Fiber in layer’s feed

This congress takes place in a typical corn-soya-region of the world, which means that corn and soya are the basic raw materials for all type of poultry feed. But in a lot of countries we see much more and different raw materials being used in poultry nutrition and especially in those diets for layer breeds in rearing and production. There is no doubt that especially layers perform very well with all this different raw materials and sometimes even with lesser problems compared to corn-soya diets. Because of this questions are coming up: what are the differences, may there even be some benefits when using a bigger variety of raw materials instead of using corn and soya as basic raw materials only? As an additional challenge we see a lot of problems in the raw material market either to get good quality raw materials nor with the high price volatility. Furthermore we are faced with the concurrence of the bio-energy industry in getting grain which mostly or very often means corn. Last but not least our industry is facing high cost pressure due to expensive raw materials combined with low prices for the produced products. When using this big variability of different alternative raw materials for layer breeds, the content of crude fibre in the feed may or will increase. Sometimes even farmers do not realise changes in nutrition but the birds are telling that something must have been changed. Practical nutritionists in the field and scientific working nutritionists realise that there may be something beneficial in terms of structure and crude fibre in poultry feed and especially in layers feed. Those people who are interested in this topic are more and more convinced that layer breeds are obviously not being harmed by crude fibre.

Definition of crude fibre - In animal nutrition the terms ''''crude fibre'''' and ''''roughage'''' are often equated. The reason for this is that fibre is a term that has been in use for a very long time. The term ''''crude fibre'''' originated from the science of feed analysis, more specifically the ''''Weender Analyse'''' system of feed analysis founded back in 1864. The ''''Weender Analyse´ technique looks at the various feed components and ingredients in relation to each other; the idea is to enable a rough estimation of digestibility. The term ''''crude fibre'''' describes different structural plant materials that are insoluble in diluted acids and lyes and form a diverse group of poorly digestible to indigestible feed constituents. This might be the reason why fibre has a fairly poor reputation in poultry nutrition.                                                                                                                

The layer industry is widespread all over the world and the basic raw material for the feed are the type of grains produced in that certain area. In Scandinavia nearly no corn is growing out and used in poultry feed. Instead of this wheat, barley and even oats are the basic grains. In Germany normally wheat will be the basic raw material for layer feed together with a certain lower amount of corn. In Spain we are facing the situation that barley is used to a high extent up to 50% in layer diets together with some amount of wheat and normally quite less corn. In Russia all grains which are available and even rye are used for layer feeds. Additionally nearly no corn is available and used in this part of the world. As already mentioned soya is the basic source of protein for layers around the world, but in Russia being replaced with a high amount of sunflower products. In Europe and Canada rape and canola products are quite cost effective compared to soya and being used in layers feed. In Indonesia due to the regional situation rice bran will replace corn and other grains in a varying extend. In Africa cotton seed products are used to replace soya in diet formulation. All over the world alfalfa as a source of yellow pigments is used in diets with less corn. All this previously mentioned raw materials have a substantial higher content of crude fibre compared to corn and soya. But they are used with big success. It should be mentioned that all these alternative grains to corn are normally used together with making use of the so called NSP-enzymes (NSP - non starch polysaccharides).

Nutrient content of selected feedstuffs

(figures at 88% DM) 

Source: Geflügeljahrbuch (Poultry Annual) 2008, own data; energy according to ME estimation formula

Up to now fibre has been of nearly no interest in poultry nutrition; it even has had a very bad reputation. This opinion may be due to the fact that crude fibre has no obvious nutritional value and all raw materials with increased content of crude fibre have less energy compared to corn. Because of this traditional fibre sources do not calculate by linear programming into high energy poultry feed. In the literature some information about feeding trails can be found where scientists tried to evaluate the benefits of increased content of crude fibre in layer nutrition together with sometimes excessive energy dilution of the feed. In those trials the benefits of crude fibre could be confirmed but performance was compromised. This information has contributed to the bad reputation of fibre in layer diets even up to now. When talking about energy we have to consider that nearly each country to some extent is using a different energy evaluation system. But every country is facing the situation that the energy of the feed is a kind of fuel for nowadays modern layer hybrids. Due to this situation different kinds of fat and oil are standard raw materials nowadays as high dense energy raw materials and being an ideal solution to compensate the lower energy content of all the alternative raw materials compared to corn. Fat and oil and as a result crude fat in layer diets is not a topic of this paper but it can be stated that the addition of fat and oil to layer diets should be a standard procedure all over the world. Based on a lot of practical experience from countries where the alternative grains are being used together with added fat and oil it can be stated that ''''fibre and fat are feeding well´. Feed with added fat and oil with a certain content of crude fat is additionally a tool of feeding for liver health and to counteract the incidence of the so called ''''fatty liver syndrome´.

The egg industry in Europe and some other countries is facing pressure in terms of animal welfare which ended up in the ban of traditional layer cages in Europe with the end of the year 2011. In all those countries there is a big interest in how far to maintain optimal production under this alternative housing systems together with the overall aim to fulfil the increasing request of the consumer being interested in animal welfare issues. Especially in Europe there is a big interest in scientific work on bird behaviour in alternative production systems. One can conclude that structure and crude fibre have an influence on bird behaviour and can be used when facing the problem of cannibalism and feather packing in layer flocks. Structure and insoluble coarse fibre additionally have a well proven influence on the development of the gizzard. An active working gizzard is one of the preconditions for a healthy digestion.

Layer farmers all around the world know the problem that sometimes flogs in non-cage housing systems tend to eat litter and feathers. With regard to the new knowledge and experience in terms of crude fibre the question may come up if litter and especially feathers are taken up as sources of structure and fibre. If those flocks have access to roughage and other sources of coarse crude fibre eating of feathers and litter will decrease.

As already mentioned above typical raw materials offering crude fibre for layer diets are quite often not cost effective in diet formulation and because of this out of any interest. Lignocellulose products are developed as a kind of fibre concentrates and have been used in feeding sows, rabbits and pets with very good results. Poultry nutritionists facing the benefits of crude fibre in general started practical trials with those products in layers as well. Based on own experience with feeding H&N pure-line and GP- flocks this products contribute to a healthy and stabile digestion. The author has carried out a lot of practical trials in the field together with nutritionists and veterinarians counteracting various non-infectious digestive disorders in layer flocks. More and more people are convinced of the benefits of crude fibre and adjust their formulation procedure by implementing a minimum restriction for crude fibre into the recipe. Based on different raw material availability - sometimes together with lignocellulose products - a stabile content of crude fibre in formulation of layers'''' feed in rearing and production phase can be achieved.

Layer diets with different raw materials and varying content of crude fibre (and crude fat), optimised for constant nutrient content

Nutrient content all diets: ME 11.4 MJ/kg; 17% crude protein; 0.34% dig. methionine; 0.60% dig. lysine; 3.8% calcium; 0.33% av. phosphorus; 0.17% sodium; 1.8% linoleic acid.

Based on a literature survey in combination with observing new scientific work and practical experience by the author it can be concluded that crude fibre is a very interesting new topic in poultry nutrition and especially for layer nutrition. As crude fibre is of no clear nutritional value with bad reputation from old literature the author quite often deals with the question: what is the maximum extent of crude fibre in layers'''' feed? Based on the precondition that the energy of the feed should never be diluted there is no ''''official´ maximum limitation for crude fibre in layer diets. Layer diets at all should contain a quite high content of energy and by this the optimisation program will decide what the maximum content of crude fibre will be. Instead of discussing a maximum content of crude fibre for layers diet, it should rather be emphasised to formulate for a certain and stabile minimum content of crude fibre. During the second half of the rearing period it is highly recommended to increase crude fibre in the developer feed with the aim to create a good and sufficient feed intake capacity for a pullet which is able to start with sufficient daily feed intake and high performance after transfer to the layer house and to show up the real genetic potential. Based on new scientific work and a lot of practical experience in different countries in the layer industry there are no doubts that the topic crude fibre is a tool to support a healthy and stabile digestion and to influence bird behaviour in a positive direction especially under non-cage-production systems. Those housing systems are even the most standard systems for parent stock (PS) flocks around the world. But even under cage production it is a big challenge for layer nutritionists all over the world to safeguard optimal nutrition and performance. Even if corn and soya are the standard raw materials for layer feeds, nutritionists should emphasise the benefits of crude fibre by searching for new raw materials or even lignocellulose products. Crude fibre in layers feed is stabilising a healthy digestion and based on this supporting optimal production, clean eggs, less ammonia in the houses together with positive effects on bird behaviour. On a worldwide view raw material availability for layer diets is varying to a high extent and no nutritionist being in charge of formulating diets for layer breeds should be afraid of using alternative new raw materials instead of corn and soya and implementing crude fibre into the formulation system as a new ''''nutrient´.

Based on a practical approach crude fibre in layers'''' feed may be a new and challenging topic for poultry nutritionists. After reviewed new scientific literature together with practical experience it can be concluded, that an increased content of crude fibre in layers'''' feed never will harm any bird. Increased content of crude fibre should never dilute the energy content of the feed. When these preconditions are emphasised, a lot of layer flocks will show positive effects getting a diet with higher content of insoluble crude fibre. A lot of raw materials instead of corn and soya can be used for layers'''' feed, as practical experience is showing in several countries. Based on the actual knowledge in terms of crude fibre several other products, especially grains can be used as raw materials for layer feed and will contribute to decrease costs in a high volatile raw material market with varying availability of raw materials as such. Lignocellulose products may be a good tool to use the benefits of insoluble crude fibre in layers'''' feed, after a nutritionist "may have motivated with the topic crude fibre for layers".  

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