May 14, 2004

AGP-free Nutrition In EU Of Worldwide Relevance For Poultry Producers

Restrictions on the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in the EU have relevance for poultry producers worldwide, claim the authors of a paper presented at this month's South Brazil Poultry Symposium.

Danisco Animal Nutrition's Dr Milan Hrubý, one of the authors, acknowledged that whilst the ban directly affected EU producers and those who export poultry products to the EU, it would also become relevant for producers in other markets.  This was due to the worldwide trend for more AGP-free food.

"The growing interest in production of 'natural' as well as 'organic' poultry in markets outside the EU makes the topic of AGP-removal important worldwide," he said.  "The removal of growth promoters has typically resulted in increased cost of production, alongside poorer litter quality and increased risk of bacterial contamination of the carcass.

"However, the industry has focused on evaluating new, sustainable approaches to poultry production to reduce the production losses associated with AGP-free nutrition," Dr Hrubý advised.  "Danisco's research makes very clear that commonly-used feed additives such as enzymes and the sugar-beet extract betaine, combined with changes in management, may potentially offer considerable improvements in poultry production economics."

In the paper, Nutritional strategies to meet the challenge of a fast-changing poultry market, Dr Hrubý acknowledges the contribution of AGPs towards improved animal performance and health status, although the size of performance response depends on farm management, exposure to pathogens, environmental stresses and diet type.  Typically, AGPs improve FCR of market-age broilers by three per cent, equivalent to five or six points in FCR.

"The alternative is to incorporate feed additives that improve nutrient digestibility and consequently reduce the amount of easily-fermentable substrate which the intestinal microflora can use to grow," Dr Hrubý said.

Enzymes have been used commercially for about 15 years, improving digestibility, performance and uniformity in poultry fed wheat or barley-based diets, explained Dr Hrubý.  More recently, it has been found that the same principles can be applied to corn, sorghum and soy-based diets.

"Recent research conducted at Bristol University, UK, showed a 60 per cent reduction in the level of Salmonella in the caecum of broilers fed wheat and corn-based diets supplemented with a xylanase, amylase and protease combination [Avizyme® 1500]," noted Dr Hrubý.  "This could reduce the risk of carcass contamination during slaughter and processing."

Another consequence of AGP removal is the increased incidence of diseases such as necrotic enteritis (NE), which is known to follow coccidia challenge.  "Feed additives such as betaine [Betafin®] are known to reduce gut lesion damage caused by coccidia, improving nutrient uptake.  Betafin results in a greater proportion of nutrients being available to the bird and fewer nutrients available to the microbes in the gut," Dr Hrubý explained.

Dr Hruby concluded by highlighting the fact that other product concepts such as prebiotics and organic acids were also being considered commercially, along with alternative feed manufacturing technologies and management regimes, in response to the AGP ban. 

"Solving the puzzle of feeding poultry without prophylactic use of AGPs applies to all markets, regardless of their involvement with the EU.

"It's important to remember, however, that at this time only enzymes and betaine can be formulated into the feed to reduce cost, yet maintain production, in the absence of AGPs," he stressed.