Optimizing Poultry Health through Feed Sanitisation

Recent advancements in feed sanitisation highlight its crucial role in enhancing poultry health and production efficiency.

The Importance of Feed Quality

Feed quality is a predominant factor influencing poultry health, performance, and overall economic viability. While considerable focus is placed on nutritional formulation, the microbial quality of feed often remains overlooked in the production management landscape.

Understanding Feed as a Vector for Pathogen Transmission

Variability in feed microbial quality can stem from several factors, including processing methods, storage conditions, and raw material selection. This inconsistency poses challenges for attaining uniform performance outcomes.

Dr. Alastair Thomas, the global head of poultry, nutrition, and health, indicates that an analysis of over 2,000 feed samples has revealed significant disparities in the incidence of Clostridium perfringens among different feed types. Pelleted feeds show a 3.65% incidence compared to a staggering 55% in non-pelleted feeds, highlighting the importance of feed type in microbial risk management.

Reductions in Pathogen Loads and Improved Food Safety

Controlled studies underscore the effectiveness of feed sanitisation technologies in reducing Salmonella colonisation across diverse production systems. Significant reductions in pathogen load enhance food safety, as evidenced by multiple trials.

“Birds receiving sanitised feed exhibited significantly lower Salmonella incidence and load in both crop and ceca, leading to a substantial increase in egg production,” Dr. Thomas noted, showcasing the intertwining of feed treatment and performance metrics.

Enhancing Gut Health and Mitigating Disease

Challenges in enteric health remain a persistent threat within poultry production. C. perfringens can thrive during gut dysbiosis, leading to ailments such as necrotic enteritis.

Research shows that reduced pathogen loads correlate with lower gut colonisation rates, leading to improved nutrient absorption while minimizing the immune response’s metabolic costs.

Under controlled conditions simulating necrotic enteritis, birds were observed to have a 50% reduction in mortality rates when fed sanitised feed (see Figure 1). Notably, average body weight gains increased significantly, showcasing the efficiency of feed sanitisation in improving overall health metrics.

Impact on Breeder Performance and Progeny Quality

Sanitised feed also yields advantages in breeding operations, affecting both parent stock and offspring quality. Research conducted by the University of Georgia indicates that broiler breeders consuming sanitised feed reflected a 4.5 percentage point reduction in mortality rates, particularly during the later stages of lay.

Additionally, the percentage of Grade A chicks increased significantly, demonstrating the multifaceted benefits of feed sanitation on progeny quality (see Figure 2).

A Sustainable Approach to Poultry Production

Adopting feed sanitisation as a proactive health management strategy shifts the focus from reactive disease treatment to preventive care. This transition supports both bird welfare and economic sustainability by enhancing feed conversion efficiency, thereby reducing waste output.

Dr. Thomas expressed optimism regarding the dual benefits of traditional sanitation technologies, emphasizing their expansive influence on poultry health and economic performance. Improved feed quality translates to increased revenue opportunities for producers, reinforcing the essential role of feed sanitisation in modern poultry production systems.

For more insights on how feed sanitisation can elevate your operational performance and productivity, visit www.anitox.com.