December 5, 2014

Nukamel marks 60th year with 'intestinal health' tour

Nukamel, a leader in feed solutions for young and suckling animals, marked its 60th anniversary with a caravan themed "Intestinal Health on World Tour."

The caravan had three stops. The previous two stops were in Puerto Varas in Chile and Bangkok, Thailand.

Attended by its partners and customers from all corners of the world, the third and last stop was in Hanover, Germany, and it took place just before the start of the EuroTier 2014. The world's leading trade fair for animal production, this year's EurTier exhibition, also held in Hanover, took place November 15 to 18.

"Intestinal Health on World Tour" had numerous speakers, each of them expert in intestinal health for a particular animal.

In the Hanover stop, one of the speakers was Dr. Corbett, DVM, expert on nutrition and transition management of dairy heifers. With more than 30 years of experience in the field, he currently works as consultant to farmers in North America, Mexico, Central and South America and China in maximizing the genetic potential for growth, health and production of dairy calves.

According to Dr. Corbett a well-established link exists between early development and milk production: every 100g additional growth obtained in the early development of the calf leads to an increase of more than 700L of milk per lactation in the latter stages of life. However, today calves are often underfed to prevent scouring.

Dr. Corbett said this was not a good strategy. By underfeeding the calf, the intestine is badly damaged giving room to pathogens to cause the so called "leaky gut syndrome". Proper feeding can prevent this: a good developed calf can easily consume 1000g of CMR a day combined with a high protein starter feed.

Dr. Jansman, senior scientist at Wageningen University,The Netherlands, spoke about the challenges people face with the genetic evolution in pigs. Together with the need to reduce the use of antibiotics, Dr. Jansman said that focus should be given to the shaping of the intestinal microbiota prior to weaning and its long-term consequences. He made a list of components for a 'gut friendly' diet, but concluded that the digestive system is a complex organ with a variety of functions and a great complexity and dynamics.

Dr. Kozłowski, from the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, discussed nutrition and gut health in poultry.

Professor Ducatelle, from the Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Ghent, Belgium, summarized the role of nutrition on intestinal health as finding the right balance between oral tolerance and intestinal inflammation.

The lectures were followed by a lively panel discussion, moderated by Maarten De Gussum DMV, global poultry consultant from Belgium.