Effect of a feed additive (EndoBan) on broiler performance

Endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides or LPS) are part of the cell wall of Gramnegative bacteria. During growth or bacterial lysis, LPS are released and can transfer to blood and tissues. In poultry, the intestinal microflora is the most important source of endotoxins, and the GI tract the main risk site for transfer from the lumen. Several factors (e.g. heat stress, mycotoxins, pathogens, feed transition) are known to increase gut permeability, promoting leakage of endotoxins into the blood. Once absorbed, endotoxins induce an inflammatory response, thus wasting energy and nutrients meant for growth and production. EndoBan is a feed additive developed to minimize the negative effects of endotoxins. The objective was to study the effect of EndoBan on male and female broiler performance when combined with a commercial feed additive providing protection against mycotoxins. Two trials were conducted in which Ross 308 broiler chicks were reared in an environmentally controlled poultry house (Zootechnical Centre, Belgium), using a two phase dietary program (starter d0-14 and grower/finisher d14-d42) in which all diets were fed ad libitum. In trial 1, 352 male broilers were randomly allocated to 2 treatments with 8 replicates per treatment (22 birds/ pen). Treatment 1 was a corn-soy-based control diet and treatment 2 an EndoBan supplemented (0.5 kg/T feed) control diet. In trial 2, 216 female broilers were randomly allocated to 6 replicates per treatment (18 birds/ pen). Treatments included a corn-soy based control diet and an EndoBan supplemented (0.5 kg/T feed) control diet. In both studies, the control diet contained a feed additive against mycotoxins at 1 kg/T of feed. Body weight, feed intake and mortality were recorded on d14 and d42. In trial 1, the male broilers supplemented with EndoBan reached a higher body weight (3125 g) and lower feed conversion (1.58) compared to the control diet (3060 g and 1.60). In trial 2, supplementation of EndoBan improved (p < 0.05) final body weight of female broilers to 2558 g vs 2470 g for the control group. Feed conversion was similar for both treatments (1.53). These results indicate that EndoBan can improve growth performance of broilers, even when an additive protecting against mycotoxins is already present in the feed. 

Key Words: Endotoxins, broilers, performance, feed additive