Feeding for long-life ovaries in laying hens

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Sustaining the production of quality eggs for longer in laying hens is key to reducing the economic cost and environmental impact of egg production. New data indicates potential biomarkers that can be measured for long-life ovaries in feeding trials designed to support productivity of ovaries for extended laying cycles.

by Gwendolyn Jones, Product Manager Gut Agility Activators, published in AllaboutFeed, December 2022

In terms of efficiency in egg production, major improvements have already been made, resulting in a reduction in the feed required per kg of egg mass produced, which translates into significant resource savings for the producer. For example, a study investigated the magnitude of life cycle impacts on egg production in the USA in 1960 compared to 2010. This study reported that using 1960 technology to produce the 2010 egg supply would have required 78 million more hens, 1.3 million more acres of maize and 1.8 million more acres of soybeans. What’s more, it showed the following reductions in the environmental footprint per kg of eggs produced in the U.S. over the 50-year time period:

  • – 65 percent lower acidifying emissions
  • – 71 percent lower eutrophying emissions
  • – 71 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions

To increase sustainability in terms of the cost and environmental impact of egg production even further, the laying industry is pursuing increased laying persistency to extend laying cycles (up from 72 weeks to 100 weeks in a single cycle).

Research has shown that after the production of feed for hens, the purchase of new laying hens to replace the old flock contributed most to the environmental impact of egg production. By extending the productive lifetime of laying hens, their environmental impact could be further reduced, as few- er replacement flocks are needed. Keeping the birds longer will also reduce the contribution of the 17-week-old pullet to the cost per egg. Shorter production cycles require more

Ovarian ageing in laying hens

Maintaining high levels of production of good quality eggs in an extended production cycle requires hens to develop and maintain healthy and functional ovaries, among other factors. It is well known that the decline in ovarian functions over the egg production cycle is linked to ovarian ageing. One of the major causes of ovarian ageing is oxidative stress, which is caused by the decline in the antioxidative capacity of the ovary and the gradual accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) over time. Oxidative stress has been shown to reduce the egg-laying rate in laying hens, reduce the follicle reserve and increase apoptosis in cells of ovaries.

The underlying mechanisms for the decline in the antioxidative capacity of ovaries of laying hens during the ageing process have been linked to the down regulation of the Nrf2 gene expression in the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway. This signaling pathway is involved in the mobilisation of cellular antioxidant defenses to alleviate oxidative stress in tissues. Egg quality parameters such as albumen height, Haugh Unit (HU), egg- shell thickness and eggshell strength have been shown to be depressed when the Nrf2-Keap-1 pathway was impaired).

Factors accelerating ovarian ageing

ROS accumulate during metabolic activity, which can be exacerbated in periods of high productivity and when the bird is challenged by stressors in its environment or feed. For example, the exposure to heat stress is known to increase the production of ROS at the cellular level and so does the exposure to mycotoxins in poultry feed. Hence a lack of support to increase the birds’ antioxidative defense against ROS particularly during more challenging periods of the production cycle can lead to an increased rate of decline of the ovaries. This limits the ability to extend laying cycles, reduces egg production and decreases the commercial value of laying hens.

Strategies for maintaining ovarian productivity

A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying ovarian ageing and possibilities to mitigate oxidative stress is helping to find ways to prolong ovarian lifespans and thus potentially increase the length of productivity for egg production in laying hens.

Some plant extracts with antioxidative capacities applied to feed have successfully retarded the decline in antioxidative capacity of ovaries by increasing antioxidative activities. An in vitro study demonstrated that the natural plant extract lycopene was able to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, thus alleviating oxidative stress in ovaries. Homeoxygenase-1 (HO-1 is a Nrf2-downstream antioxidative enzyme, which prevents cellular apoptosis).

Recent feeding trials evaluating the impact of a gut agility activator on egg production performance parameters and antioxidative capacity of the ovaries in laying hens indicated the potential to sustain egg production longer. Gene expression of Nrf2 and certain downstream antioxidative enzymes linked to the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway were significantly increased in ovaries in response to feeding the gut agility activator, which was associated with increased egg-laying rates and improved egg quality parameters at 32 weeks of age (at the same time, HU and albumen height in eggs were significantly improved compared to hens on the control diet in the late laying period at 65 weeks of age).

Advances in nutritional strategies to support long-life ovarian function in combination with genetic progress in laying hens are paving the way for increased capabilities to further improve the economics and environmental impact of egg production while supporting food security and sustainability.

Relevant articles

How to get off to a good start in laying hens – early laying period

Effects of a gut agility activator on egg production in laying hens

Multifunctional palatants for automatic milking systems

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by Mario Roman, published in Feedstuffs Magazine, November 2022

The milking routine is one of, if not the most, time-consuming activities of a dairy farm. It is a human labor-intensive routine required several times a day in order to meet production targets. The adoption of the automatic milking system (AMS) in high-performing farms enables a more flexible work schedule for farmers and frees time for other duties. In addition, it also leads to improvements on animal welfare and milk production.

However, the AMS is not a perfect system, and it also presents downsides. The systems also known as ‘milking robots’ commonly face a very simple issue: getting the animal to enter the robot. Using palatants as an incentive strategy can help cows overcome this barrier and therefore increase the number of voluntary visits and milkings.

Pancosma has leveraged its expertise on palatants to develop a portfolio of additives specifically optimized for use in AMS and offered under the Magnasweet brand.

Magnasweet concept

 Magnasweet is the fusion between two different types of sensory additives: state of the art flavors and high-intensity sweeteners.  Flavors are used with the objective of attracting the animal toward the robot and sweeteners as a reward to retain the animal in order to get her milked. Furthermore, it has been proven that the sweetener’s active ingredients are responsible for an optimization of glucose absorption process at gut-level, resulting in more glucose available to mammal glands, supporting better milk production. The use of a multifunctional palatant brings synergistic effects to the herd, leading to performance improvements, demonstrated in multiple field trials.

From concept to specific solution

 On a recent study, a saccharin-based palatant was supplemented to a group of 38 lactating Holstein cows during 56 days in a commercial farm in Louisville, Ohio, United States. Multiparous cows fed the palatant were milked 3.3 times/d compared to 3.2 times/d in CTL group and also had higher milk yields than CTL group (36.83 vs 36.06 kg/head/ d).

A second study, in this case with a stevia-based palatant, was run in a commercial farm in Spain with 200 cows. Despite suffering from a regional heat wave, the supplementation of the palatant delivered an increase in number of milkings and total visits per day, which emphasizes the importance of palatability in challenging situations.

Multifunctional palatants have proven to be an efficient tool for milking cows. Magnasweet supplemented feed acts as both an attractant and reward for the animal, leading to increases in number of visits to the robot and number of milking per day, and associated with higher milk yields.

 

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Effect of zinc source on pork quality

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Supplementation with a highly available zinc glycinate can be a good strategy to reduce losses during chilling of the carcass and oxidation of cooked meat, retaining pork quality better over time.

by Mieke Zoon,  published in Asia Pork, September 2022

About one third of global meat consumption is pork, only second after chicken. Due to its religious constraints and historic availability, the consumption of pork products varies widely between regions, but both in Asia and Europe it is the most-consumed meat.

Pork is often consumed in processed forms (minced meat, bacon, sausages, dry-cured or cooked ham and more), that have their origins related to preserving methods. Today, the main differentiation of pork products is made based on taste, origin and production standards. However, pork products still need to be attractive and safe over time for consumers. Due to the variety in final products and changing preferences of the consumer, targeted meat quality can differ and may change over time.

The impact of several factors influencing meat quality in general and pork quality specifically have been studied in detail: for example, genetics, dietary lipid profile, pre-slaughter and slaughter conditions. Still more research is needed to reduce oxidative stress in meat after slaughter, affecting its ability tobe processed and stored. Examples of characteristics that are influenced by oxidative stress are fat quality and water holding capacity.

Functions of zinc

Zinc is an essential nutrient for many physiological processes in the organism, supporting health and good growth and development. Major functions of zinc on a cellular level are catching free radicals and preventing lipid peroxidation as part of the antioxidant system. Therefore, a deficiency of zinc in pigs may affect the pork quality after slaughter and processing.

Zinc glycinate

A chemically well-defined range of metal glycinates with scientifically proven results in all major livestock species has already shown to be efficient to support pig production.

By supplementing throughout the production cycle from gestating sows until slaughter of their progeny, sow fertility improved and piglets with low birth weight were reduced, while growth performance and slaughter characteristics of the pigs from weaning until slaughter improved as well. These results show the benefit from a highly available source of trace minerals throughout the pig production cycle.

Effect of zinc glycinate on pork quality

Chilling losses

More specifically for pork quality, recent data shows that supplementing zinc from zinc-glycinate in the finishing phase of fattening pigs reduced the chilling losses of their carcasses after slaughter.

Lipid peroxidation

The meat from pigs supplemented with zinc-glycinate showed less lipid peroxidation after cooking, especially with the lower dose of zinc-glycinate . The lipid stability in cooked pork is essential for the quality and taste of cooked pork products.

Conclusion

This data confirms the added value that highly bioavailable trace minerals may have in the total pork production, not only on pig performance and reproduction, but also on final product quality.

Pork is an important source of animal protein and zinc can be part of a nutritional strategy to improve the quality of pork. Adaptation of pig production is needed to answer to the customer demand for sustainably produced and high-quality products. Supplementation with a highly available zinc source can be a good strategy to reduce losses during chilling of the carcass and oxidation of cooked meat, better retaining pork quality over time.

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Feed additive in sow diets benefits litter performance

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Does good piglet management start at birth? Or is it wiser to prepare for well-performing litters one stage earlier? When using certain feed additives in sow nutrition, the latter appears to hold true. There is value to be reaped later on at various stages of the offspring’s life.

by EUNICE LEE, Technical consultant organic acids, published in Pig Progress

During intensive pork production, a high proportion of pig losses can occur during farrowing and lactation periods. It is a critical time to determine the overall performance for a production pig. During those periods, not only the welfare of the sows should be addressed, but also the nutrients and elements needed to prepare them for body maintenance and the ability to encounter all the types of disorders that may occur.

Some nutritionists treat this time as a transition period, as sows’ metabolism switches from anabolism to catabolism. While during the gestation period the energy that sows ingest is mostly for body maintenance and partially for foetal production, during the lactation period, most of the energy intake is used for milk production. The requirement of energy level, protein level, fibre level and micronutrients between the gestation diet and lactation diet have enormous quantitative and qualitative differences. That, in practice, can be easily underestimated and overlooked.

The nutritional knowledge and supportive elements for that transition period have started to receive further attention. Feed additives that are designed to support sows physiologically and systemically are also generally accepted and applied during the transition period.

Feed additive: Lauric acid and monolaurin

Saturated fatty acids, also commonly known as organic acids, are widely applied in piglet diets for their supporting role in nutrient digestion. Another group of these organic acids is the medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are saturated carboxylic acids with a carbon chain length from C6 to C12. They are abundant in coconut oil or palm kernel oil in triglycerides form.

The antimicrobial activity of MCFAs has been extensively studied. It has been shown that the antimicrobial effect of lauric acid is quite potent among MCFAs. Its derivative, glycerol monolaurate (GML), which is produced by the esterification of a molecule of glycerol and a molecule of lauric acid, also has strong antimicrobial effect.

The antimicrobial mode of action for lauric acid and GML is mainly through discomposing the homeostasis of the bacterial cell membrane and inducing inhibition of the bacterial growth.

A synergistic effect between lauric acid and GML had been found against Streptococcus pyogenes at different mixture ratios, where the combination exhibits stronger inhibition activities than using the single ingredients. Both lauric acid and GML have been proven to have antiviral properties against different enveloped viruses.

Metabolism and immune modulation

MCFAs are shorter chains of carboxylic fatty acids than long chain fatty acids, and they can bypass the micelle formation and be absorbed directly by the enterocytes and utilised as energy or transferred through the portal vein to the liver. MCFAs require no binding protein while entering the mitochondrial membrane and more readily undergo oxidation within the mitochondria.

Those MCFAs have been found to interact with immune or non-immune cells via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). It has been shown that GPR40 is activated by MCFAs, with which lauric acid has a high affinity. GPR40 is highly expressed in monocytes, where it suggests that MCFAs have immune modulation effect. It has also been shown that MCFAs reduce viral replication by acting on MARC-145 cells where it prevented the attachment of Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome virus (PRRSv) or membrane fusion in the cytoplasm. It is shown that supplying triglycerides of MCFAs to rats conferred a protective effect on the intestine by increasing the IgA secretion and modulating the inflammatory immune response while challenged with endotoxin.

Proof of concept: field trial result

A field trial was conducted in a commercial sow farm in Germany, with 33 sows in the control group and 34 sows in the treatment group. The breed was Danbred×Pietrain. A comparative trial was designed especially in the transition period in sows, which was one week before farrowing and the whole lactation period. The control group was fed a conventional lactation diet without any feed additive supplementation.

The treatment group was fed a conventional lactation diet with 1.5 kg of a proprietary MCFA, called DaaFit G, per ton of feed added.

The piglet performance at farrowing is shown in Table 1. Litter weights during farrowing in the MCFA product’s group were higher than in the control group. Liveborn piglets were 1.8% higher than the control group. The average birth weight in the group with the MCFA product was 70 g more than in the control group. The piglet performance at weaning is shown in Table 2. The number of weaned piglets in the MCFA product group was greater than in the control group as was the aver- age weaning weight, which was significantly different (P < 0.05), 8.9% higher than in the control group. And the average daily gain was also significantly different (P < 0.05), with 9.7% improvement over the control group. Even though there was no statistical difference in mortality, it was less in the MCFA group (5.9% vs 7.5% in the control group).

Healthier sows and larger piglets

For the mode of action of lauric acid and GML studied in this feed trial, it is hypothesised that the feed additive, lauric acid and GML can support the sows to overcome the critical transition period by different actions. Lauric acid and GML can either directly act on the pathogenic load through feed or in animals, be utilised by the intestinal enterocytes in a short pathway for energy supply or act through GPCR at different sites of monocytes for immune modulation.

Through improving the health status of the sows, a larger litter number is achieved and piglets are born at a higher starting weight. Through the lactation period, the vitality of the piglets also stimulates better milk production at the sows, and it certainly provides better availability of nutrients to the piglets and better performance at the weaning stage.

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Enhancing transition period in dairy cows

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Enhancing transition period in dairy cows with phytogenics

by SÉBASTIEN  CONSTANTIN,  Business Development  Manager Phytogenic Bioactives, Pancosma, published in Livestock and Feed Magazine, August 2022

Glucose metabolism regulates the energy supply to cells and tissues for vital functions and, in ruminants, this process is characterised by low glucose concentrations, but also low insulin response in peripheral tissues (Bell, Bauman, 1997; Sasaki 2002).

In a short adjustment period between pregnancy and lactation, a great amount of glucose is required to be directed for milk production. During the transition period, dairy cows face an extremely intensive physiological process.

Glucose sources

The main glucose supply in monogastric species is absorbed in the intestines from ingested food, while ruminants mainly rely on glucose supplied by liver gluconeogenesis. From rumen fermentation, propionate is the main glucogenic precursor, representing over 60% of the substrates, followed by lactate, with approximately 20%, followed by amino acids, minor volatile fatty acids (valerate, isobutyrate) and glycerol (Drackley et al., 2001).

Glucose absorption in peripheral tissues and mammary gland

Glucose transporters (GLUT) exist to carry glucose molecules to be absorbed by cells. There are 13 different types of GLUTs, each with a specific role and operating mode. GLUT1 molecules respond to basal glucose concentration and are found in all body tissues (De Koster and Opsomer, 2013). Among the different GLUT, only GLUT4 responds to insulin stimulation, supporting glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, adipose and heart tissues. Glucose uptake in the mammary gland is very specific and is driven primarily by GLUT1 and GLUT8 and characterised by an absence of GLUT4. As a result, the glucose metabolism process is not modulated by insulin. In terms of quantity, the mammary gland absorbs over 50% of available glucose and can climb as high as 85% when production peaks.

Glucose sparing

Dairy cows exhibit insulin resistance as gestation ends and lactation starts. The cow’s internal processes change tack to ensure a sufficient glucose supply is produced for the calf by directing glucose to milk production and by limiting glucose absorption in peripheral tissue (De Koster and Opsomer, 2013). This phenomenon is known as “glucose sparing”.

Gluconeogenesis inhibition

Gluconeogenesis is the major glucose- producing metabolic process in ruminants. This pathway is regulated by substrate availability and hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Insulin’s role is to inhibit gluconeogenesis and decrease glucose output when necessary.

Phytogenic supplementation to promote milk production

Milk production can be improved by promoting the glucose sparing effect and limiting gluconeogenesis inhibition. We hypothesised that lower insulin levels could lead to a change in glucose distribution, directing more towards the mammary gland and thus improving milk production.

A study was conducted to assess the effect of rumen-protected capsaicinoids (RPC) supplementation responding to a glucose tolerance test measuring blood glucose and insulin concentration (Oh et al., 2017). Glucose concentration was not affected by RPC supplementation post glucose challenge.

Compared to the control, RPC decreased serum insulin concentration post glucose challenge. The area under the insulin concentration curve was decreased by 25% (RPC; see figure 1). In this study, dry matter intake was not affected by RPC supplementation and milk yield tended to increase for RPC treatments compared to the control. Dry matter intake was not affected by RPC and feed efficiency was linearly increased by RPC supplementation. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference observed in NEFA and BHB levels.

insulin concentration in dairy cows

Figure 1 Effect of RPC on insulin concentration following intravenous administration of glucose in cows

Rumen-protected capsicum and transition period performance

In 2020-2021, a trial was performed to evaluate RPC supplementation from 21 days before calving through 60 days in milk under commercial conditions.  Overall, performance was improved for cows receiving RPC with an 8.6% increase in energy-corrected milk (See figure 2 daily milk yield). Additionally, increased blood glucose, which occurred three days after calving, points to a potential change in insulin response and liver gluconeogenesis.

Promoting glucose sparing and gluconeogenesis

Overall, results suggest that by decreasing the amount of insulin secreted, RPC may have redirected glucose for milk production in lactating dairy cows.

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Scientific abstract: The effect of feeding rumen-protected capsicum during the transition period on performance of early lactation dairy cows.

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How organic Zinc can support the pork production

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Adaptation of pig production is needed to answer the customer demand for sustainably produced and high-quality products. Supplementation with a highly available zinc source can be a good strategy to reduce losses during chilling of the carcass and oxidation of cooked meat, retaining pork quality better over time about one third of global meat consumption is pork, only second after chicken. Due to its religious constraints and historic availability, the consumption of pork products varies widely between regions, but in both Europe and Asia it is the most consumed meat.

 

Author:  Mieke Zoon, Product Manager, Minerals, published in Feed & Additive Magazine, July 2022

Recent research into feeding the growing global human population has highlighted the potential of pigs in the recycling of by-products (mainly food waste and co-products) for food production. Their ability to turn by-products into food and manure, pigs return nutrients back into the food production system that would otherwise be lost (2, 3).

Pork is often consumed in processed forms (minced meat, bacon, sausages, dry-cured or cooked ham and more), that have their origins related to preserving methods. Today, the main differentiation of pork products is made based on taste, origin and production standards. However, pork products still need to be attractive and made safe over time for consumers. Due to the variety in final products and changing preferences of the consumer, targeted meat quality can differ and may change over time .

The impact of several factors influencing meat quality in general and pork quality specifically have been studied in detail. For example, genetics, dietary lipid profile, preslaughter and slaughter conditions. More research is still needed to reduce oxidative stress in meat after slaughter as it affects its ability to be processed and stored. Examples of characteristics that are influenced by oxidative stress, are fat quality and water holding capacity (1).

Zinc is an essential nutrient for many physiological processes in the organism supporting health and good growth and development. Major functions of zinc on a cellular level are catching free radicals and preventing lipid peroxidation as part of the antioxidant system (5). Therefore, a deficiency of zinc in pigs may affect the pork quality after slaughter and processing.

A chemically well-defined range of metal glycinates (6) with scientifically proven results in major livestock species has already shown to be efficient to support pig production. By supplementing through- out the production cycle from gestating sows until slaughter of their progeny, sow fertility improved and piglets with low birth weight reduced, while growth performance and slaughter characteristics improved as well (7).

More specifically for pork quality, recent data shows that supplementing zinc from zinc-glycinate in the finishing phase of fattening pigs reduced the chilling losses of their carcasses after slaughter (Figure 1) (8).

The meat from pigs supplemented with zinc-glycinate showed less lipid peroxidation after cooking, especially with the lower dose of zinc-glycinate (Figure 2) (8). The lipid stability in cooked pork is essential for the quality and taste of cooked pork products.

Pork is and will be an important source of animal protein, and zinc can be part of a nutritional strategy to improve the quality of pork. Adaptation of pig production is needed to answer the customer demand for sustainably produced and high-quality products. Supplementation with a highly available zinc source can be a good strategy to reduce losses during chilling of the carcass and oxidation of cooked meat, retaining pork quality better over time.

 

References

  1. Lebret, B. and M. Čandek-Potokar, 2022a: Re- view: Pork quality attributes from farm to fork. Part I. Carcass and fresh meat. Animal 16: 100402.
  2. Van Zanten, H. H. E., M. Herrero, O. Van Hal, E. Röös, A. Muller, T. Garnett, P. J. Gerber, C. Schader and I. J. M. De Boer, 2018: Defining a land boundary for sustainable livestock Glob- al Change Biology 24: 4185-4194.
  3. Van Zanten, H. E., M. K. Van Ittersum and
  4. M. De Boer, 2019: The role of farm animals in a circular food system. Global Food Security 21: 18–22.
  5. Lebret, B. and M. Čandek-Potokar, 2022b: Re- view: Pork quality attributes from farm to Part
  6. Processed pork Animal 16: 100383.
  7. Sloup, , I. Jankovská, S. Nechybová, P. Peřinková and I. Langrová, 2017: Zinc in the animal organism: a review. Scienta Agriculturae Bohemica, 48(1): 13-21.
  8. Oguey, S., A. Neels and H. Stoeckli-Evans, 2008: Chemical identity of crystalline trace mineral glyci- nates for animal nutrition. Trace elements in animal production systems – Short communications: 245-
  9. Fuchs, B., U. Geier and P. Schlegel, 2008: Trace mineral supplementation in pig production: Less is better. Feed Magazine Kraftfutter number 9-10.
  10. Natalello, A., H. Khelil-Arfa, G. Luciano, M. Zoon, R. Menci, M. Scerra, A. Blanchard, F. Manga- no, L. Biondi and A. Priolo, 2022: Effect of different levels of organic zinc supplementation on pork quality. Meat Science 186: 108731.

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Novel yeast supports broilers in necrotic enteritis challenge

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Case study describing the response of broilers to a novel yeast in their diet during a necrotic enteritis challenge.

Published in Livestock and Feed Business, June 2022

Author: Sarah Cooper

Pathogenic and physiological challenges are ubiquitous in animal production systems as they threaten efficient and profitable production. Tools (like growth-promoting antibiotics and ionophores) once used to improve production efficiency are increasingly being restricted. As such, there is a growing interest in evolved management and nutritional practices.

Yeasts have been fed to animals for over 100 years due to their nutritional richness and reported effects to support health and growth performance. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most used yeast in animal feed applications. Yeast cell walls contain various bioactive components like ß-glucans and mannan oligosaccharides, which have shown to have beneficial impacts across various species. Several studies revealed that dietary ß-glucans interact with intestinal cells affecting the modulation of the intestinal immune response. Mannan oligosaccharides have also been demonstrated to bind and limit the colonisation of intestinal pathogens with beneficial consequences related to gastrointestinal health and ensuing performance.

Pichia guilliermondii, an extraordinary yeast

Pichia guilliermondii is a novel yeast with unique morphology, structure and consequent activity. The way yeast cells in animal feed behave in the animal’s intestinal environment (interacting with intestinal epithelium and luminal contents) depends on the morphology, cell wall structure and composition.

The comparative morphology and physical characteristics of P. guilliermondii and S. cerevisiae were assessed in a side-by- side study. There are significant differences between them: P. guilliermondii is a smaller cell and has a greater surface area to volume ratio. It is also more hydrophobic compared to S. cerevisiae.

Additionally, the distribution of various glycoproteins in the yeast cell wall varies, suggesting that P. guilliermondii has a different cell wall structure and composition to S. cerevisiae. These particularities may be associated with significant differences in how both yeast cells behave when used in animal feeds.

The function of P. guilliermondii and associated influence on physiological and performance parameters have been assessed across various animal species. This body of research has focused on exploring the impact that may be associated with P. guilliermondii on the immune system, pathogen load, gastrointestinal health and performance, especially during stress and pathogenic challenges.

Pichia in action: A broiler case study for necrotic enteritis challenge

Coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis represent the greatest threat to poultry production globally, being detrimental to animal welfare and having economic impacts.

In an experimental necrotic enteritis study with broilers, birds that received P. guilliermondii supplementation showed indications of increased resilience and improved performance compared to control birds that did not receive any P. guilliermondii in their diet.

In this 42-day long study, newly hatched Ross 708 broilers were assigned to either the three-phase basal control diet or the three-phase basal diet plus 0.1% P. guilliermondii until day 28, then 0.075% P. guilliermondii until day 42.

The necrotic enteritis challenge consisted of adding used litter to introduce coccidia on day 4 and challenging birds with Clostridium perfringens on days 17, 18 and 19.

A group of birds on the basal control diet did not receive the challenge and acted as the non-infected control group. On day 21, birds from each group were randomly selected and euthanised, with their intestines examined for necrotic enteritis lesions. Lesion scores range from 0 (for normal) to 4 (for the most severe lesions).

Birds receiving P. guilliermondii in their diet had lower intestinal lesions compared to challenged birds receiving only the control diet. The significantly lower intestinal lesion scores in the P. guilliermondii-fed birds suggest greater physiological resilience  in the face of the necrotic enteritis challenge, compared to the birds with more severe lesion scores in the infected control group.  At the end of the study, on day 42, P. guilliermondii– supplemented birds had improved performance parameters compared to the infected control group. The adjusted feed conversion ratio was better in the group that had received P.guilliermondii in their diet. These birds also had a significantly greater body weight. Of note, day 42 mortality was numerically lower in the P. guilliermondii group compared to the infected control group.

P. guilliermondii has unique morphological properties influencing its efficacy in animal feeding. Research has demonstrated that the addition of P. guilliermondii to the diet of broilers may be associated with beneficial impacts on parameters in the face of coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis

 

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Webinar recording – Necrotic enteritis advances in control

 

Sustaining egg quality in laying hens

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Maintaining egg quality for longer is key to enabling longer laying cycles, which is required to reduce economic cost and environmental footprint of egg production.

Author: Gwendolyn Jones, PhD, Product Manager Gut Agility Activators

Published in International Poultry Production, June 2022

A tough economic climate, combined with consumer concerns around environmental impact, are driving the need for increased laying cycle lengths in egg production. However, a prerequisite to achieving profitable longer laying cycles is the ability to maintain the quality of eggs produced by older hens.

Genetic and nutritional advances made to support the productivity of key organs involved in egg production may help sustain egg quality for longer.  The benefits of making hens lay longer are both financial and environmental. For example, it has been calculated that for an increase in 10 weeks of production, 1g of nitrogen could be saved per 12 eggs produced. This again would reduce the nitrification impact of egg production significantly. Longer laying cycles enhance lifetime egg production per hen housed, which also means a reduction in the number of hens required to produce the same number of eggs. This has knock-on effects not only for the environmental footprint, but also for financial savings, as it reduces the amount of animal feed required to maintain the hens.

On the other hand, the main reasons for replacing laying hen flocks at around 72 weeks of age is a decline in egg numbers combined with a deterioration in egg quality during the production cycle. Extending laying cycles to a target of 92-100 weeks then calls for strategies that increase persistency in lay and stability in egg quality. It is well known that the reduction in quantity and quality of eggs over the egg production period is linked to ovarian ageing.

Studies have shown that one of the most important factors inducing ovarian aging is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defence system. ROS accumulate during metabolic activity, which can be exacerbated in periods of high productivity and when the bird is challenged by stressors in its environment or feed.

Previous research in laying hens has demonstrated that a decline with age in antioxidant capacity of ovaries is linked to down-regulation of Nrf2 gene expression in the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway, which is a signaling pathway involved in the mobilisation of cellular antioxidant defences.

On the other hand, additional studies have proven that it was possible to upregulate Nrf2 expression with a positive knock-on effect for gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thereby delay the aging process of ovaries by nutritional means in laying hens.

Important egg quality parameters are eggshell strength, albumen height and Haugh units (HU), all of which decline as the hen ages throughout the laying period. Both albumen height and HU were depressed in studies where the Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway was impaired by the experimental design in laying hens. Recent research investigating the effect of supplementing laying hen diets with a gut agility activator on egg quality parameters in the late laying period and on the expression of Nrf2-KEAP1 pathway related gene expression in ovaries, indicated the potential for sustaining egg quality longer by upregulating the Nrf2- KEAP1 pathway in ovaries (Brouklogiannis et al 2022) .

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Scientific abstract: Anagnostopoulos et al (2022). Production performance and gut cytoprotective response in laying hens fed with  different phytogenic levels

Scientific abstract: Brouklogiannis et al (2022). Dietary phytogenic inclusion level effects on egg production, egg quality and expression of ovarian cytoprotective genes in laying hens

Animal science turns to advancing resilience for heat tolerance

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Several research groups across the world are researching the challenge of enhancing resilience for heat tolerance in livestock.

Animal science turns to advancing resilience for heat tolerance

Author: Gwendolyn Jones, PhD, Product Manager Gut Agility Activators

Published in: Feed and Additive Magazine, June 2022

Several research groups across the world are researching the challenge of enhancing the resilience of livestock to climatic variability and change. Understanding adaptive mechanisms right down to cellular responses are key to finding technological solutions to advance animal nutrition in its supportive role in optimizing animal performance as the climate is heating up in many countries.

Scientists from leading agricultural universities in the UK, United States, India, Australia and the Netherlands all essentially agree, the adaptation to climate change requires technological advances for climate resilient animals in livestock production. On the other hand, continued selection for greater performance in the absence of consideration for heat tolerance will result in greater susceptibility to negative impacts from rising temperatures for productivity and animal welfare. This is due to the strong relationship between production level and metabolic heat production.

Animal resilience in the context of environmental challenges

Researchers at the University of Armidale claim that for the concept of resilience the animal’s reactions with its environment are central. They describe resilience as the capacity of the animal to return rapidly to its pre-challenge situation. In other words, it is a comparative measure of differences between animals in the impact of a challenge they encounter. Researchers from Wageningen share a similar definition for resilience in farm animals. Thus, resilience relies on the animal’s response or better adaptability to naturally occurring stressors in its environment.

Several disciplines in animal production, including genetics, veterinary sciences and nutrition are currently striving to find ways of positively influencing resilience in farm animals. Better understanding the adaptive processes and finding ways to best measure improvements is integral to enhancing resilience in farm animals.

The role of adaptability

Animals have adaptive mechanisms to cope with rising temperatures, which involve morphological, behavioural and genetic capacity for change. Behavioural changes to rising ambient temperatures are seen in animals, include using shade whenever they have access to it and a reduction in feed intake.

The adaptive processes can further include physiological, neuro-endocrine and cellular responses. Some of the physiological parameters for adaptation to rising temperatures are respiration rate, pulse rate, skin temperature and sweating. However, there are differences between species in the expression of these characteristics. For example, poultry has the characteristics of rich feathers, no sweat glands, strong metabolism and high body temperature. As a result, the production performance of poultry is easily impacted by elevated ambient temperatures.

Research into the physiological changes accompanying high temperatures in tropically adapt- ed species is increasing the understanding of the mechanisms that the animal uses to accomplish the necessary functions effectively, and to find ways to support a more efficient response to minimize the negative impact on performance and animal well- being. Identifying relevant biomarkers in animals capable of maintaining high levels of productivity at high ambient temperatures will also help to breed for climate resilient animals.

Adaptive responses at the cellular level

Exposure to challenges, including environmental ones such as ambient temperatures above thermal comfort zones, induce adaptive responses that al- low cells and organisms to continue normal functions in the face of adverse stimuli. At the cellular level adaptive responses involve multiple changes in gene and protein expression, including induction of cellular defenses, e.g., antioxidants and heat shock proteins to enable the cell to survive.

On the other hand, exposure to challenges will increase cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The balance between the generation of ROS and cellular antioxidants determines the level of oxidative stress, which again impacts the animal’s ability to attain performance potential and sustain good health.

A key cellular adaptation mechanism discovered in species surviving extreme environmental conditions is the enhanced expression of the cytoprotective system NRF2-KEAP1, which is involved in protection from oxidative stress, detoxification and protein homoeostasis. The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2), is part of a complex regulatory network that responds to environmental cues. The subsequent evolution of cysteine-rich Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) provided animals with a more sophisticated way to regulate NRF2 activity. Exposure to oxidants disrupts the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, which leads to translocation of NRF2 to the nucleus, which in turn increases the transcription of cytoprotective and antioxidative genes. This also leads to activating antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase.

Optimizing NRF2-KEAP activity in farm animals

A better understanding of the biological function, activation and regulation of NRF2-KEAP1 will help find ways of optimizing its activity for increased resilience in farm animals. Insights from in vitro studies carried out on hyperthermia treated bovine mammary epithelial cells demonstrated that the activation of NRF2 leading to upregulation of expression of downstream genes was associated in attenuating heat shock-induced cell damage.

To date it has been established that certain molecules including phytochemicals can activate NRF2. However, scientists also warn of arbitrarily activating the NRF2-KEAP1 pathway and call for more research into optimizing and properly timing interventions to the activity of NRF2. Peer reviewed exploratory research carried out to investigate the effect of a gut agility activator, based on bioactive substances derived from herbs and spices combined with functional carriers, showed that it increased the expression of critical genes of the NRF2-KEAP1 pathway in the gut of broilers. This coincided with increased levels of total antioxidant capacity in breast meat and in organs key to sustaining high productivity (e.g., gut, liver) in broilers. The study also highlighted the importance of evaluating different application levels, as the effects were dependent on inclusion levels.

Conclusion

The above insights suggest that nutritional technological advances involving phytogenic molecules, such as gut agility activators, could potentially play a supportive function in enhancing resilience of poultry. Further research is required under temperatures above the thermal comfort zone and to confirm the positive impact on recognized resilience performance indicators.

Relevant articles

Frequent monitoring reveals poultry resilience indicator

Free Ebook 3 steps to greater resilience in poultry

Animal Resilience – Economic value in livestock production

References

  1. Mountzouris, K.C., Paraskeuas, V.V., Fegeros, K. (2020). Priming of intestinal cytoprotective genes and antioxidant capacity by dietary phytogenic inclusion in broilers, Animal Nutrition, Vol 6(3), pp. 305-312
  2. Stenvinkel, , Meyer, C.J., Block, G.A., Chertow, G.M. and Shiels, P.G. (2020). Understanding the role of the cytoprotective transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2—lessons from evolution, the animal kingdom and rare progeroid syndromes, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 35 (12), pp. 2036-2045
  3. Berghof, T.V.L., Poppe, M. and Mulder, H.A. (2019) Opportunities to Improve Resilience in An- imal Breeding Programs, Frontiers in Genetics, Vol 9, pp 692
  4. Jin, X.L., Wang, K., Liu, L. Liu, H.Y, Zhao, F.Q., Liu, J.X. (2016). Nuclear factor-like factor 2-antiox- idant response element signaling activation by tert-bu- tylhydroquinone attenuates acute heat stress in bovineBerghof, T.V.L., Poppe, M. and Mulder, H.A. (2019) Opportunities to Improve Resilience in An- imal Breeding Programs, Frontiers in Genetics, Vol 9, pp 692

Organic trace minerals in sows to reach genetic potential

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Adequate supplementation with organic trace minerals in sow nutrition may help sows reach genetic potential .

Author: Mieke Zoon, Product Manager, Pancosma

Publication: Organic trace minerals may help sows to exploit their genetic potential, published in International Pig Topics, 2022

 

Modern sows are selected to have an increasing potential to produce piglets. However, big challenges arise with increasing litter size, as it has been shown to increase variability in piglet birth weights.

Piglets with a low birth weight have a lower growth performance until slaughter compared to medium and heavy weight piglets, especially linked to a worse feed conversion ratio. The reduced performance of piglets with a low birth weight has been linked to a competitive disadvantage for teats and less muscle fibres formed prenatally. Their start in life is often difficult due to low vitality, leading to increased pre-weaning mortality.

New nutritional standards required

Muscle fibre formation as well as general growth and development is very important in the last phase of gestation, which could be impaired when sows are not able to fulfill their nutritional requirements. Therefore, interest is raised to develop new management and nutritional standards for prolific sows.

The need to update nutritional requirements for these modern sows is well accepted. The first interest is on macro-nutrients like protein, energy, fibre and specific amino acids. The impact of trace minerals on general metabolism (antioxidant function, digestion, protein and energy metabolism) as well as fertility, immunity and bone and skin quality is already well known.

During the 1990s it was already shown that total trace mineral levels in sows were reducing during production and that this effect was stronger with increasing total weaning weights of their litters.

This means that sows are not able to replenish their trace mineral levels over reproduction cycles with standard mineral supplementation, and that requirements are increasing with prolificity. Increasing requirements would suggest increasing supplementation levels, however, there are several reasons not to recommend that strategy.

Firstly, negative interactions between minerals (competition for absorption and formation of undigestible complexes) are a reason to supply trace minerals not too far above their required levels.

Secondly, ‘less is more’ applies in many nutrients, as retention efficacy increases with decreasing availability to prevent deficiencies.

Finally, pressure from society through environmental organisations (on emissions into water and soil) and health advocates (on possible promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with increasing zinc and copper in the soil) lead to increasingly strict regulation for trace minerals (for example, on maximum contents and application in the European Union). Therefore, the way forward to fulfil nutrient requirements of increasingly prolific sows is to select more bioavailable sources.

Glycine-based organic trace minerals

Organic trace minerals based on glycine, with proven chemical structure and product quality, have shown to be such a source of highly bioavailable trace minerals. A superior bioavailability of these so- called glycinates compared to traditionally supplemented inorganic sources in swine is shown consistently.

Sows supplemented with a reduced dose (50% from glycinates) showed to increase the average birth weight of piglets, by a significant reduction in piglets with a birth weight below 1.2kg.

At the same time, this reduced dose improved re-breeding of these sows, by significantly increasing insemination success. These results are fully in line with data from glycinates in other livestock species: increasing fertility and hatchability in broiler breeders and increased pregnancy rates in beef cows.

Additionally, the performance up to slaughter of piglets with the higher average birth weight was significantly better, showing improved daily gain, improved feed conversion ratio  and higher lean meat on carcass compared to inorganic trace minerals.

A similar effect on improved growth performance and slaughter characteristics was seen in broiler chickens from broiler breeders supplemented with zinc-glycinate.

These coherent results across species can be explained by the essential functions of trace minerals which are non-specific to a single species. Supplementation with organic trace minerals does not mean providing a novel ingredient to your animals, it means providing an essential nutrient in a more efficient form. Updating nutritional requirements for modern sows to include organic trace minerals for greater efficiencies may support prolificity and performance.

 

Related articles

Pancosma organic trace minerals

Supplementation of a low level of organic zinc in finishing pigs decreased lipid peroxidation in their meat

Benchmarking trace mineral levels in pig feed