Author: vinayakadmin

In tropical monsoon regions, like India, seasonal changes are a major non-genetic factor influencing poultry production. The rainy season usually causes an increase in humidity and a drop in temperature. Rainfall impacts both the quality and amount of feed, while wind speed can affect disease outbreaks. The chicken industry often faces more difficulties due to disease outbreaks during the monsoon, as it creates ideal conditions for diseases to grow and spread among flocks. As a result, most poultry farmers see high rates of mortality and morbidity during this time.

Product-Based Solutions for Specific Disease Conditions

• Mycotoxicoses:

VINSORB-BIO is a unique combination of high-grade mycotoxin adsorbents and mould inhibitors, as well as antifungal elements, along with lipotropic agents, which makes VINSORB-BIO a very effective mycotoxin binder.

• Coccidiosis:

BIOCOCCIN is a phytogenic coccidiostat that helps to control coccidiosis in poultry.

• Gut-Related Diseases:

DIARRELIF is the mixture of appropriately selected herbs and their blends, which positively reduces diarrhoea in poultry.

• Respiratory Diseases:

MUCOFORT is a natural tonic that ensures the rapid recovery of respiratory issues in poultry.

• Immunosuppression:

NUCLEOVIN is a potential immunomodulator that contains nucleotides, vitamin C, and probiotics that can activate immune system responses.

*References on request*

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a zoonotic disease caused by influenza A viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family, classified by two surface proteins: haemagglutinin (H1–H16) and neuraminidase (N1–N9). These viruses vary in severity; low-pathogenic strains cause mild respiratory issues or reduced egg production, while highly pathogenic strains (HPAI) can lead to severe, often fatal, systemic disease. As per the recent FAO report, there have been 297 reported HPAI outbreaks in animals across five regions, mainly due to H5N1 (254 cases), followed by H5Nx (33), H5N5 (9), and H5N9 (1).

Understanding Transmission

Wild aquatic and migratory birds serve as asymptomatic reservoirs of the Avian Influenza virus. These birds transmit the virus to domestic poultry via contaminated environments, where viral shedding occurs through feces, saliva, and respiratory secretions. They can be further spread through direct contact with secretions from infected poultry, contaminated feed, water, and farm equipment. This results in severe economic and production losses for the farmer. The avian influenza virus has a high survival rate even in low temperatures and harsh environments. 

Know the signs of Avian Influenza in your flock          

Diagnosis methods to determine Avian influenza

Avian Influenza cannot be diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs alone; laboratory testing is also important.

• Molecular techniques like reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), which detect the viral RNA.
• Serological tests such as AGID or ELISA, used to identify antibodies against the virus.
• Genetic sequencing  which helps confirm the virus strain and its pathogenicity.

These tests help distinguish Avian Influenza from other poultry diseases such as Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, or mycoplasmosis.

Controlling the Spread

Avian Influenza control strategies are designed to prevent, manage, or completely eradicate the infection from the farm. The following key measures may play a vital role in effective disease control of Avian influenza-

Biosecurity (Exclusion and Inclusion):

Implementing strict measures to prevent contact between infected or wild birds and healthy poultry via proper fencing, limiting access to poultry farms, and ensuring hygiene practices for visitors and farm surfaces, equipment, and facilities to eliminate potential virus contamination.

Diagnostics and Surveillance:

Regular monitoring of poultry flocks for signs of illness, including testing for the avian influenza virus through sampling and laboratory analysis. 

Elimination of AVIAN INFLUENZA Virus-Infected Poultry:

Humanely eliminating infected poultry and safely disposing of carcasses and contaminated materials to prevent further spread of the virus and environmental contamination. 

Decreasing Host Susceptibility to the Virus (Vaccines and Host Genetics):

Developing and administering safe and effective vaccines and improving host resistance to the virus through selective breeding programs to protect poultry flocks from infection. 

Education of all Personnel on Infectious Diseases and their Control:

Providing comprehensive training to poultry farmers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders involved in poultry production on proper biosecurity practices, disease recognition, and reporting procedures. 

*References on request*

Feed represents 60-70% of the total cost of livestock and poultry production and is critical to a producer’s bottom line. It can be a balancing act to find ways to maximize efficiency or reduce input costs while still meeting the nutritional requirements for optimal animal performance. Hence, from an economic perspective, enhancing the energy efficiency of these raw materials is of great importance. Fats and oils serve as significant energy sources in poultry diets due to their high energy value and energy density. The amount of energy that animals can obtain from dietary fat primarily depends on the digestibility of the fat. Fat digestibility is considerably reduced when emulsifying molecules, such as bile salts, are absent or produced in very small quantities in poultry.

One way to maximize the fat utilization in poultry is to include an emulsifier in their diet.

What is Emulsification?

Emulsification is the process that involves the breakdown of large fat globules into smaller globules that are soluble in water. It is important to emulsify fat so it can be easily broken down by enzymes into fatty acids. It takes place in the small intestine by the action of bile salts.

Role of Emulsifier in Lipid Digestion

Fats are insoluble in water, do not solubilize in the aqueous phase of the gastrointestinal tract, and need to be emulsified before they can be hydrolysed by lipase. As a polar amphipatic molecule, consisting of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, an emulsifier (more accurately termed surfactant) can form a bridge between water- and fat-soluble materials, and improve fat utilisation, especially of animal fats. Emulsifiers may also play a particular role in overcoming the inadequacies of naturally low bile production and recirculation in young birds. Emulsifiers, which are normally used in the feed industry, can be categorised into two groups, namely natural (such as bile and bile salts) and nutritional (such as lecithin and lysolecithin) emulsifiers.

Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) Value:

HLB (Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance) is a numerical scale (typically from 0 to 20) that indicates the balance between the water-loving (hydrophilic) and oil-loving (lipophilic) portions of an emulsifier. Low HLB values (3–6) indicate lipophilic (oil-soluble) emulsifiers — suitable for water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. High HLB values (8–18) indicate hydrophilic (water-soluble) emulsifiers — suitable for oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. 

Without emulsification, lipid digestion would be inefficient, and absorption of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble nutrients would be greatly reduced. An emulsifier added to the feed will help to break down fats and oils easily in poultry birds.

VINEMULSI is a unique and carefully controlled combination of Lysophospholipids, phospholipids, and glycolipids, which makes it a natural emulsifier. It optimizes lipid digestion, emulsification, hydrolysis with micelle formation, and nutrient absorption. It increases the available surface for bile salts and lipases to interact. VINEMULSI provides a more consistent fat utilization response and improves poultry’s performance. The HLB value of lysophospholipids contained in VINEMULSI (8-12) not only determines its emulsification properties but also contributes to the stability of the emulsion.

Benefits:

• Supports fat emulsification and utilization
• Enhances nutrient absorption  
• Improves feed conversion ratio and overall performance.
• Reduces feed costs
• Aids in minimizing oxidative stress.

“Turn fats into fuel, naturally”

*References on request*

Ectoparasites are a persistent challenge in poultry farming, causing significant harm to both bird welfare and farm profitability. The common poultry ectoparasites, includes lice, mites, fleas, and ticks, that feed on feathers or skin or sucking blood. Lice such as Menacanthus stramineus cause irritation, feather damage, and reduced growth. Fleas like sticktight flea attach to the eyes and comb of the chicken, leading to inflammation and irritation. Ticks, particularly Argas persicus, transmit diseases like avian spirochetosis and can cause anaemia and mortality. Among different mite species like northern fowl mites, scaly leg mites, and red mites infesting poultry, the Poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae ) is more prevalent and causes severe economic damage. It is a hematophagous mite that mainly infests poultry but can also parasitize other avian and mammalian hosts, including humans.  

Poultry red mite is ubiquitously present; however, huge economic losses are observed in South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The severity of poultry red mite depends on different climates and production systems.

Economic Impact of Poultry Red Mite

According to the European Commission, in 2021, European farms contained over 376 million laying hens, with an 80% to 90% infestation percentage of red mite. The economic impact of infestations, as calculated by Van Emous (2017), includes direct costs of around EUR 0.15 per bird per year due to treatments, veterinary services, and labor. Indirect costs, EUR 0.45 per bird per year, of reduced egg production, lower bird performance, and high mortality, also affect the productivity.

Impact of poultry red mite on productivity

Poultry red mites affect the profitability and productivity of poultry farmers. Poultry red mites feed on chicken for about 2–4 days, and an average of 20,000–50,000 mites can be found per bird. Red mite infestation induces stress and irritation, leading to aggressive behaviour, cannibalism, feather pecking, and reduced feed intake, eventually affecting growth. It also suppresses egg production by impacting stress-related hormonal pathways, leading to a 15–20% drop in laying performance and reduced egg quality due to shell thinning. It also carries secondary disease-causing pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and others.

Impact of red mite infestation on Poultry

Traditional treatments of synthetic chemicals such as organophosphates and pyrethroids, cause various issues. Continuous use of these chemicals can induce resistance in mites, residue in animal food, and environmental risks. To deal with these challenges, essential oils are being used as an effective alternative. Essential oils impact the ectoparasites through several complementary mechanisms. One of which is inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is important for nerve signal transmission in arthropods. This inhibition can cause paralysis in the mite and, eventually, death. LIMITER is a combination of essential oils that primarily work on the same mechanism.

LIMITER: A natural solution for poultry red mite management 

LIMITER is a natural red mite management supplement for poultry. Using a unique combination of plant-derived components, LIMITER targets blood sucking stages of mites with a three-way mode of action including Gustatory Avoidance, Olfactory Repellence and Contact Toxicity.

Benefits of LIMITER 

“Minimize the cost of ectoparasite management with LIMITER’s environment-friendly and sustainable impact.”

*References on request*

Consumer awareness of the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is growing and is driving their demand for enriched food products. Also, broiler meat consumption in the world increases annually with the development of modern diet patterns. Fortification of meat with n-3 fatty acids is an opportunity for the broiler production sector to add value to their product. The incorporation of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) into animal diets has been shown to increase the omega-3 fatty acid content of the foods they produce, thus offering consumers an easy way to boost their intake of omega-3 fatty acids without altering their diet. Food products such as eggs, milk, beef, poultry, and pork with higher omega-3 fatty acid levels could provide health benefits to all social classes due to their generally wide consumption.

Why Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Essential?

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid (n-3 FA) in mammals and birds because it must be ingested and cannot be synthesized de novo. Through desaturation and elongation, ALA can be converted into long-chain fatty acids (FA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), which is important for health and development. Another critical group of fatty acids is omega-6 fatty acid (n-6 FA), for which the precursor is linoleic acid (LA, C18:2n-6). There is direct competition between omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids for the same enzymes required for the biosynthesis into long-chain fatty acids. This competition may cause issues when the consumption of one group of fatty acids far outweighs the other.

Biosynthesis of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Dietary fatty acids could be absorbed and deposited in the body tissue of broiler chickens without any modifications. Thus, the lipid composition of broiler chicken meat could be altered according to the fatty acid profile of the dietary lipid sources.

Incorporating omega-3s into broiler feed has been associated with various benefits:

• Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization.

• Skeletal Development.
• Immune Function.
• Meat Quality and Fatty Acid Profile.

How Do Omega-3 Fatty Acids Benefit Consumers?

Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, are important anti-inflammatory agents. They mitigate the effects associated with proinflammatory cytokines in diseases such as coronary heart disease, major depression, ageing, cancer, and autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and lupus erythematosus. They also improve vision, skin, and the immune system.

Therefore, consumers may consider novel products enriched with n-3 PUFA to be a preferable way to achieve recommended intakes of these fatty acids.

ALPHALINOMEGA is an omega fatty acid supplement for omega-fortified chicken. It is an innovative poultry feed supplement that contains major essential fatty acids and can be easily administered via water. The enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids in poultry is directly linked to the amount provided via diet. ALPHALINOMEGA also helps in the high absorption of omega fatty acids (up to 98%) and improves FCR, leading to better weight gain and improved overall health of the poultry. Broilers fed with Alphalinomega enhance omega-3 fatty acid content in their meat.

Benefits:

• Increases omega-3 fatty acid content in meat.
• Decreases saturated and trans fatty acid content in meat.
• Strong antioxidants prevent severe inflammation of the tissue.

• Reduces myopathies, woody breast, white striping and yields tender chicken.

*References on request