Production stress: consequence of high performance

 

Highly productive birds require the high performing feed. They have enhanced ability to metabolize the high performing feed. The high performing feed and birds tend to generate uncontrollable free-radicals through metabolic activity. This unavoidable production of free-radical can cause enough production stress to affect the health status of birds.

The birds are not defenceless against the free-radicals. Modern animal nutrition has ensured that animals receive antioxidants daily through their feed such as carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. Nature has ensured that animals can produce the antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and Q10. Some antioxidants like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are used as preservatives for feed ingredients like fat and fat soluble vitamins.

However, most of these antioxidants have more roles to perform than dealing with free-radicals. The level of antioxidant depletes faster in the stressful condition. Hence there is an imbalance between free radicals generated and availability of antioxidants. The defence system of birds becomes weaker in production stress (Surai & Karadas, 2003). We cannot expect better vaccine titres in the birds under production stress.

The birds suffer from immune suppression due to production stress. Chronic respiratory and digestive infections are commonly observed in such flocks. Some flocks endure worst encounters like loose droppings, mortality, and shrinkage in body weight due to an additive effect of stress and infections. An anticipation of the stressful situation is not an easy task to do. The stress once occurred, cause heavy losses while we treat or control it.

The quality of meat and eggs is also dependant on the level of antioxidants. Meat and eggs from healthy flock are the better fit for transport, storage, and processing. The consumers and channel partners appreciate the fresh and juicy products.

Increasing the supplementary antioxidants like carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium for the anticipated stress is an option. But, natural antioxidants having complex mixture of many compounds of broad spectrum of activities are available as feed additives. Natural antioxidants can neutralize various types of free radicals.

Natural and effective antioxidants belonging to the phytogenic families of polyphenols, withanolides, and triterpenoids having been available as feed additives. They are proven to exhibit anti-stress and immunomodulatory effect by relieving the birds from production stress. PHYTOCEE® from Natural Remedies is scientifically proven, heat stable and cost effective feed additive to prevent production stress and the losses.

PHYTOCEE® has been scientifically proven to be an effective antioxidant in panel of in-vitro and in-vivo models against various free radicals. Figure 2 is taken from one of the studies done with PHYTOCEE®. Model of the research is well known for the study of oxidative stress using male albino Wistar rats. PHYTOCEE® is showing comparable effect with ascorbic acid in reversing the effect of oxidative stress induced by CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride).

The antioxidant effect of PHYTOCEE® helps in improving the defence system of the birds. This is proven in the number of studies done with PHYTOCEE®. Some parameters related to immunity are taken in table 1 from three different studies showing the effect in comparison with other groups.

Nature provides us the number of antioxidants that show their significance in life. The research and commercial trials from the users of PHYTOCEE® are very convincing to control production stress. Considering the production stress and other stressors in a day to day operations, it is prudent choice to use PHYTOCEE® in the feed under commercial farming practices.

References

1.Anonymous, PHYTOCEE® enhances activity in Macrophage Phagocytosis.

2.Joseph, et al (2015). Antioxidant and protective effects of PHYTOCEE® against carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, January 2015, Vol. 6, Issue 1, p183-187

3.Manukian, et al (2013). To Research efficacy of PHYTOCEE® supplement feed using for broiler chickens. Cereals-mixed feed veterinary 2013 Russian federation. Conference paper

4.Rama Rao, Effect of supplemental vitamin C and PHYTOCEE® on haematological parameters of commercial broilers.

5.Surai & Karadas, (2003). The importance of antioxidants in poultry. Conference paper