In the last decade, animal protein production has faced all-time record high commodities prices, the occurrence of serious diseases such as avian influenza (e.g. H7N9), porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED), food scares, salmonella in dairy farming and campylobacter in chickens. Each of which is related to the increased intensification of farming, but can be mostly attributed to authorities' ability to analyse for contaminents at even lower levels. Indeed, the ability to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals and mycotoxins in feedstuffs has never been more sensitive, making us aware of risks we never used to imagine.

1. Digital Re-print November | December 2013
FEED FOCUS: Animal feeding in
the future: reaching genetic potential through
smarter nutrition?
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3. Animal
feeding in the
future:
reaching genetic
potential through
smarter nutrition?
Feed focus
POULTRY
by Aidan Connolly, Vice
President, Alltech Inc.
and Dr Alexis Kiers,
poultry health consultant,
Washington, DC, USA
I
n the last decade, animal protein
production has faced all-time record
high commodities prices, the occurrence
of serious diseases such as avian influenza
(e.g. H7N9), porcine epidemic diarrhoea
(PED), food scares, salmonella in dairy
farming and campylobacter in chickens.
Each of which is related to the increased
intensification of farming, but can be mostly
attributed to authorities' ability to analyse
for contaminents at even lower levels.
Indeed, the ability to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals
and mycotoxins in feedstuffs has never
been more sensitive, making us aware of
risks we never used to imagine.
Against this backdrop, the increased
restriction on the use of growth promoting
compounds such as subtherapeutic antibiotics (AGPs) has been a worldwide phenomenon. New limits on the incluson of AGPs
in animal diets are now in place in the 28
European Union countries, the Middle East,
Turkey, Japan, Chile, India and South Korea,
and the United States will soon follow. Its
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is
on course to implement restrictions in late
2016, either by removing antibiotic compounds from the market completely or by
requiring their re-registration for therapeutic
use, with veterinary oversight and prescription. It may seem that the only constant for
those involved in the production of meat,
milk and eggs is that these changes will
continue to occur at an even greater rate.
In the meantime, the genetic improvements in animals continue to astonish even
the hardiest of observers. While farm productivity yields have improved in the last
seven years at half the rate of the previous
50 years, we continue to see extraordinary
leaps in the ability to get more from less.
Historically, broiler producers talked
20 | november - december 2013
about the ideal of '2:2:42', which meant profits, that target may be difficult to envigrowing a two kilogram bird, with a feed sion. Animal protein producers are already
conversion ratio of 2:1, in 42 days. With efficient; for example, broiler integrated
continued genetic advances, and a rhythm of operations are reaching two kilogram marimprovements of 50 grammes or 2 percent ket weight in 36 days, attaining an 85
extra weight for the same age per year, will it percent yield, and achieving a 1.45 FCR.
be possible to achieve that same weight with So where are the gaps between genetic
potential and real animal performance? Is
just one kilo of feed by 2025?
In a global context, this means we could reaching a 1:1 FCR by 2025 in poultry, or
use 30 percent less grain to produce 100 2:1 in pigs a dream, or a reality?
The possibility of a 1:1 FCR was first probillion tonnes of broiler meat, or produce
45 percent more meat with the same feed, posed by Foulds in 20052, and more recently
making chicken meat even more economi- by Brazilian nutrition and feed management
cal, and thereby assuring its availability to consultant Ronei Gauer. The industry is,
a growing population. When we look at however, still struggling to reach that taregg, turkey, duck, pork, dairy and even beef get. At Alltech's 29th Symposium, speakers
production, we see similar advances, albeit highlighted five obstacles in poultry that are
sometimes harder to quantify because of estimated to represent as many as 40 points
the multitude of feed sources used, and the of lost feed conversion (0.40) in poultry.
less homogenised nature of their production
systems. If genetic improvements can bring Gut health
about a 30 percent reduction of the entire
Gut health plays a vital role in poulindustrial feed market approaching one bil- try production. Dr Peter Ferket of North
lion tonnes', they have
significant implications
for the sustainability and
availability of affordable
food.
With the world's
population closing in on
eight billion by 2025,
and set to exceed nine
billion by 2050, the critical importance of continuing to improve food
production efficiencies is
clear. Sometimes, however, the short-term
focus takes precedence.
Amid our current state
of battling $350 per ton
Figure 1: US agricultural output, inputs, and total
factor productivity, 1948-2011 (USDA, Economic
feed costs, and downResearch Service)
ward pressure on bird
prices pulling down
&feed millinG technoloGy
Grain

4. POULTRY
Carolina State University pointed out that
only a healthy gut can digest and absorb the
maximal amount of nutrients. If the digestive
system is compromised, its requirements for
energy and protein increase sharply. This can
severely diminish the nutrients available to
the bird for growth, slowing weight gain and
leaving a plunge in feed efficiency. In addition, most intestinal challenges will lead to
reduced feed intake that can further impact
bird performance.
Three components are important for a
healthy gut and improving FCR: ecological
environment, nutrient balance and symbiotic
microbial stability. Poor intestinal health can
increase moisture content of the excreta,
negatively affecting litter conditions, increasing ammonia levels in the house and leading
to respiratory problems. Wet litter has also
been shown to increase footpad dermatitis,
hock burns, processing downgrades and
condemnations. Runting, stunting and other
viral diseases can also be exacerbated by a
poor house microflora.
With these repercussions, every poultry
operation should be fine-tuning their gut flora
management programmes. Recommended
steps include seeding the gut with favourable organisms, preparing the environment
for digestion, excluding pathogens, enhancing
resilience and decreasing feed passage. This
involves applying a probiotic or competitive
exclusion product as soon as possible after
&feed millinG technoloGy
Grain
hatching. In the absence of
antibiotics, a key factor in
maintaining an optimal gut
microflora is to control the
flow of nutrients down the
gastrointestinal tract. Diet
digestibility should be maximised by ingredient choice
and enzyme use, thus avoiding
excessive substrate for bacterial growth. Also, consider the
use of an appropriate organic
acid in the diet and drinking
water. Application in water
can specifically address critiFigure 2: Recent FCR evolution of broilers
cal phases, such as brooding
(Ronei Gauer, 2013)
or later in production, when
the risk of necrotic enteritis
is particularly high. Lastly, the
gut flora management programme should ery to seed the gut, while feeding beneficial
include blocking the attachment mechanism bacteria with organic acids in the water, as
of unfavourable organisms with a type-1 fim- well as enzymes to reduce non-digestible feed
bria blocker, thereby reducing their ability to fractions that may cause the proliferation of
contend with favourable organisms within clostridia, and weeding harmful type 1 fimbria
the gut. The Alltech gut health programme bacteria (such as E.coli and salmonella) using
is now being implemented by 25 companies a mannan-rich fraction of yeast carbohydrates
worldwide, with half of those participating in (ActigenTM). In the absence of antibiotics, a
key factor in maintaining an optimal gut microNorth America.
D Steve Collett of the University of Georgia flora is to control the flow of nutrients down
demonstrated the advantages of a program the gastrointestinal tract.
called 'Seed, Feed and Weed' in improving
gut health and FCR. The programme consists Quality control
of using lactobacillus probiotics in the hatchConsidering the implications of poor
november - december 2013 | 21

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6. Table 1: Summary of live performance results from broiler trials with negative control (nCON) versus
Actigen-supplemented (ACT) diets
Age
Actigen
Body wt or gain, kg FCR or F/G ratio
days
g/tonne
nCON
ACT
nCON
ACT
nCON
ACT
42
800/400/200
2.382
2.501
1.947
1.852
4.83
4.46
Mathis (2009)
42
400
2.081
2.134
1.825
1.784
3.69
4.77
Kill et al. (2010)
42
400/200
2.763
2.865
1.872
1.82
5.6
3.8
Kill et al. (2010)
42
200
2.37
2.516
1.74
1.66
13.9
12.5
Kill et al. (2010)
40
800/400/200
2.37
2.552
1.74
1.66
13.9
11.5
Nollet and Kay (2010)
42
200
2.37
2.441
1.74
1.7
13.9
17.4
Perić et al. (2010)
42
400
3.317
3.437
1.746
1.708
5.56
3.89
Perić et al. (2010)
42
800
2.066
2.065
2.02
2.01
6.25
6.25
Perić et al. (2010)
35
400/200
2.066
2.234
2.02
1.95
6.25
2.3
Venkatesh (2010)
49
400
2.066
2.151
2.02
1.96
6.25
4.93
Corneille (2011)
42
400
2.521
2.657
1.636
1.603
4.3
6.2
Gernat (2011)
42
400/200
1.877
1.901
1.658
1.654
4
4
Gernat (2011)
42
200
2.515
2.847
1.741
1.694
6.67
6.67
Gernat (2011)
1
2
3
4
5
Mortality, %
Reference (Year)
42
200
2.515
2.677
1.741
1.729
6.67
3.33
Lea et al. (2011)
42
400
2.515
2.749
1.741
1.725
6.67
5
Lea et al. (2011)
42
800
Lea et al. (2011)
1.6
1.65
1.89
1.87
5
5
34
6
800/500/300
2.743
2.825
1.942
1.939
3.34
5.5
Lausten et al. (2011)
34
800/500/3006
2.469
2.478
1.79
1.75
8.51
4.07
Lausten et al. (2011)
42
800/400/2007
2.469
2.468
1.79
1.75
8.51
5.99
Mathis (2011a)
52
400
2.469
2.451
1.79
1.77
8.51
4.46
Mathis (2011b)
42
800/400/200
2.165
2.2
1.52
1.49
5
6.4
Munyaka et al. (2011)
32
400
2.118
2.135
1.61
1.56
3.9
3.3
Nollet (2011)
49
800/400/2005
2.79
2.799
1.96
2.02
6.3
7.6
Sasou & Corneille (2011)
42
400
2.349
2.346
1.75
1.72
5.3
3.79
Guo et al. (2012)
42
800/400/2008
2.349
2.264
1.75
1.76
5.3
3.79
Guo et al. (2012)
42
200
2.397
2.383
1.83
1.83
4.39
3.72
Ivkovic et al. (2012)
42
400
2.397
2.392
1.83
1.79
4.39
2.7
Ivkovic et al. (2012)
52
800/200
2.832
2.992
1.846
1.772
0.83
1.04
Mathis (2012)
35
800/400/200
2.541
2.699
1.494
1.481
8.3
8.3
Swick et al. (2012)
29
29
29
29
29
29
2.396b
2.476a
1.792a
1.759b
6.41a
5.61b
8
9
Comparison (n=)
Mean
P value
<0.001
<0.001
0.031
Difference
+0.080
-0.033
-0.8
Diff. from nCON, %
+3.34
-1.84
-12.5
Average age was 41.72 days (number = 29). 2Actigen in starter 0-21 days, grower 21-35 days, and finisher
35-42 days unless otherwise stated. 3Actigen at 400 g/tonne from 0-21 days and at 200 g/ton from 21-42
days. 4Actigen in starter 0-10 days, grower 10-25 days, and finisher 25-40 days. 5Feed phase ages not given.
6
Actigen in starter 0-7 days, grower 7-28 days, and finisher 28-34 days. 7Actigen in starter 0-17 days, grower
and finisher 17-52 days. 8Actigen in starter 0-7 days, grower 7-21 days, and finisher 21-42 days. 9Actigen in
starter 0-10 days, grower 10-24 days, and finisher 24-35 days.
1
gut health and the challenges crops faced
this year in the field, finding good feed
sources has become even more important
to poultry production. Poor feed quality will
always negatively impact intestinal health
and the overall efficiency of the digestive
22 | november - december 2013
tract. Recent data shows that some types
of mycotoxins can weaken the intestinal
barrier and thus increase the risk of invasive
microbes like Salmonella enteritis passing the
gut wall and entering the bloodsteam. The
extremely hot and dry growing season of
2012 was a precursor for Aspergillus, the
mould responsible for aflatoxins. If the corn
was further damaged or stressed by insects
or hail, the chance of aflatoxin contamination is greater still.
Poor feed quality will always negatively
impact intestinal health and overall efficiency
of the digestive tract. Feed quality is affected
by many factors, including the way the
grains and proteins have been grown and
processed, and the way in which feed is
manufactured. For example, more than 500
types of mycotoxin are known to induce
signs of toxicity in avian species, and it is
estimated that 25 percent of the world's
crop production is contaminated.
Gary Gladys, former CEO of US poultry
producer Allen Farms, mentioned that the
main component of water management is
making sure your birds are actually getting
water. Dr Aziz Sacranie, poultry health
director with Alltech, also spoke on the benefit of good water quality, often overlooked
in terms of its impact on bird performance
and FCR. Effective chlorination and acidification are essential, given that 70 percent of
final bird weight is water. As mentioned
above, the brooding phase is critical for
water acidification, as are later stages in production when the risk of necrotic enteritis is
particularly high.
The value of feed
Near infrared technology offers the ability to properly determine the actual feeding
value of the ingredients in the feed. With
current corn and soybean prices at record
highs, and easily influenced by market speculations, real time, accurate nutrition is at a
premium. Gladys and Dr David Wicker of
Fieldale Farms, USA, both highlighted the
difference between real feeding values and
the book values for raw materials. Variations
in protein analysis, starch and moisture are
just three examples. The FCR losses represented by inaccurate or variable nutritional
values can be considerable, and the use
of NIR can clearly play a role in capturing
value and eliminating losses. Feed materials need to be cleaned, ensuring that both
broken grains and dust have been removed.
Enzymes, especially those produced through
solid state fermentation, can also address
these variations.
Cocci control
Coccidiosis control has always been
a key concern in poultry farms, but was
also mentioned by eight of the ten Alltech
symposium speakers when discussing FCR,
particularly given the growing demands
to produce antibiotic-free broilers. Any
programme must address the question of
whether to use a chemical, antibiotic or vaccine option. Natural control compounds are
arriving in the marketplace, but it seems that
natural solutions will involve multiple active
ingredients and not any one single ingredient.
The development of necrotic enteritis is a
&feed millinG technoloGy
Grain

7. POULTRY
innOVaTiOn DisTinguishes BeTween a leaDer anD a FOllOwer.
—Steve Jobs
How are you going to navigate the ever-changing dietary landscape?
Today’s dietary demands are literally all over the board. While some
consumers are demanding nutritious foods that are quick and easy to
prepare, others desire protein-rich food that fits a low-carb or vegetarian lifestyle. Still others are simply looking for enough affordable food
to feed a growing population. At Wenger, we partner with food companies to develop the processes and products they require to meet world
consumer’s specific nutrition demands. Within our world-renowned
Technical Center, we provide unmatched expertise for development
challenges, whether it be for foods that are ready-to-eat,
gluten-free, protein enhanced, heart healthy or have a
low-glycemic index. And the list goes on.
Contact us now. With new concepts and fresh initiatives, we’re ready to help you meet the everchanging requirements of the food industry.
Turning ideas into opportunities.
PrOgressiVe FOOD PrOCessing
What will tomorrow bring
wenger.com
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Wenger12_FOOD-GPS_190x132.indd 1
&feed millinG technoloGy
Grain
Taiwan
Brasil
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Turkey
inDia
5/30/13 4:42 PM
november - december 2013 | 23

9. Table 2: Global timeline for restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters and bans on their use for food animal production
Year
Legislature
1972-74
European Union
1986
Sweden
1988
Sweden
1995
Denmark
Growth promoter
Ban on tetracycline, penicillin and streptomycin for growth promotion use
Ban on antibiotics use for growth promotion in agriculture, as requested by Federation of Swedish Farmers
End of use of all general prophylactic medications
Ban on routine prophylactic use of antimicrobials, ban on use of avoparcin for all agricultural purposes
1995
Canada
1996
Germany
Avoparcin banned
1997
European Union
Avoparcin banned
1997
The Netherlands Olaquindox and carbadox banned
1998
1999
Denmark
Carbodox banned due to being a human carcinogen
Virginiamycin banned
Denmark and Switzerland Ban on all subtherapeutic AGP in feed
1999
European Union
1999
Sweden
2000
Philippines
2000
Taiwan
2001
European Union
Olaquindox and carbadox banned, suspension of authorisation for bacitracin, tylosin, spiramycin and virginiamycin
Ban on use of remaining AGPs flavophospholipol and avilamycin
Olaquindox, carbodox, nitrofurans and chloraphenicol banned
Avoparcin banned
Avilamycin, bambermycin banned
Chile, Brazil, Japan and Middle
2001
Avoparcin banned
Eastern countries
2005
Turkey
2006
European Union
2006
Thailand
2010
Bangladesh
2011
South Korea
Complete ban on subtherapeutic AGP use in feed
Complete ban on subtherapeutic AGP use in feed
All AGPs banned in line with European Union
All AGPs banned in new Feed Act
All AGPs banned
2012
India
Official ban with AGP withdrawal periods
2013
USA
Ban on the use of roxarsone, carbarsone and arsanilic acid in poultry and pig feeds
2013
China
Without official regulation, Ministry of Agriculture has announced a forthcoming ban on AGPs in animal feed
2013
Japan
Monitoring AGPs but no clear timeframe
2013
USA
Preventing Antibiotic Resistance Act of 2013. Dateline of end of 2016 / early 2017 has been clearly stated
secondary concern, and the gut microflora
management programme was demonstrated
as essential by Dr Collett and Dr Ahmad
Mueez of Neogen, Inc. Diet digestibility
should be maximised by ingredient choice
and enzyme use, thus avoiding excessive
substrate for bacterial growth.
Feeding the genes
Studies have indicated that it is possible to
imprint the genes of a bird at a very early age,
and turn it into a more efficient animal later.
One way of doing this is through in ovo feeding.
Administration of highly digestible nutrients into the amnion of embryos can bring
an improvement in chick quality, increased
glycogen reserves, advanced gut development, superior skeletal health, advanced
muscle growth, higher body weight gain,
improved feed conversion and enhanced
immune function. Using nutrigenomic data,
almost 30 percent of genes expressed different activity over time by in ovo feeding
(Oliveira et al. 2008).
Dr Karl Dawson, vice president of
research at Alltech, presented data showing that limiting nutrient intake posthatching is another way to imprint genes at
a very early age. Production traits, such as
24 | november - december 2013
tolerance to immunological, environmental
or oxidative stress, or energy and mineral
utilisation, can be imprinted by adaptive
conditioning of gene expression. During
the first 24 hours post-hatching, the small
intestine, liver and pancreas develop at a
faster rate than body weight. The chick
needs to be fed as soon as possible
to provide substrate for gastrointestinal
development, weight gain and immune
system development. High quality ingredients, mannan-based oligosaccharides,
nucleotide-rich ingredients, mycotoxin
adsorbents and organically complex minerals can generate significant FCR changes.
Nutrigenomics enables the bird's
response to a feed product or diet to be
recorded, by detecting and measuring the
change in expression of several thousand
genes all at the same time. This allows a far
more comprehensive understanding of how
diet affects the metabolism and health of
the bird. Among the many changes in gene
expression observed, a general carbohydrate
was seen to regulate intestinal enzyme production, and reduced both cell cycling and
heat shock protein production when tested
in a challenge model with increased intestinal
viscosity.
Conclusions
A new frontier is being reached in animal
production, with increased feed prices and a
global movement towards antibiotic restrictions. A healthy digestive tract is the new West
to be conquered, and is the only way animals
can reach their full genetic potential. Animal
protein operations need to optimise the basics
of hygiene, management and feed programmes
in order to properly take care of the gut microflora, while looking towards new technologies
to improve gut health, increase feed efficiency
and maximise performance. The implications of
bridging the gap between genetic potential and
actual performance represent as much as onethird of the feed required to produce a kilo of
meat, milk or eggs today, with a commensurate
effect on the costs of production. With the
challenges of a burgeoning global population
alongside the opportunity of continued genetic
advances, bridging this gap and attaining the
much awaited 1:1 in feed efficiency has never
been so important.
References available on request
More
inforMstion:
www.alltech.com
&feed millinG technoloGy
Grain

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