Category: Poultry Feed Supplements

Woody breast (WB), or “Spaghetti meat” affects modern, rapidly growing, high breast yield broilers. Decreased meat quality due to undesirable change in muscle texture and condemnation of affected breast meat cause huge economic losses. WB incidence has increased steeply from 5% in 2012 to 29% in 2015 and has been reported to affect up to 50% of the flocks (Abasht et al., 2016). The majority of cases have been reported in the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brazil.

Woody breast myopathy is significantly impacting modern poultry lines of broilers imposing an economic burden on the poultry industry worldwide due to on-farm culling and mortality, down-grading and condemnation at processing (Chatterjee et al., 2016). People at the processing plants are getting better at identifying the condition and reporting it before it gets to restaurants who would complain about having been disappointed with the quality of their purchase. The affected meat tastes woody and stringy, some experts describe the texture as being “gummy”.

The heavier the bird, and the larger the quantity of meat on it, the more likely it is to develop woody breasts. While the condition can be found in leg meat, it typically affects breast meat, with enough impact to disrupt the supply chain. The occurrence of these unwanted myopathies has been associated with an increased growth rate in modern birds. In the laboratory, the condition can be detected in chicks as young as a week old.

Etiology and microscopic changes in the meat

It was noted that only ten percent of breast meat has woody breast, but it can be detected by looking for pale meat with bulging areas. White stripes on the meat are also indicative of texture and taste defects in the meat. Also, chickens weighing more than nine pounds seem to be more likely to have woody breast syndrome.

Intensive breeding in broilers to strengthen the genetic markers for large breast meat, and this is thought to be a factor in the development of woody breast in recent years. The reported changes are: oxidation of proteins in muscles, muscle-fibre degeneration (Myopathy) and an increased deposition of connective tissue and fat microscopically. In addition, it has been noted that birds with woody breast have a decreased water-holding capacity, and are slightly larger on the growth curve than other birds.

Moreover, feeding birds with high energy and protein diets, age, gender, genetics, and stress had been associated with the woody breast myopathy (Kuttappan et al., 2016)

Various identifying methods to detect woody meat

US has brought Certified Quality Reader (CQR), which is a first-ever, non-invasive, handheld device that instantaneously detects and measures woody breast in broiler fillets based on electrical impedance analysis (BIA) to detect woody breast a muscle myopathy. Also at large processing plants, it might be possible to X-ray the meat or use electrical impedance measurement and different applications of imaging technology.

There have been several approaches to minimize muscle myopathies in chicken to improve meat quality like supplementing amino acids, phytase, vitamins, minerals and other feed additives or changes in the farm management regime, however, we could not find a promising solution to this condition yet.

Our research team have developed a photogenic combination that works on preventing muscle myopathies, improving the nutritive value and carcass quality of chicken.

TENDERO, an amino acid optimizer keeps the muscles tender and free from unpleasant textural changes like woody breast, white striping and spaghetti meat.

The metabolomics and proteomic studies show that hypoxia and activation of its upstream mediators play a key role in muscle myopathies. Piperines, Flavonoids and Polyphenols derived from Allum sp. and Piper nigrum, are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. They prevent fibrosis, immune cell infiltration and muscle fibre degeneration and assist in its repair which regulates the bio-physiology of the muscles.

Tendero modulates muscle oxygenation and nucleotide pathways, and molecular signalling which alters affected bio-functions in the muscles and prevents myopathies in the modern lines’ fast-growing broilers.

The actives of Tendero prevent oxidative stress within the breast muscles through free radical scavenging, cell signalling and maintaining lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism.

Meat quality is an important measure of meat palatability and acceptability to consumers. The in-vivo experiments in broiler chicken improved the chicken quality factors like water holding capacity, juiciness, tenderness, meat texture and margination uptake.

TENDERO is a research-proven herbal supplement for the immerging issue of muscle myopathy and to improve organoleptic characteristics. It is leading in the broiler industry for its benefits like improved carcass traits, higher nutritive value, and improved textural and meat processing features.

 

It is recommended to use in broiler finisher feeds @ 2 kg per MT of feed to achieve tender and soft chicken, minimize cooking losses, and have higher margination uptake with no withdrawal period.

Vitamin D3, Alpha Vitamin for Poultry in its Most Active Formd antibiotics

Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is the inactive form of vitamin D that can be ingested through diet or be generated endogenously in the skin when exposed to UV light. Vitamin D is converted into its active form 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2 D3), following a two-step hydroxylation process mediated by two key enzymes, 25-hydroxylase and 1α-hydroxylase. The first hydroxylation occurs in the liver, which converts cholecalciferol at the 25-C position to form 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D). The subsequent hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol occurs at the 1-C position and is mediated by 1α-hydroxylase in the kidneys to produce 1,25-(OH)2 D3, the active form of vitamin D (Alexandra and Barbara, 2013).

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for the proper metabolism of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and the maintenance of normal skeletal integrity (Bikle, 1994). Vitamin D also plays a role in Ca and P absorption, regulation of parathyroid hormone, bone mineralization and mobilization, and it controls the incidence of bone disorders (Garcia et al., 2013). In fowls, vitamin D is responsible for normal growth, egg production, shell quality, and reproduction.

Layers are usually maintained indoors and do not receive enough sunlight to convert 7-dihydrocholesterol to sufficient levels to supply their vitamin D requirements. This is why vitamin D is routinely added to layer feeds, which is essential for the maintenance of egg production, hatchability, eggshell formation, and calcium homeostasis.

Which are the deficiency diseases of vitamin D in birds?

The two most prominent forms of vitamin D are ergocalciferol (D₂) and cholecalciferol (D₃). Vitamin D is an important nutrient for chickens, especially for growing chicks and laying hens.

The inadequacy of vitamin D in birds results in rickets, retarded growth, soft and rubbery beak, hypocalcemia, parathyroid hyperplasia, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, a marked expansion of epiphyseal growth plates including cartilage hypertrophy, failure of calcification of cartilage and osteoid, and fibrous osteodystrophy.

In hens, a vitamin D deficiency adversely affects egg production and causes calcium deficiency. The need for vitamin D depends to a large extent on the ratio of calcium to phosphorus. The vitamin D needs of poultry are increased several folds by inadequate levels of calcium and (or) phosphorus or by improper ratios of these minerals in the diet.

How does vitamin D metabolize in the body?

Cholecalciferol is the most common form of vitamin D added to feeds. After absorption by the intestinal mucosa, it is transported to the liver, where it is hydroxylated in position 25, resulting in 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH) cholecalciferol). This metabolite is directed to the kidneys and hydroxylated at carbon 1, originating the active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2 cholecalciferol). Vitamin D has been shown to stimulate the synthesis of a calcium-binding protein in the intestine.

Dynamic Alpha, a bio-enhanced natural D₃ booster

It is a blend of Phytoconstituents (Natural absorbance enhancers), contains hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D₃ (Calcitriol) and some amount of free and conjugated forms as glycosides from plant origin.

Why is it better than a regular vitamin D?

During the metabolic transformation of the vitamin D from calcitriol in the liver and kidneys, the effectiveness and level of vitamin reduces in the bloodstream. The active form 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 (calcitriol) of Dynamic alpha allows these two stages to be bypassed. It improves the vitamin D3 uptake and is delivered faster in the blood serum.

Additionally, Dynamic alpha components improve micelles formation which results in more absorption of liposoluble vitamins. It maintains homeostasis of Ca : P in body, improves bone density, increases egg shell thickness and vitamin D levels of eggs.

Experimental results confirmed that supplementation of poultry diets with Dynamic alpha, natural and safe active form of vitamin D yields healthy, more productive birds, and enriched eggs, supporting higher profit margins to the farmers.

Benefits and features

• Improves growth and laying performance
• Maintains homeostasis of Ca:P in the body
• Increases hatchability and day-old chick weight
• Increases bone density and maintains its strength
• Helps in the development and maintenance of body, beak and feathers
• Helps in preventing egg damage by increasing the shell strength of the eggs
• Improves vitamin D₃ content of the eggs

Feeding recommendation

• Layers – 250 – 500 g / MT of feed
• Broiler – 250 – 500 g / MT of feed
• Breeder – 500 g / MT of feed OR as directed by a Veterinarian / Nutritionist.

Antimicrobial additives are commonly included in animal diets for growth promotion and control of diseases. The European Union and the US regulators banned feed antibiotic growth promoters due to not only drug resistance, but also to the risk of possible cross resistance with human pathogenic bacteria.

Decreasing trend of feed antibiotics

Poultry feed devoid of synthetic chemicals or antibiotics is increasingly being popular in the developed nations. Consequently, the feed manufacturers are under regulatory pressure to reduce the use of antibiotic growth promoters as feed additive and find alternatives.

Thymol, eugenol, and essential oils inhibit enteropathogen like Salmonella and E. coli in the digestive tract. The improved gastrointestinal microclimate favors digestibility and uptake of feed nutrients. Phytomolecules with immunomodulatory effects stimulate growth of immune organs such as spleen, thymus and bursa, upregulating the function of lymphocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells.

The addition of Herbofloxin to drinking water supports digestion and metabolism in the body, stimulates the growth and development of a useful microbiome, limits the multiplication and adhesion of pathogens, and improves the morphology and functioning of enterocytes. Secondly, Herbofloxin reduces harmful intestinal load and ultimately prevents the meat contamination.

Worldwide use of antibiotics

It has been proposed that feed antibiotic usage was an integral part of this revolution in animal industry. It is estimated that 40 % of the antibiotics produced are used for livestock feed additives.

Why are antibiotics given to animals? 

Animals in industrial-scale facilities are routinely fed antibiotics to:

– make animals grow faster and bigger

– control the spread of diseases in animals

– prevent contamination of animal products with zoonotic pathogens

– increase survival of animals, however when antibiotics are overused, it can be hazardous to the human health

The threat of antibiotic resistance

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 2 million human illnesses and an estimated 23,000 deaths each year are the result of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, antibiotic growth promoters are discredited by consumer associations as well as by scientists.

Risks associated with drug resistance and superbugs

Antimicrobial resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenon that can be slowed, but not prevented. Over the decades, germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi adopt to the medicines that are made to kill them. This makes previously standard drug range for some infections less effective, and sometimes ineffective.

Number of incidences suggests that giving healthy animals regular antibiotics can contribute to the worsening health crisis of the resistance and creation of the deadly superbugs. Superbugs are strains of pathogens that are resistant to common antibiotics and other treatments used to treat the infections they cause.

Post-outbreak medication has had variable effectiveness, but would certainly be less effective due to use of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics

Phytoactives, sustainable alternatives as non-antibiotic growth promoters for poultry

The feed manufacturers are adopting new forms of natural feed additives that are the products of modern science. This new generation of growth enhancers include botanical additives like appropriate blends of plant extracts. The extracts used as feed additives include many different bio-active ingredients such as alkaloids, bitters, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and tannins.

The extracts act on the appetite and intestinal microflora, stimulate the pancreatic secretions to increase endogenous enzyme activity and immune system. Many plant products and their constituents have a broad antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and sedative properties.

Besides this, scientists recently discovered that the appetizing and stimulating activity of plant extracts on animal digestive and immune system could benefit performance and health of farm animals. They postulated that these effects could be due to the increased production of digestive enzymes and the improved utilization of nutrients.

The wise use of antibiotics is not a substitute for, but a complement to good sanitation and husbandry practices. Extensive use of low-level antibiotics in feeds has brought about concern for potential harmful effects due to the development of resistant strains of organisms in host animals that might compromise animal as well as human health.

Herbofloxin, a natural growth promoter

A unique micro-emulsified formulation of phytoactive ingredients such as Thymus vulgaris, Eucalyptus, Syzygium, and Citronella. Herbofloxin improves the gut immune barrier to resist colonization by pathological microflora.

Thymol, eugenol, and essential oils inhibit enteropathogen like Salmonella and E. coli in the digestive tract. Phytoconstituents of antibacterial nature target gut pathogens including important zoonotic bacteria. The improved gastrointestinal microclimate favours digestibility and uptake of nutrients. Phytomolecules with immunomodulatory effects stimulates the growth of immune organs such as the spleen, thymus and bursa, improving the number and function of lymphocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells. Positive effect on hemopoietic system improves efficient muscle oxygenation and feed conversion by promoting the activity of digestive enzymes.

It is important to note that poultry bacteria include a wide variety of human pathogens, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, and many other notable pathogenic genera. This zoonotic organism can be a public health hazard if consumed through contaminated meat. Herbofloxin reduces harmful intestinal load and ultimately prevents meat contamination.

Benefits

• Antimicrobial activity
• Stimulation of the immune system
• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
• Stimulation of feed intake and digestive secretions
• Improves blood and serum parameters such as hepatic and digestive enzymes
• A tool for antibiotic-free chicken program

Economic features

• Higher weight gain
• Improves nutrient utilization
• Improves carcass traits

Usage recommendation is 250 – 500 ml per 1000 liter of drinking water in the growing and finishing phase of broilers. Herbofloxin is a natural non-antibiotic growth promoter for environmental friendly and lead to sustainable poultry farming.

Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite, chicken mite or roost mite, is a major pest of fowl, pigeons, and other caged birds worldwide. The parasite especially common to poultry breeding and egg production operations, it is directly responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in egg industry losses every year. The surveys have confirmed the extremely high and increasing prevalence, 60 to 85 percent of flocks are known to have suffered or be suffering from infestations in different regions of the world and this is starting to trickle into backyard flocks.

Economic Impact

According to studies by the layer industry experts the productivity losses are seen up to €0.57 per hen per year and can climb up to €2.50 in high infestations. In Europe alone, the red mite infestation costs approximately €360 million annually.

Transmission of the poultry red mite, as well as the northern fowl mite and the tropical fowl mite, is by mite dispersion or by contact with infested birds, animals, or inanimate objects. In the integrated poultry industry, mites are dispersed most frequently on inanimate objects such as egg flats, crates, or coops or by personnel going from house to house or farm to farm.

 

 

What are Red Mites? How to Identify Them.

Red mites are small, up to 1mm long and 0.7mm wide, slow-moving mites. They range in colour from a very light grey, almost translucent to a light brown, black and blood-red colour after a feed. Their eggs are harder to spot with the naked eye at around 0.4mm and translucent, white in colour. After the eggs are laid, it typically takes up to five days before they take their first feed as protonymphs. When they reach the adult stage, at about 10 days old, this is when they will start to feed most frequently.

They are typically nocturnal feeders and remain hidden during the day in cracks and crevices, nests, cribs and roosts, egg conveyor belts, cardboard boxes and transportation cages. They can occasionally be found in clusters.

Re-infestations

Poultry mite is a very resilient ectoparasite. It can even survive for several months without feeding and can continue to exist even though there is no feeding source. Multi-age mite sites are often tricky to manage, but the mite can crawl from shed to shed and carry disease with them. Reinfection is highly likely either by missing a small colony of red mite or on the body of the pullets that make up the next flock. They can even migrate wild birds into poultry sheds. The reason why many producers are failing to control red mite is because of a lack of understanding of the products they are using.

Dermanyssus gallinae Causes Both Direct and Indirect Damage in Poultry Houses:

The loss of vitality due to parasitism reduces hen production; and the mite can transmit several viral diseases (Newcastle disease paramyxovirus; avian influenza a virus; fowlpox virus) as well as bacterial infections (Escherichia coli, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Pasteurella multocida, Salmonella gallinarum and S. enteritidis).

Flocks with mite infestations can suffer from: visible skin irritation and lesions on the breast and legs; increased stress; altered sleep patterns; feather plucking; anaemia, which presents as comb and pallor wattle; and death, in extreme cases. Stress is induced by pain and skin irritation associated with repeated mite bites favoured by the very high parasite load typical of red mite infestations, with mite densities ranging from 25,000 to 500,000 mites per hen. In the worst cases, poultry red mite can consume up to 5% of a hen’s blood in one night.

Limiter, A Novel Efficient Herbal Solution for Poultry Red Mite,

Despite chemical control of poultry red mites remaining the dominant method at the commercial farms, the acaricidal treatments can only give limited or short-period relief to the birds. Mainly due to difficulties associated with the effective application and emergence of resistance in mites.

Limiter is a stable combination of plant-derived oils designed on a pragmatic approach of reducing mites through a multipronged strategy. No resistance due to effective triple way mode of action i.e. gustatory avoidance, olfactory repellency, and contact toxicity. The key elements of the natural remedy for mite management are derived from Eucalyptus oil, Camphor, and Basil. It makes Limiter easy to register, use,  and one of the safest products in the market.

Limiter is a concentrated extract of active phytomolecules and therefore it needs to be diluted at the dose of 150 ml per 1000 litre of drinking water.

Limiter is recommended to use for 1 week – 1st application then 2nd application for 1 week after an interval of 7 days. It can be re-used in case of re-infestation as per the recommended protocol.

Salient Features

• Protects birds from blood-feeding stages of the red mites i.e. Protonymphs, Deutonymphs, and some adult stages.
• No prescription required for use at the farms
• Readily soluble in water
• Birds do not need to be removed.
• No harmful effects and can be used recurrently for a long duration without developing resistance.
• No residues in the eggs and meat.
• No withdrawal period

Advantages

• Reduces stress, irritation, mortality, and body lesions.
• Reduces spread of poultry pathogens
• Improves egg production and FCR
• Controls mite population and saves economic losses
• Improves bird health and welfare

Respiratory diseases have been subjected to long extensive research due to their economic significance. Infection with these pathogens causes severe economic loss due to mortality, carcass condemnation, and reduction in egg production, hatchability, feed efficiency and weight gain. In order to address these problems, a variety of strategies has been used in the poultry industry including biosecurity, vaccination and antimicrobial therapy.

Common Respiratory Diseases of Poultry

– Chronic Respiratory Disease / – Newcastle Disease – Avian Diphtheria

Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection – Infectious Bronchitis – Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus

– Aspergillosis / – Avian Influenza – Chlamydiosis

Brooders Pneumonia – Infectious Coryza – Chicken Pox

In poultry sheds, bird density, dust and heat permanently expose birds to various forms of respiratory issues. Poultry birds are endowed with effective mechanisms to expel irritants, microorganisms and spores, but these defences are fragile. In a very dusty environment, 1m³ of air can contain more than 10 million microorganisms!.

How Does Poultry Defense System Work Against Poor Quality or Contaminated Air?

Trachea and bronchi walls are covered with cilia. By contracting, these cilia cause the mucus and all the particles sticking inside to move towards the upper parts of the respiratory tract where they are expectorated (sneezed out) or swallowed. This is named the “mucociliary escalator”.

Dust: vectors for transmission of microbial, viral and fungal agents in poultry houses. Now it sometimes happens that this system cannot effectively play its defence role, if it is saturated with too much dust, paralyzed by an excess of ammonia concentration, or destroyed by a viral infection. An excess of ammonia concentration (>10ppm) in the air will paralyze the cilia of the respiratory system.

Any such attack on the defences of the respiratory system will affect the quality and quantity of mucus in Avian. If the mucus is too watery or too abundant it can cause a blockage in the trachea. This may result in a bacterial infection or bird’s death by asphyxia.

How to Prevent Respiratory Issues and Improve Air Quality in Poultry?

We have brought all herbal respiratory tonic MucoFort® in the market, which helps in stimulating protective mechanisms and revitalizing the respiratory system. Mucofort contains terpenoids in essential oils, e.g. alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, peroxides, and phenols, which are responsible for strong antimicrobial activity.

Its decongesting properties provide instant relief. It allows birds to breathe normally and improve O­₂ transport to the cells and reduces gasping. The active components of Mucofort have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral functions, and thus can augment the immunity of poultry by modulating both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, preventing viral infections, and providing supplementary treatment for viral diseases.

Phytoconstituents derived from Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha arvensis, Ocimum basilicum, etc of MucoFort® modulate the synthesis of a healthy layer of Mucin which protects the respiratory epithelium from attacks of pathogenic organisms. Bronchodilatory and respiratory stimulant effects make the lumen wide for proper respiration and expulsion of inflammatory discharge like cellular debris and fibrinous exudates.

MucoFort® is an outcome of continuous research; its test reports have shown remarkable results on common respiratory conditions like congestion, haemorrhages, inflammatory secretions, pneumonia, diphtheritic membranes and oedema in the respiratory system.

he administration of Mucofort is 200 ml in 1000 litre of drinking water three times a week till full recovery. It also can be used for the prevention of respiratory distress and strengthening the immune system during outbreaks.

Losses and Severity of Clostridial Toxins

Refraining the use of antibiotics in poultry feed has aggravated outbreaks of Necrotic enteritis (NE) even more often. NE is an acute Clostridium infection characterized by severe necrosis of the intestinal mucosa. The disease begins suddenly, with a sharp increase in the death rate. The disease usually persists in a flock for 5–10 days, and mortality is 50%. The causative agent is the gram-positive, obligate, anaerobic bacteria Clostridium perfringens. There are two primary Cl. perfringens types, A and C, associated with NE in poultry.

Pathogenesis and clinical signs

Cl. perfringens is a nearly ubiquitous bacteria readily found in soil, dust, faeces, feed, and used poultry litter. It is also a normal inhabitant of the intestines of healthy chickens and turkeys. The enterotoxaemia that results in NE most often occurs either after a change in the intestinal microflora or from a condition that results in damage to the intestinal mucosa (eg, coccidiosis, mycotoxicosis, salmonellosis, parasitic infection, etc).

Chickens at the age of 25 weeks are usually affected, NE is also encountered in hens particularly near the period of the beginning of egg-laying or peak egg-laying, most commonly associated with coccidiosis. In acute cases, marked congestion of the liver, responsible for its dark red to black appearance, is present. Intestinal content is bloody, mixed with necrotic debris and gas bubbles. The diagnosis is based on distinctive gross lesions. Toxins produced by the bacteria cause damage to the small intestine, liver lesions, and mortality.

While researchers still paving a way to develop a substitute as functional as antibiotics, administration of selected probiotics or competitive cultures has been used successfully to both prevent and treat clinical necrotic enteritis (presumably for the prophylactic proliferation of Cl. perfringens).

NOVAPRO, a natural blend of probiotics for digestion and gut health.

The probiotics used in NOVAPRO (viz. Bacillus subtilis, B. coagulants and B. pumilus) are GRAS qualified in the US and qualifies the criteria of QPS as per EFSA for EU countries. They are highly heated stable and forms an endospore to survive extreme environmental conditions of temperature and desiccation.

How does NOVAPRO work as a Non-antibiotic Growth Promoter?

Bacillus subtilis, B. coagulants and B. pumilus are known for their ability to degrade proteins extra-cellularly. They produce antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) which help in the inhibition of certain kinds of entero-pathogens that are harmful to poultry. This combination gets quickly established in the gut, provide growth of friendly bacteria, reduces intestinal pH and drives out harmful pathogens like Cl. perfringens, E. coli and Salmonella species. Additionally, the probiotics peptides enhance immune responses preventing the growth of pathogens.

Features and Benefits

– Probiotics stay viable in water for a longer duration

– It has proven compatibility with antibiotics, anti-microbial growth promoters, coccidiostats and acidifiers

– Supports gut health and immune system

– Can withstand pH fluctuations from 3.8 to 9.5

– Low inclusion rate, no withdrawal period and can be administered throughout the lifecycle

Feeding Recommendation

– 1 g per litre of drinking water

– 150 – 200 g / tone of feed

Coccidiosis represents a serious threat to the poultry industry, affecting production and causing high morbidity, mortality and significant costs resulting from treatment and prophylaxis. In-feed anti-coccidial has been used for decades for managing avian coccidiosis and were very effective until drug resistance emerged. The use of natural remedies has become a promising alternative in combating coccidiosis in chickens.

Industry losses

Coccidiosis is a self-limiting disease that is universally present in poultry operations, causing extensive damage to the intestinal lining of the bird. Global economic losses from coccidiosis are estimated to be $3 billion per year including poor growth performance, replacement of chicks, and medication. They are estimated to be ubiquitous in the environment of poultry operations globally, with approximately 5% prevalence of clinical coccidiosis and 20% prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis. Coccidiosis morbidity can be as high as 100%, mortality ranges from 0-50%.

Attempts to eradicate the disease have been unsuccessful; currently, coccidiosis programs largely rely on chemotherapy and immunoprophylaxis. But the development of drug resistance in strains in the field and the withdrawal period for these drugs prior to slaughter necessitate the exploration of alternative methods for controlling coccidiosis.

Coccidiostats

Coccidiostats can be grouped into two major classes: the polyether ionophore antibiotics (monensin, lasalocid, maduramycin, narasin, salinomycin, and semduramycin) and the nonpolyether ionophores (often referred to as synthetic compounds or chemicals).

Chemical anticoccidials have varying degrees of efficacy ranging from good to partial resistance, indicating its use should either be restricted or if possible be discontinued because in the near future development of resistance against these anticoccidial will be seen. The use of herbal products as an alternative to anticoccidial drugs may overcome the hazards caused by the chemical drugs. Generally, plant extracts do not have the problem of resistance and broilers fed on herbal feed additives were accepted well by the consumer.

To date, Eimeria strains have gained resistance to all known coccidiostats, and new anticoccidials are unlikely to be developed, mainly because of strict legislative regulations on the use of in-feed drugs and growing concerns in the general population about the chemical residues in poultry products. Over the past years, the consumption of poultry meat has grown consistently, especially because it represents a fairly cheap source of food with lower production costs and is accepted by all religions.

In addition, the compromised immune system and damaged intestinal passage become an easy target for secondary bacterial infections like Clostridium and Salmonella spp.

What is Coccidiosis?

Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract caused by microscopic parasites called Eimeria protozoa. It is a single cell microscopic parasite that enters the chick’s body by ingesting the parasite egg on the ground.

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by seven species of the genus Eimeria with different localizations within the intestinal tract of chickens. Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella are the most prevalent species in broilers in the intensive poultry management system.

Nature of coccidiosis

Coccidia has many different stages occurring either within the bird host, or in the outside environment. Within the host, the parasite develops into an oocyst, which is then excreted in the bird droppings. In the environment (typically in the litter) and under optimal temperature and moisture conditions, this oocyst then develops into a sporulated oocyst. The sporulated oocyst can infect other chickens and is very resilient, often surviving in the environment for several months. The prepatent period, which includes parasite development and sporulation, is approximately 4–7 days. Although many infections are subclinical, clinical signs of coccidiosis typically include diarrhoea, decreased growth rate, decreased feed and water intake, decreased egg production, and increased mortality.

The parasite then multiplies in the intestine and is eventually expelled through the chick’s feces. At this point, other chicks will become infected when they accidentally ingest the Coccidia parasite. Chicks can all quickly become infected. Most often spread by bringing infected hens into your flock, or by wild birds. The coccidia parasite is nearly impossible to completely eradicate.

Coccidia multiplies best in warm, wet, dirty, overcrowded conditions and unfortunately nearly every chicken run contains trace amounts of the parasite. Fortunately, healthy adult chickens usually have strong enough immune systems that they won’t be affected.

What are the Symptoms of Coccidia/Coccidiosis?

It normally manifests itself in chicks through the following symptoms:

• Messy fluff around the vent
• Yellowish, foamy diarrhoea
• Bloody droppings
• Ruffled feathers
• Poor appetite
• Lethargy
• Standing alone with closed eyes
• Weight loss due to inability to absorb nutrients in food
• Eventual death

Even if a chick survives, permanent intestinal tissue damage often occurs. Since a chicken’s immune system is cantered in the intestine, survivors could have a compromised immune system for life.

How Biococcin Works against Coccidiosis?

Biococcin is a holistic combination of phytochemicals with diverse mechanisms of action on multiple species of Eimeria. This active constituent suppresses the developmental stages in the lifecycle of Eimeria by several mechanisms, restricting the damage to intestinal cells and spread of the infection by several mechanisms mentioned below:

• – Prevention of oocyst development
• – Inhibition of sporulation
• – Inhibition of oocyst wall
• – Destruction of sporozoites in caeca
• – Stabilizing intestinal structure and decreasing inflammation
• – Stimulation of immune response and modulation

Furthermore, herbal extracts could improve recovery after coccidiosis. Flavonoids and other polyphenols have been reported to be responsible for most of the biological properties of the herbs, including the anticoccidial potential.

Benefits

• Supports recovery and minimizes losses caused by affected growth and FCR.
• Reduces mortality
• Reduces oocyst shedding
• Decreases intestinal inflammation and prompts healing
• Promotes immune response against multiple Eimeria sp.
• Prevents secondary bacterial attacks like Clostridium sp.

The composition includes pure phytocompound extracts from Holarrhena antidysenterica, Tinospora cordifolia, Allium sativum, and Cinnamomum camphora. The herbs have shown remarkable antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

There is also a higher interest from the consumer in organic poultry production and a great demand for natural and healthier products. In this context, the use of natural remedies has become a promising alternative to anticoccidial drugs.

Recommendation

In poultry feed – 600 g per metric ton of feed for the complete cycle or from the day of outbreak till full recovery.

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) starts as an erosion of the footpad skin, which can look like a dirty mark that develops into broken painful ulcers if the skin gets damaged. The prevalence rates are usually seen around 20%, also reaching as high as 100% in poor management.

The disease is diagnosed by the observation of inflamed brown-black spots on the footpad of the feet that develops into necrotic lesions that can vary in size from superficial to deep. Progressing deep ulcers may lead to chronic abscesses and fibrosis of underlying joint structures. In chickens, the lesion can also be found on the hocks. In severe cases, the lesion can act as an entry point for secondary infections, which can cause partial condemnation of the carcass in meat processing plants.

The 4-tier scale for lesion scoring of Footpad Dermatitis in Poultry

– Normal, no lesion

– Mild lesion

– Moderate lesion

– Severe lesion

There are a number of things that can influence whether or not birds show an incidence of FPD. The biggest single factor is the corrosive effect of wet or damp bedding resulting from high levels of moisture, feces, and ammonia. Water provision, stocking density, climatic conditions, ventilation, and even feed, all can have an effect. Topping up bedding material at least once a week is recommended by industry practices; moving from wet to dry litter condition has shown to result in rapid healing of the lesions, as well as improved growth rate.

Common reasons for Footpad Dermatitis

• Wet litter / poor bedding material
• High ammonia concentration in the litter
• Spillage from drinkers / leaky drinkers
• Poor ventilation
• High sodium, NSPs, and plant-based protein diets
• Zinc and biotin deficient diets

Essentiolitt: A poultry litter dryer and ammonia binder, is an efficient bioaerosol cleanser that improves the biosecurity of the farm. It reduces the wetness of the litter and destroys pathogens by acting as a disinfectant. Its antimicrobial spectrum creates an unfavourable condition for bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella sp, P. multocida, Clostridium sp, Campylobacter sp. Additionally, it reduces ammonia concentration in the litter ensuring healthy farm practices and a disease-free environment.

It is composed of Aluminiumsulphates, salts of organic acids, and a blend of essential oils. The special feature of the product is its least cost and handy application. It can directly be sprinkled over the litter in powder form. It is GRAS accepted and 100% natural product developed for commercial-scale organic farming.

Essentiolitt-I is natural pest control for the livestock industry

Essentiolitt is not only seen as beneficial in footpad dermatitis but also has shown incredible results in reducing the occurrences of infections and moralities in the poultry. It is nature friendly and is also recognized for improving poultry welfare, making Essentiolitt one of the best players in its category.

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