Precision nutrition for high performance broilers
Published: February 3, 2020
By: IAZ Joaquin A. Paulino, consulting nutritionist, precision animal nutrition.
Introduction
Precision Animal Nutrition is the effective use of available feed resources in order to maximize the response of animals to nutrients. It is an ideal method to improve the productivity of animals in developing countries in view of inadequate feed resources. The term Precision Animal Nutrition is defined as providing the animal with feed that precisely meets its nutritional requirements for optimal productive efficiency and produce products of animal origin of better quality for consumers and contributes to a cleaner environment and with it ensures the profitability of the producers.
The tools to achieve precision nutrition include improved feeding and processing techniques (pelletization, extrusion, expansion, micronization, etc.), precise ration formulation, use of the ideal protein concept that is the exact balance of amino acids provided in the ration, which covers all requirements, without excesses or deficits and considers the genetic, dietary and environmental factors that may affect amino acid requirements, phase feeding, use of NIRS (Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) and proximal analysis to determine the exact content Nutritional ingredients, implementation and use of feed additives.
It is generally accepted that the more feed an animal consumes each day, the greater the opportunity to increase its daily production, which depends on the improvement of the digestibility of nutrients. The digestibility of nutrients are key factors in improving the efficiency of feed utilization.
Feed additives play a fundamental role in achieving greater efficiency and lower environmental load per unit of animal product. Supplementation with organic acids, secondary metabolites of plants, essential oils, eubiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics and enzymes (proteases, carbohydrases, phytases, lipases), 25-OH-D3 improve bone development and reduce locomotor problems, chelated minerals with high level of absorption.
Lysophospholipids form micelles of smaller size that facilitate and accelerate the assimilation and transport of fat-soluble nutrients by their conical shape decompose the cylindrical structure of the components of the intestinal membrane increasing their porosity and improving the absorption of nutrients.
-Micelle in the fat digestion.
-Lipases act at surface.
Note: I think it is necessary to develop an industrial lipase to support endogenous lipase.
Functional fiber (Arbocel) improves health and intestinal transit (2-3% of raw fiber in the diet is adequate), while Rovimix Maxichick improves chick quality. Dr Peter R. Ferket, North Carolina State University and Zehava Uni Hebrew University are investigating in ovo nutrition and nano-nutrition in ovo.
In recent years consumers are demanding a chicken free of antibiotics and anticoccidials, for the complete production of broilers free of antibiotics (ABF). The substitution of anticoccidials is imminent, and for this purpose, the best alternative is the use of vaccines against coccidia. In my experience, using Coccivac-B ™ ® we managed to properly produce chickens without suffering from outbreaks of coccidia or coccidiosis. Currently, the product has matured to become Fortegra ™ ®, with the advantage of producing immunity faster.
The convenience of these products is the use of thick drop spray per day in the incubator, achieving an application uniformity that guarantees adequate cycling (Information provided by Dr. Nestor Lameda, ex director of MSD Poultry Farming Central America and the Caribbean).
The key to the production of an antibiotic-free chicken and coccidiostats is:
1-Biosecurity.
2-Vaccines.
3-Use of technological or functional additives (probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, acidifiers, plant extracts, essential oils, enzymes, non-digestible fibers, etc).
Super Pre-starter feed
All technicians and producers know the importance and impact on the final results of the weight of broilers. At 7 days of age, Cobb-Vantress recommends 198 gr., for every 1gr more we will get 3 to 5 grams more at the end of production.
If we analyze Table 1, for a Cobb 500 chicken to reach a weight of 2,952 gr. At 42 days of age, you should increase your weight 69.29 times in 42 days and maintain an average growth rate of 2.89 gr/hour. Approximately 0.048 gr / minute (Table 1, graph 1).
To obtain this spectacular growth objective we must start with a super pre-starter formulated with highly digestible ingredients.
Graph 1. Cobb 500 chicken growth curve.
Table 1. Cobb 500 chicken performance objectives.
Recommendations of highly digestible ingredients that can be included moderately in a super pre-starter:
1-Fermented soybean meal.
2-Extruded soy flour.
3-Micronized soy flour.
4-Potato protein.
5-Gluten corn and wheat.
6-Protein of animal origin (blood plasma, blood hemoglobin, fish meal, etc).
The digestive system of a chick is immature the first three weeks, the digestive enzymes have not evolved and the soybean meal contains anti-nutritional factors (glycine 40% and beta-conglycine 30% of the protein), lectins, saponins, trypsin inhibitors, Beta-mannans, oligosaccharides (stachyose, raffinose, verbascose, ajucose), which affect growth and cause intestinal health problems, rapid transit of feed and delay the onset of broilers (Table 2 and Graph 2).
Graph 2. Evolution of the enzyme system in birds.
Table 2. Anti-nutritional factors of soybean meal.
Source: Campabadal, 2012.
Soybean meal provides more than 70% of the amino acids in a Soy-Corn diet if raw or overcooked will negatively impact the performance of chickens, the anti-nutritional compounds that produce the most negative effects on broilers are inhibitors of Trypsin, based on studies by Dr. Nelson Ruiz, a maximum level of 0.60 mg of IT / g of feed is recommended and soybean meal should contain less than 3 mg of IT / gr, to avoid the problem of rapid transit, (Carlos Campabadal, 2012).
Intestinal health problems and rapid feed transit.
The multiple factors that can affect the intestinal health of poultry:
- Water quality.
- Breeder intestinal health.
- Incubation condition.
- Early feeding.
- Housing conditions.
- Feedstuff quality.
- Mycotoxin and rancidity.
- Grain drying.
It is necessary to minimize the dysbiosis and enteric diseases.
In ovo nutrition and early feeding.
Early feeding is essential for the development of the gastrointestinal tract of birds, chicks at birth are anatomically complete, but their digestive, immune and thermoregulatory system needs to develop.
The first meal of a chick occurs when it consumes amniotic fluid before it starts to chop the shell, approximately 18 days after incubation.
The technology of nutrition in ovo and nano nutrition in ovo, is a new science that opens opportunities for greater efficiency in poultry production, this new technique corrects part of the errors in nutrition and management of breeders, deficiencies in incubators and improves the weight of chicks at birth by 1 to 7 percent, (Ferket and Zehava, 2011), in addition:
-Improves digestive capacity.
-Higher growth rate and food conversion.
-Lower mortality and post-hatching morbidity.
-Better immune response to enteric antigens.
-Lower incidence of skeletal developmental disorders.
-More muscle development and breast performance.
Pre-start feed with high level of protein and low level of energy well balanced in amino acids has a positive effect on the weight of the chick the first week of life. The high protein requirement may be due to the high specific growth of the small intestine (Graph 2).
High energy levels have no effect on the growth of the chick due to the immaturity of the digestive tract, depth of the crypt and height of the villi.
Enzymatic secretions: lipase, trypsin, amylase, bile salts and lipase secretion can be a limitation for the digestion and absorption of fat, the digestive tract is immature and is not able to use high energy levels (Graph 3).
Graph 3. Effect of different levels of protein and energy on the chick's body weight.
It is advisable to apply 100 grams of super pre-starter feed (meal, Crumble or preferable micro pellet) in the tray in the incubation room and if transport to the farms is prolonged apply a moisturizing gel strengthened with vitamins + electrolytes + Probiotics + 25-OH- D3
Feed + water stimulates the early development of the digestive system of chickens.
Intestinal wall:
Note: A right start, then a right end.
Ideal protein profile.
An accurate contribution of amino acids is important, which meets the requirements of amino acids without deficit or excess, an over-contribution of protein affects intestinal health, the non-absorbed fraction serves as nutrients to pathogenic bacteria or is oxidative deaminated and skeletons of amino acids in excess they are used for the production of energy (very expensive), the residual nitrogen is excreted by the kidneys, which represents a high energy expenditure for the organism. Birds do not have a crude protein requirement, they only need an amount that ensures an amount of nitrogen reserve for the synthesis of non-essential amino acids (Dr. Douglas Zaviezo, 2012).
Rostagno et al, suggest that in a diet with a low level of protein the level of glycine + serine should be controlled in the initial diets of chickens, isoleucine and valine in the fattening phase.
Glycine and serine are extremely important amino acids, for high-performance broilers, because they are related to uric acid excretion.
The ideal protein as a function of age shown as percent of digestible lysine (Fixed at 100%):
Source: Hubbard Management Guide
Minerals, vitamins and bone health of chickens.
-Electrolyte balance
High-performance chickens develop their genetic potential at their best, electrolyte balance in the diet is essential.
The electrolyte balance is the balance between: Na +, K + and Cl- and it is calculated:
DEB (mEq) = Na / 0.023 + K / 0.039 - Cl / 0.035, where Na, K and Cl are in g / kg of dry matter.
In fattening chicken, the most appropriate balance is between: 220 - 250 optimal 240 mEq/kg of feed (Graph 4).
The electrolytes are fully linked with the fluid and acid-base balance in the body. As such, they are part of the most strictly controlled physiological mechanisms in the body. The mechanisms that affect everything from bone density, heart and respiration rate, thirst, to the absorption of nutrients in the intestine.
To increase the electrolyte balance, sodium bicarbonate is used, it is economical and in addition, sodium actively participates in the transport of amino acids and glucose during the process of absorption in the intestine.
Baking soda produces an increase in pH that negatively affects proteolytic enzymes. Pepsinogen requires a low gastric pH to become pepsin and pepsin, in turn, has its optimal activity at pH 2 and stops functioning above pH 6.5. Secondly, any commercial acidifier added to the diet will effectively neutralize up to 30% with sodium bicarbonate, for these reasons it is more advisable to use sodium formate that has acidifying effects (Jason Lorjé, 2017).
Graph 4 - The optimal average daily gain is achieved at a dEB of 240 mEq for broilers and fattening pigs.
- Potassium level in broiler diets:
Potassium (K) is the main intracellular cation and participates in important functions such as basic acid balance, osmotic pressure, activates several enzymes and participates in the absorption/transport of glucose and amino acids.
- Chelated minerals:
Chelated minerals are increasingly used in animal nutrition. Growing restrictions to the use of antibiotics create opportunities to more public-friendly nutritional additives that can also improve performance, but using a different pathway. Mineral chelates have a different involvement in metabolism as compared to inorganic sources, promoting, among other benefits, better mineral uptake and enhancement of the immune response. These benefits of supplemental mineral chelates may resemble those already obtained with other organic minerals present in natural sources, such as iron in hemoglobin and cobalt in vitamin B12. The formulation of diets targeting precision nutrition will eventually demand the extensive use of mineral chelates, which could be added to the feeds to promote specific animals responses.
Carbo-Amino-Phospho-Chelates or Carbokelates are the new molecules in the evolution of chelation techniques.
Chemically speaking they are chelation and transquelation complexes with the minerals associated with a phosphorylation process without essential modifications of the coordination molecular structure with high bioavailability and low toxicity.
- Advantages of chelated minerals:
- Absorption almost 100%
- Absence of problems of interactions with other macro and microminerals
- Not influenced by the solubility of the medium
- Stable due to not forming other binders with substances in the diet and causing the precipitation and insolubilization of the metal and, therefore, its absorption.
- High biological availability.
-Improves weight gain and nutritional conversion.
-Reduce medication expenses.
- Reduces morbidity and mortality.
- On the other hand, in chelates with amino acids the metal is chemically inert and non-reactive, due to its stability (stable and electrically neutral product). All these properties and characteristics make Carbo-Amino-Phospho-Chelate today, and in the future, the mineral additives of choice.
-Vitamins 25-OH-D3:
Bone health is vital to maximize the genetic potential of high performance chickens:
Advantage:
-Improves bone development.
-Reduce locomotor problems (tibial dyschondroplasia, rickets, Pressure of the spinal cord).
-Reduces total and partial seizures in the slaughterhouse.
-Improves the performance of the carcass and the breast.
-Reduce the incidence of black bone syndrome (BBS).
-Improves calcium absorption and phosphorus.
-Improved feed conversion.
-Strengthens the immune system.
Note: high incidence in high performance chicken.Use of exogenous enzymes:
Modern genetics has selected animals with a high passage rate: they eat, digest and excrete quickly and with less time for digestion of nutrients and there may be significant undigested fractions that serve as a substrate for pathogenic bacteria and pollute the environment.
It is favorable economic and environmental supplementation with exogenous enzymes animal diets.
Enzymes are organic catalysts that can trigger or accelerate biochemical reactions in the body, acting under specific conditions of temperature, pH and humidity and on a specific substrate.
Most are produced by microorganisms (fungi, yeasts and bacteria) there are several types and classifications the main enzymes used in poultry production are the following:
-Carbohydrases: release non-starchy carbohydrates (PNAs).
-Proteases: release proteins and amino acids.
-Phytases: release phytic phosphorus from the ingredients.
-Lipases: improve the digestibility of lipids.
They are included in the rations to improve the digestibility of the ingredients, releasing more nutrients, reducing the action of anti-nutritional factors, reducing variability in nutritional composition, increasing daily gain and improving the rate of feed conversion and reduction of feed costs.
Enzymes secreted by the animal are called endogenous. Those added in animal feed are called exogenous. Commercial enzymes (exogenous) are used to improve the natural process of digestion. Examples include amylase (starch) and protease (protein). Other enzymes are used for the digestion of substrates that are not digested by monogastric animals. This includes phytase (phytic phosphorus and xylanase-glucanase-pectinases), fiber components.
Most commercial enzymes have been in the latter form, although phytases, amylases and proteases are being used more frequently and successfully.
Carbohydrases:
Today, we can easily expect a 10% improvement in phosphorus digestibility by a modern phytase. Similarly, a glucanase or xylanase enzyme can improve metabolizable energy in the diet by 50 kcal/kg, or even more (up to 150 kcal/kg, is reasonable in low quality cereals).
Finally, a protease improves the digestibility of the protein by about 2-6% depending on the type of ingredients used. In the animal industry where profit margins are small, such improvements as those conferred by exogenous enzymes are indeed substantial and profitable.
In conclusion, enzymes are natural, safe, and important for the animal. Supplementation in feed improves the process of digestion and reduces the amount of nutrients excreted in feces. This, in turn, improves animal performance, profitability and reduces environmental pollution (Dr. Jon Wilson, DSM animal nutrition and health).
Feed Granulometry:
-Coarse particles improve production
When coarse particle size is used, a larger size of the gizzard is observed in the birds and a greater intestinal content is also observed in the gizzard. It has been reported in the same way that a more developed gizzard increases intestinal movements through increasing the release of cholecystokinin levels which as a result stimulates the secretion of pancreatic, biliary and gastro-duodenal reflux enzymes.
In addition, large particle sizes in birds reduce the rate of passage of intestinal contents through the gizzard, which increases the exposure time of nutrients to digestive enzymes, which results in better energy utilization and digestibility of the nutrients. In addition, it has been reported that a reduced pH of the gizzard content may increase the activity of pepsin, thus improving the digestion of the protein, (Dr. Fausto Solis, 2016).
My recommendations and consultation with Dr. Justina Caldas bird nutritionist and member of the Cobb World Technical Team, use a particle size of 800 µm in pre-start and start and 1000 to 1200 µm in growth and fattening, if the quality of the pellet (PDI), It is not affected may be greater.
Conclusions:
-The nutrition for high performance chicken must be very precise to maximize its great genetic potential, the selection and analysis of the ingredients plays an important role, supported by a formulation and elaboration of the feed with precision.
-Using technological additives we can produce an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly chicken, meeting the expectations of the consumer.
-Compensatory growth in high performance broilers is null or limited, intestinal health should be monitored and mycotoxins, coccidia, clostridiosis and any enteric disease that affects nutrient absorption be monitored.
-The level of trypsin inhibitors and the reactive lysine of soybean meal should be continuously evaluated.
-An optimal electrolyte balance can improve the performance in broilers by 4-7%.
-When formulating we must contemplate the stress and pathological challenges of birds and immunonutrients that strengthen the immune system.
-Ensuring that broilers digest and absorb every gram of nutrients ingested is the key to maximum sustainability.
Acknowledgments:
Special recognition for their great contribution to poultry production to the following research scientists:
-Dr. Horacio Rostagno, Federal University of Vicosa, UFV, Brazil.
-Dr. Peter Ferket, University of North Carolina, USA
-Dra. Zehava Uni of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
-Dra. Nilva K. Sakomura, University of Sao Paulo, Unesp, Brazil.
-Dr. Steve Lesson and J.D. Summers, Guelph University.
-Dr. Nelson Ruiz, Nutrition, LLC.
-Dr. Nestor Lameda, Director Poultry Industry MSD Central America and the Caribbean.
-Dr. Aaron Cowienson, Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and principal scientist at DSM animal nutrition and health.
-Dr. Layi Aldeola, Purdue University.
-Dra. Roselina Angel, University of Maryland.
-Dr. Fausto Solis, ISA University, Dominican Republic.
References
References
References
1-Cobb500 Broiler Performance & Nutrition Supplement, 2015.
2-Hubbard Broiler management manual, 2016.
3-Ross308 Broiler nutrition specifications, 2014.
4-The effects of in–ovo feeding, Zehava Uni, Department of animal science, Hebrew University, Israel
5-Nano-nutrition of chicken embryos, Marta Grodzik, et al, Warsaw University of life Sciences, Poland.
6-Precision animal nutrition: A tool for economic and eco-friendly animal production in ruminants, D V Reddy et al, College of Veterinary Science, S V Veterinary University, India, 2008.
7-Modeling amino acid requirements of poultry, Nilva K. Sakomura et al, 2015.
8-The revolution in mineral nutrition such as chelated minerals participates in animal nutrition, Bianca Matins, Alltech, www.engormix.com, 2012.
9-Fast transit tied to soybeans, Dr. Nelson Ruiz, 2012.
10-Use of soybean paste in animals and levels of incorporation in the diet, Dr. Carlos Campabadal, 2012.
11-Innovation in enzyme development Vibe Glitsoe (Novozyme), Jean-Paul Ruckebusch (DSM), Inge Knap (DSM).
12-The current importance of the anti-nutritional factors of soybean meal, Jose Ignacio Barragan, 2016.
13-Effect of protein and Energy level in feed on post-hatch chick performance, R. Molenaar et al, 2011.
14-Commercial poultry nutrition, S. lesson and J D Summers, 3rd Edition, 2005.
15-Electrolyte Balance: Choosing the right tool for the job, Jason Lorjé, 2017.
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Jamaica Broilers
17 de diciembre de 2020
Excellent article covering all the basics.
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9 de julio de 2020
Congratulations, Joaquin, very good articles to verify that a comprehensive management from raw materials => Nutrition => Animal Feed Plant Process => Field management => Slaughter Plant Process or other, must give very good results for everyone and reduce the possibility of price increase for the final consumer.
May God continue blessing you and giving light to this wide Agroindustrial and Livestock Field.
A fraternal hug from a distance.
We hope to meet you at a Processing Plant in the Dominican Republic.
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Grupo Superalba SRL
1 de mayo de 2020
Very good article. Promoting the use of new alternatives that help increase the sustainability of production.
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