Explore
Communities in English
Advertise on Engormix

Sugar Syrup For Poultry Industry

Sugar Syrup – A High Energy Feed For Poultry Industry

Published: August 28, 2008
By: Dr. P.George Kunju John, AFD Manager - Al Khaleej Sugar Co LLC (Dubai, UAE)
Feeding of poultry has become more innovative as the conversion of feed to poultry production is more efficient than ruminant. Unlike dairy, poultry products like meat and egg are energy dependant on synthesis as the major energy component is utilized for oxidative energy. It is assumed that out of 3200 kcals ME 1500 Kcals is used for the body maintenance and 800 kcals for products synthesis. The incorporation of carbohydrates into chicken meat or egg is insignificant as the composition is with the nutrients like water, protein, fat and mineral. Every year the marketing age of broilers decreases by an average of 0.75 days for the same performance. This trend is likely to continue in the same direction for the coming years. Nutrition plays a vital role in enabling this improvement. As the feed cost represents an expensive input (~70-80% of broiler production cost), the poultry producer should be aware of the dynamics of the feed in its influence on final product quantity and quality.

Formulating feed ideally requires in-depth knowledge of several parameters such as the energy level to be maintained in the diet, balancing the amino acid profile and electrolytes of feed, etc., which, otherwise, if not properly monitored, could negatively influence the performance and profitability of the business. Further, in light of environmental challenges and disease outbreaks, it is even more challenging to extract the total genetic capability of the birds.


Dietary Energy

The most vital nutrient in the poultry ration is considered ‘dietary energy’ even though energy itself is not converted into meat or egg in poultry except liponeogenesis. Moreover; it is used as fuel for the synthesis of meat or egg. Therefore 60-65 % of the metabolisible energy in the poultry ration is imputed to carbohydrate. Environmental temperature and the energy content of the feed are key determinants for the feed intake of the bird. Other nutrients are normally adjusted based on the feed intake of the bird. There exists a relationship between energy and digestible amino acids, which if maintained, will enable adjustment of crude protein levels in the diet, thereby reducing the feed cost without compromising performance. Optimum live performance, maximum protein retention and reduced carcass fat content can only be obtained if a proper ratio between energy and digestible amino acids is maintained. However these ratios vary between different growing periods, i.e. Starter, Grower and Finisher.

The requirement of energy for poultry is referred as metabolisible energy (ME). 4000 kcals of gross energy from 1 kg carbohydrates will be 3200 kcals digestible energy after loosing 800 kcals in faces. Another 300 kcals is lost through urine to make 2900 kcals as the metabolisible energy (ME). Furthermore 600 kcals lost as heat increment to yield 2300 kcals as net energy (NE). It is assumed that 1500 kcals is the requirement for maintenance and 800 kcals for meat and egg production. (See NRC ,1994). It could be inferred that poultry utilizes 20% dietary energy for product synthesis while 40% is used for its body maintenance.


Table 1. Nutrients composition of poultry products.

Nutrient

Broiler
Meat

  Egg  

Water

65.7

66

Protein

18.4

13

Fat

12.2

10

Minerals

3.7

11



Dietary energy level is the main factor influencing feed intake, as birds will, under normal circumstances, eat to satisfy their energy needs. Therefore the dietary nutrients, protein vitamins and minerals should vary in relation to the dietary energy content of the diet, if they are not to become deficient, with low feed intakes, or over consumed, with low energy diets. While there are a number of factors, such as level of protein, balance of essential amino acids and perhaps level of some of the other dietary nutrient, that can influence the cost of a diet, the level of dietary energy is usually the main factor influencing diet cost. Hence, by and large, the higher the level of energy the higher the diet cost and usually the lower is the feed consumption in relation to gain.

The energy content of a diet is usually given as so many calories per kilogram of diet. Thus diets are said to contain, for example, 2800 or 3200 kcal per kilogram. Energy is the fuel that keeps the many different body functions operating, every minute of the day. It is a vital feed component, a costly feed component and the most wasted of the feed components. Hence, everything should be done to enhance the utilization of dietary energy for productive body functions, as improvements readily show up in increased monetary returns which are readily apparent by improved feed:gain or egg mass ratios.

The physiological mechanisms by which poultry respond to different dietary energy concentrations are not known, although several possible mechanisms have been proposed (National Research Council, 1987). Although poultry generally adjust feed consumption to achieve a minimum energy intake from diets containing different energy levels, these adjustments are not always precise. Morris (1968) summarized data from 34 experiments and found that laying hens over consumed energy when fed high-energy diets and the degree of over consumption was greatest for strains with characteristically high-energy intakes. Data from a large number of broiler chicken experiments also showed that changes in feed intake were not inversely proportional to changes in dietary energy level, especially when broilers were fed moderate- to high-energy diets (Fisher and Wilson, 1974). More recent studies also illustrated that growing broilers and turkeys consume more energy when fed high-energy diets than those fed low- to moderate-energy diets (Sell et al., 1981; Owings and Sell, 1982; Sell and Owings, 1984; Brue and Latshaw, 1985; Potter and McCarthy, 1985).


Fat in Poultry Diet

In order to increase the dietary energy the addition of oil and fat is recently practiced. Several workers have suggested the use of fatty acids in the diet for energy. Renner and Hill (1961), Young and Garrett (1963), Lewis and Payne (1966), Hakansson (1974), Leeson and Summers (1976a), Fuller and Dale (1982), Ketels et al. (1987), Ketels and DeGroote (1988), and many others. It is well known that utilization of saturated fatty acids is improved by the presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the fat blend (Young and Garrett, 1963; Young, 1965; Lewis and Payne, 1966; Garrett and Young, 1975; Leeson and Summers, 1976a). The nature of the fat in the basal diet has a significant effect on the utilization of supplemental fats (Sell et al., 1976; Sibbald and Kramer, 1978; Fuller and Dale, 1982). These interactions between the supplemental fat and the basal dietary fat are especially noticeable at low inclusion levels of supplemental fat (Wiseman et al., 1986; Ketels et al., 1987).

Oxidation of fatty acids yields enormous amounts of energy on a molar basis; however, the carbons of the fatty acids cannot be utilized for net synthesis of glucose. The two carbon unit of acetyl-CoA derived from b-oxidation of fatty acids can be incorporated into the TCA cycle, however, during the TCA cycle two carbons are lost as CO2. Thus, explaining why fatty acids do not undergo net conversion to carbohydrate. The glycerol backbone of lipids can be used for gluconeogenesis. In fact adipocytes require a basal level of glycolysis in order to provide them with DHAP as an intermediate in the synthesis of triacyglycerols.

Feeding fats provide a concentrated source of energy, but there are other reasons for using fat such as improving the physical characteristics of the feed.

     • Fat decreases dustiness (feed loss is reduced by effective dust control).
     • Fat improves palatability of feed.
     • Fat increases lubrication value of feed.
     • Fat reduces particle separation (helps maintain uniform mixture of the ration).
     • Contributes an essential fatty acid, linoleic acid.

The dietary fat in poultry ration is found to alter the fatty acids profile in egg. (See table 2). The fatty acid composition of yolk lipids was affected (P>0.05) by the experimental diets. The major effects of the diets were observed in fatty acids C16:0, C18:0, C18:1n9, C18:2n6, C20:4n6, C20:5n3 and C22:6n3. The addition of oils to the diets fed to hens allowed the production of eggs with higher n3/n6 and PUFA/SFA fatty acid ratios than the eggs from control hens. It was concluded that the amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk could be altered by dietary manipulation. (see M. C. Milinsk, A. E. Murakami, S. T. M. Gomes, M. Matsushita and N. E. de Souza).


Table 2. Effect of dietary fat on egg lipid profile.

Particulars

SFA

MUFA

  n-3 

n-6

Control

33.04

50.07

1.97

14.40

Canola oil

30.03

51.56

3.08

14.90

Sunflower

30.38

41.55

1.64

25.80

Soybean

31.69

45.45

2.55

19.79


          SFA saturated fatty acid
          MUFA mono unsaturated fatty acid
          n-6 linoleic acid
          n-3 linolenic acid


In all animals, obesity results from an energy imbalance that occurs when more food energy (calories) is consumed than the body actually needs. The excess energy is stored mostly as fat. Over the years, poultry breeders have bred chickens that grow faster and produce more meat in response to a growing worldwide consumer demand. But modern broiler/breeder chickens don’t adequately balance their feed consumption to match their energy requirements. When these birds are given unrestricted access to feed, they will overeat and become obese.

An important biochemical pathway was discovered in animals that maintains energy balance in the body. A key component of the pathway is an enzyme called “AMP-activated protein kinase” (AMPK), which helps to regulate both energy use by individual cells and food intake by the animal. This pathway is currently being studied in chickens and turkeys.

Animal scientists Monika Proszkowiec-Weglarz and Mark Richards in the ARS Growth Biology Laboratory at Beltsville, Maryland, along with research leader John McMurtry and Penn State University collaborator Ramesh Ramachandran, recently identified and sequenced the genes responsible for the AMPK pathway in birds and showed that they function in different tissues throughout the body of the broiler chicken.

According to Proszkowiec-Weglarz, AMPK plays a central role in sensing cellular energy levels. It begins a series of events that affect food intake and metabolism of fat, carbohydrate, and protein. “AMPK is really a molecular fuel gauge and a master metabolic regulator in cells,”  she says. “It responds to fluctuations in the levels of cellular energy and of specific extracellular nutrients and hormones.”

Cells obtain energy from conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine monophosphate (AMP). “AMPK senses the ratio of AMP to ATP and works to raise the level of ATP within cells”  says Proszkowiec-Weglarz. “Our goal is to learn how the AMPK pathway functions in birds to achieve energy balance, so growers can efficiently produce chickens of optimal weight while minimizing excess fat.” (US Department of Agriculture ,2008.)

The non-proliferating chicken liver cell culture system described yields cell monolayers with morphological and lipogenic properties characteristic of the physiological-nutritional state of donor animals. Synthesis and secretion of fatty acid, cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) occur at in vivo rates and respond to hormones and agents which affect these processes in vivo. Cells derived from fed chickens maintain high rates of synthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol for several days if insulin is present in the medium. High rates of fatty acid synthesis are correlated with the appearance of membrane-enclosed triglyceride-rich vesicles in the cytoplasm; deletion of insulin causes a decrease (T1/2 = 22 h) in fatty acid synthetic activity. Addition of glucagon or cyclic AMP (cAMP) causes an immediate cessation of fatty acid synthesis and blocks the appearance of the triglyceride-rich vesicles. Fatty acid synthesis in liver cells prepared from fasted chickens is less than 5% that of cells from fed animals. After 2-3 days in culture with serum-free medium containing insulin +/- triiodothyronine, fatty acid synthesis is restored to normal; glucagon or dibutyryl cAMP blocks this recovery. Liver cells derived from estradiol-treated chickens synthesize and secrete VLDL for at least 48 h in culture. (DM Tarlow, PA Watkins, RE Reed, RS Miller, EE Zwergel and MD Lane ).

Sugar Syrup – A High Energy Feed For Poultry Industry - Image 1

The above phenomenon suggests that feeding of sugar syrup which may increase the blood glucose level may stimulate the release of insulin into the blood which may decrease the production of glucogon. It may enhance the lipogenesis in liver. It may also reduce the oxidation of dietary fat into acetyl CoA for the release of ATP. Eventually this may increase the growth rate and also egg production.

The inclusion of dietary fat in poultry has become quite normal with the incorporation of fat coater in feed mills. The advantage of higher ME addition to the ration with low fibre and less aflatoxin has encouraged the fat addition. The possible lipid profile changes in egg cautions the poultry nutritionists in fat addition. More over the high cost of fat increases the feed cost.


Sugar Syrup – A New feed

There has been a recent approach to feed technology and animal nutrition to develop sugar syrup an intermediary product of sugar refining to develop as energy feed for poultry. In the Middle East where the cost of grains is increasing beyond control the development of sugar syrup has been considered a recourse to poultry feed.


Development of sugar syrup

Molasses is the last residual product comes out from refinery. It is highly viscous syrup with 48% sugar and more than 20% ash. Because of the several boiling (say 13) the sugar gets caramelized, bound to the organic substances like glue and polysaccharides which depresses the digestibility of molasses. As a matter of fact the sugar companies were not interested to keep up the quality of molasses since its main use was for alcohol production. The use of molasses as an energy feed was not considered in animal feeds. Often it is used as a binder, dust reducer and sweetener with a low inclusion rate. In that matter, the demand for molasses was low in animal ration.

Al Khaleej Sugar Co development team examined the possibilities of improving the quality of molasses to make it a suitable feed ingredient. The decision was taken by the Chairman Mr. Jamal Al Ghurair and the process parameters were defined. This resulted in the production of a high quality molasses with 77% sugar which named as AKS Sugar Syrup.

There was research data even though scarce on feeding sugar to animals. The NRC had published a ration for poultry with 15% pure sucrose in 1994 publication. Several other research papers described the advantage of sugar feeding. The concept of better metabolisibility of sugar than starch supported the development work in AKS.


Sugar Digestion in Poultry

The saliva and crop of the chicken contain some a-amylase , but little starch digestion has been demonstrated in the crop and proventriculus gizzard. The digestion of most carbohydrates (polysaccharides) into monosaccharide and their subsequent absorption take place in the small intestine. Alpha-amylase is secreted from the pancreas into the duodenum and this hydrolyses the 1,4’ α-linkages on both sides of the 1,6’ branching points in starch, producing mainly maltose and some branched oligosaccharides (isomaltose). The enzyme maltase, also called a-glucosidase, splits maltose while oligo- 1,6’-glucosidase (isomaltase) produced by the intestinal mucosa hydrolyses the branched oligosaccharides into glucose. The brush border membrane of the jejunum contains other disaccharidases that complete the digestion of complex dietary polysaccharides into monosaccharides. Sugars have been accepted as better energy donor than starch in the animal system. Chamberlain et al (1993) concluded that sugars, particularly sucrose are certainly superior to starch. Mahagna and Nir (1996) indicate greatest maltase activity in the jejunum, followed by the ileum while the lowest value was seen in the duodenum. It is seen that the metabolisability of sucrose is significantly higher than starch.


Table 3. Energy availability from starch & sugar.

Particulars

GE (kcal/kg)

ME (kcal/kg)

Metabolizability
(%)

Starch

3760

2918 - 3396

78 - 90

Sucrose

3960

3900

98



The digestion of carbohydrates in poultry is summarized below:


Table 4. Carbohydrate Digestion in Poultry (S. Leeson and A.K. Zubair)

Sugar Syrup – A High Energy Feed For Poultry Industry - Image 2


The energy content in sugar syrup could be compared with that of Corn (see table 5.) The net energy available from Corn is less owing to various nutrient loss during digestion and metabolism. Further more there is a loss owing to heat increment. Since the sugar syrup has no indigestible matter the total sugar is converted into monosaccharides and is available to birds with out any heat increment.


Table 5. Energy partition in Corn and Sugar syrup

Moities

   Corn   

   Sugar  
 Syrup

Protein (G)

360

160

Fat (G)

360

0

Starch (G)

2960

0

Sugar (G)

0

4010

G. Energy Kcal

3680

4010

ME Kcal

3200

4010

NE Kcal

2600

3900



The feeding of grain has an effect on the viscosity of the gut. Most of the studies have also reported reduction in digesta viscosity associated with improved performance.

Sugar syrup is a rich energy feed that could be well incorporated in feeds. Since its energy value is more than Corn it could be an economical substitute in poultry feeds. This could bring a sea change in poultry feed formulations because sugar syrup contains no indigestible material and there fore it is an instant energy feed. It adds the aroma and palatability of the feeds. Since the syrup contributes energy without the addition of lipids the formation of cholesterol in egg and meat could be minimized. Even though sucrose is considered a food additive for man sugar syrup a by product of sugar industry could be used a major feed item for poultry


Table 6. Comparison of analysis for Corn with Sugar Syrup

Particulars

     Corn    

    Sugar    
Syrup

Dry matter %

89

80

Crude protein %

9.6

4.6

Fibre %

2.5

0

Fat %

4.1

0.2

Ash %

1.5

4

NDF %

14.5

0

ADF %

2.6

0

Starch %

75

0

Sugars %

0

77

Met. Energy MJ/kg

13

15

Calcium %

0.1

0.92

Phosphorus %

0.3

0.2

Magnesium %

0.1

0.17

Potassium %

0.4

0.85

Sodium %

0.1

0.1

Lysine %

0.8

0.02

Glucose + Fructose

0

77

Sucrose %

0

35



Sugar syrup has been used in poultry feed for the following reasons:

     • Increases the palatability of the feed.
     • Improves the dry matter digestibility
     • Reduces the dustiness of the feed
     • Inhibits the mould formation on the feed
     • Stops insect infestation on storage
     • Use as a binder for feed pelletisation
     • Increases energy density of the ration
     • Masks the less palatable ingredients.
     • Substitutes the grain in feed formula
     • Enhances the lipogenesis in liver
     • Reduces the lipid oxidation
     • Sugar syrup is free of aflatoxin
     • Decreases the viscosity of digesta in gut.


Conclusion

The development of Sugar syrup has opened a new vista in poultry ration as it contributes high energy with less heat increment. The zero content of fibre and no afaltoxin makes it superior to Corn in the ration. Further more its low cost compared to Corn attracts poultry farmers/feed professionals. Its 60 % dietary energy with oil with 30% cost would go a long way in revolutionizing the poultry feed in future.
Related topics
Authors:
Dr.P.George Kunju John
Follow
Join to be able to comment.
Once you join Engormix, you will be able to participate in all content and forums.
* Required information
Would you like to discuss another topic? Create a new post to engage with experts in the community.
Create a post
Dr.P.George Kunju John
2 de abril de 2013

Thanks for the productive comments on my article. Even though the technology has been aplauded by scientists it is yet to get into the feed industry. The apathy of sugar technologists to produce high purity sugar syrup put stalk in the wheel. I hope the industry would take up the technology for the animal production in future.

Dr.P.George Kunju John
31 de mayo de 2009

Dear Mr Pat ,
Thank you for your valuable comments on Sugar syrup for Poultry feeding. As you have rightly pointed out it is the innovation of Al Khaleej Sugar Co. The above product is widely distributed in the Middle East. It is possible for us to dispatch to even Nigeria through bulk containers.

As far as molasses is concerned it is the alst residue of sugar refining and there fore would be very high in Ash, indigestible organic matter and low energy. The way to improve the above quality is by removing the indigestible organic matter and ash. How ever, the process cost would be too high.

Our recent research into the sugar syrup has indicated its potential to replace 75[percent] of vegetable oil used as dietary energy in poultry feeds. Another interesting observation is that it reduces the blood cholesterol in poultry. The above paper would be presented at Poultry Science Association conference in North Carolina in next July.

The development of the concept feeding sugar for animal production would go a long way in accomplishing healthy foods like milk, meat and egg ijn future.

It would be my pleasure to give more information please contact george@aksugar.ae
best regards

Dr.P.George Kunju John
29 de abril de 2009

Dear Sir,
I would like to answer the queries of Mr. Sidana and Mr. Noel about my article.
The fly mania noticed in poultry farm by Mr Sidana is essentially depends on the poultry house management. The falling of water on feeds that causes the putrification of organic matter attracts flies. The flies are noticed in poultry houses where sugar syrup is not used because it is a new concept and still not practised commercially. However in dairy farms and feed mills where sugar syrup is used for the last 4 years no fly problem is reported.

Sugar syrup is used a source fo dietary energy for poultry. The binding action of sugar is owing to its property solid to solid where is melted sugar crystalises to cause binding of particles. Binding property could be achieved with 2%.

If it needs further clarification you may wish to write me through the forum.

Best regards,

Dr. John

Dr.P.George Kunju John
6 de septiembre de 2008

Dear Sirs,

You would kindly appreciate that what is tried to explain through the article is not a product only but a technology. The technology is supplying dietary energy through sugar. The various aspects of it were tried to explain.

As regards, the inclusion rate in different feeds depend on the nutrient : cost ration which may vary from feed mill to feed mill. Therefore, it is not possible to give such figures. However, keeping in view of the process parameters of feed milling the maximum level of inclusion rate could be 20%.

It would be an expensive proposition in Pakistan or in India to feed sugar for livestock production where other low cost materials are plenty. What we tried to accomplish the result is in the Middle east. However proper utilisation of the technology would necessary prove to be superior to starch and edible oil in terms of dietary energy. The parameters to support the above was explained in the article.

I f any one needs more clarification please feel to write to me.

Dr.P.George Kunju John
31 de agosto de 2008

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your kind appreciation of my article. As you know, the grain price is sky-roketting in the Middle East. Therefore, we were striving to find out an alternate for grains in the livestock feeds. My research on sugar residues resulted in the development of Sugar syrup. This is a very useful product.

You may wish to incorporate Sugar syrup 5% and increase gradually to 20% by reducing the grain precentage accordingly.

If you need further clarifications please feel free to write to me.

Nompumelelo Pretty
2 de abril de 2013
I WOULD LIKE TO SWAY AWAY FROM THE TOPIC AND ASK ABOUT HOW DOES THE EARLY ACCESS TO GLUCOSE AFFECT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHICKENS
Hafiz Imran Shakoor
13 de mayo de 2010


Sugar syrup an instant energy source for poultry lot of positive points like high metabolizability, no heat increment, Impact on lipid prfile make it ideal as ingredient. I think more detailed investigation is required for practical application. In case of carbohydrates slow release of glucose enables body to maintain homeostais through insulin and glucagon. Amylase work on ¥á- 1-4 and ¥á 1-6 glycosidic linkage but in case of sucrose we have ¥á 1- ©¬ 2 linkage between glucose and fructose.

Pat Banjo
31 de mayo de 2009

This is a complete scientific masterpiece. The adaptability of this feed ingredient in poultry production will be affected by its commecial availability. the 77[percent] sugar syrup with its specific nutrient composition is novel to Al Khaleej co only and may nt be available from other sources since molasses is the actual end product of the sugar refinery industries. If there is a way the poultry farmer can improve on the digestibility of the commercially available molasses, then a great help would have been achieved for the poultry production inustry.

Olumide Agbesola
28 de mayo de 2009

Dear Sir,

Good article about sugar syrup for poultry industry. Is the sugar syrup commercially available?

Noel Bauleni
Noel Bauleni
28 de abril de 2009

This is a good article. Would want to know what percent of sugar syrup is needed if you want to use it as a binder?

Join Engormix and be part of the largest agribusiness social network in the world.
LoginRegister