultry is not merely a conduit for digestion; it holds the key to their overall health, growth, and productivity. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey to unveil the intricate web of significance woven around gut health in the world of poultry.

The Gut Microbiota and Its Role:
At the heart of understanding gut health lies the gut microbiota, an intricate symphony of microorganisms residing in the avian gastrointestinal tract. This intricate ecosystem significantly influences various physiological processes, including digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune response. The presence of a diverse and balanced gut microbiota translates into optimized nutrient utilization, bolstered immune defenses, and enhanced resistance against diseases. Gut health relies on the maintenance of the delicate balance between the host, the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal environment, and dietary compounds. This balance can be significantly affected by factors such as management of the birds, feed quality and the environment. When gut health is optimal, there is complete digestion of the feed and absorption of the nutrient components. If there is a disruption to the normal processes in the gut, incomplete digestion and absorption of nutrients can occur, leading to malabsorption and gut imbalance. If there is any imbalance in the gut environment, gut health gets compromised which can adversely affect the health and performance of the birds.

When digestion and absorption is not optimal, there is malabsorption of nutrients resulting in more nutrients being available to the small intestinal bacteria that can lead to an overgrowth of the bacterial population. A further consequence of malabsorption is the passing of proteins, sugars and fat into the ceca causing an overgrowth in the microbial population and a shift away from the beneficial fermentative bacteria.

Digestive Efficiency and Nutrient Absorption:
The gut microbiota operates as a remarkable partner in digestion. Its orchestrated efforts break down intricate feed components—such as complex carbohydrates and proteins—releasing essential nutrients that are subsequently absorbed by the avian body. A harmonious gut microbiota, with its array of beneficial bacteria, enhances the efficiency of digestion, ensuring that vital nutrients from the feed are harnessed to their fullest potential. Vitamins such as vitamin K, and water-soluble vitamin B such as biotin, cobalamin, folates, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamine are synthesized by microbial communities in the gut. A healthy gut optimizes digestibility, reduces nutrient excretion and mitigates ammonia and other gas emissions within the poultry housing environment which may pose an environmental and health risk. Conversely, a disrupted or imbalanced gut microbiota may disrupt digestion, dampen nutrient absorption, and ultimately culminate in diminished growth rate.

Immune System Support:
The gut and the immune system are inextricably linked, their alliance forming a formidable defense against external threats. A thriving gut microbiota nurtures the development and maintenance of a resilient immune system. The microbiota found in the poultry gut promotes the beneficial development of the intestinal mucus layer and epithelial monolayer, the exclusion of pathogenic microorganisms, polysaccharide degradation, and energy provision in the form of amino acids and short chain fatty acids. This facet assumes paramount importance in poultry farming, where disease outbreaks can wreak havoc on flock health and productivity. The intestinal microbiota is involved in modulating host immune system, influences the normal structural and functional organ development, and host metabolism. This microbiota stimulates the production of immune-regulating substances, thereby fortifying the avian body’s capacity to fend off pathogens. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), a considerable portion of which resides within the gastrointestinal tract, houses immune cells integral to safeguarding poultry health. Mucosal immune responses to resident intestinal microbiota can distinguish commensal from pathogenic bacteria. The gut microbiota is also involved in the modulation of B-cell response and immunoglobulin A (IgA) production. IgA plays an important role in regulating the composition of the gut microbiota by specifically binding to the bacterial epitopes.

Disease Prevention:
The gut microbiota operates as a natural bulwark against pathogenic invaders. The harmonious interplay between beneficial bacteria and potential pathogens unfolds a tale of competition—where beneficial microbes vie for resources and space, curbing the colonization of harmful organisms. The bacterial community of the intestinal microbiota form a protective barrier which lines the gut, preventing the growth of less favourable or pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens. This principle is known as competitive exclusion. Theories suggest that the commensal (or friendly) microbiota dominate attachment sites on the gut cells reducing the opportunity for attachment and colonization by pathogens. Another proposed mechanism is that the intestinal microbiota can secrete compounds, including volatile fatty acids, organic acids and natural antimicrobial compounds (known as bacteriocins), that either inhibit the growth of, or make the environment unsuitable for, less favourable bacteria. Sustaining a healthy gut microbiota through diligent management practices can markedly reduce the reliance on antibiotics and other therapeutic agents, charting a more sustainable trajectory for the poultry industry.

Stress Management:
Stress occurs as a result of a biological response to an internal or external stimulus that poses threats to the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism. Commercial poultry production is faced with a variety of stresses, including environmental, nutritional, and internal stress which decrease production and reproductive performance and affect the health status of poultry birds. Poultry suffer from various environmental stressors such as heat stress, cold stress, feed restriction, stocking density, pollutants, and many more. Stress can exert a deleterious impact on gut health by disrupting the equilibrium of the gut microbiota and undermining the integrity of the intestinal barrier.
The consequences manifest as impaired nutrient absorption, heightened vulnerability to infections, and compromised overall performance. A resilient and diverse gut microbiota equips birds to better navigate these stressors, bolstering their holistic well-being.

Strategies for Maintaining Gut Health:
The maintenance of optimal gut health necessitates a holistic approach, a symphony of nutritional balance, judicious management practices, and rigorous biosecurity protocols. Some pivotal strategies include:

Balanced Nutrition: Furnishing a meticulously balanced diet that fulfills the birds’ nutritional requisites is the bedrock of gut health. Well-crafted diets provide the substrate for the flourishing of beneficial gut bacteria, and the nutrients essential for overall health. Dietary fibre has been found to have an enormous impact on the gastrointestinal tract development, digestive physiology, including nutrient digestion, fermentation, and absorption processes of poultry. It has been suggested that moderate level of insoluble fiber may increase chyme retention time in the upper part of the GIT, stimulating gizzard development and endogenous enzyme production, improving the digestibility of starch, lipids, and other dietary components. Organic acids are compounds with acidic properties that occur naturally and include carbon. The inclusion of organic acids in poultry diets can improve gut health, increase endogenous digestive enzyme secretion and activity, and improve nutrient digestibility. These organic acids can help not only decontaminate feed but also have the potential to reduce enteric pathogens in poultry. The acids can cross the bacterial cell wall and disrupt the normal actions of certain types of bacteria, including Salmonella spp, E. coli, Clostridia spp, Listeria spp. and some coliforms.

Probiotics and Prebiotics: The introduction of probiotics—live beneficial bacteria—into feed or water, and prebiotics—non-digestible compounds—into diets can invigorate the gut microbiota. These interventions cultivate an environment conducive to optimal gut health. Probiotic supplementation brings about various effects like: modification of the intestinal microbiota, stimulation of the immune system, reduction in inflammatory reactions, prevention of pathogen colonization, enhancement of growth performance, alteration of the ileal digestibility and total tract apparent digestibility coefficient and decrease in ammonia and urea excretion. Prebiotics like mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), inulin and its hydrolysate (fructooligosaccharides: FOS), as well as other prebiotics are important contributors to the modulation of the intestinal microflora and stimulating a potential immune response, as well as stimulating the development of beneficial microorganisms. Prebiotics can also help reduce pathogen colonization in the GIT.

Hygiene and Biosecurity: Adhering to stringent biosecurity measures thwarts the ingress of pathogens, curbing the potential for gut health disruptions arising from disease outbreaks. Biosecurity is the efficient use of common hygiene procedures that make a remarkable difference between success and failure in a poultry operation. Biosecurity includes Structural biosecurity which encompasses all aspects related to facilities and equipment and Operational biosecurity which includes operations routinely performed on a farm on a regular basis, such as personnel entry, vehicle entry and disinfection, pest control, waste disposal, etc. In addition, only authorized people should be allowed to enter the farms, since they are the most common animate factor involved in disease transmission: this includes farm employees, veterinarians, truck drivers, intervention teams (vaccination, beak treatment, loading and unloading of birds), external workers in charge of repairs and maintenance, etc. Effective implementation of cleaning and disinfection procedures are essential to reduce the risk of health challenge.
Water Quality: Water is the most important nutrient for poultry and plays a key role in thermoregulation, digestion and absorption of nutrients. The provision of uncontaminated and clean water is pivotal for sustaining gut health. Water quality directly impacts digestion and gut microbiota composition. Excellent water quality is important as chickens consume twice as much water as feed. The microbial, chemical and physical quality of water should be monitored regularly.

Reducing Stressors: By mitigating stressors through effective management practices, proper ventilation, and prudent stocking densities, poultry farmers can proactively safeguard gut health. The most common signs of stress in poultry include aggression and fighting, loss of weight, feather shedding, decreased egg production, lethargy and sluggish attitude and loss of appetite.

Stress can be reduced in poultry by providing adequate space, management of heat stress by providing proper ventilation, adjusting feeding schedules, and flushing and cooling waterers. Electrolytes and vitamins can also be added to drinking water to help birds cope with heat stress. Enrichment can reduce stress by providing birds with the outlets for expressing their natural behaviors such as adding straw bales for pecking and scratching, providing opportunities for dust bathing through sand or other substrates, and adding perches or platforms for chickens to roost on.

Conclusion:
The panorama of gut health in poultry farming surpasses the periphery of digestion—it intricately weaves through growth, immune defense, disease resilience, and the holistic well-being of the avian inhabitants. A thriving gut microbiota unfurls a tapestry where nutrient utilization is optimized, immune systems fortified, and the industry’s sustainability bolstered. By embracing the profound implications of gut health and implementing apt strategies, poultry farmers can orchestrate a crescendo of production practices, elevating flock performance, and contributing to the production of nourishing, safe, and sustainable poultry products to satiate the appetites of a burgeoning global populace.