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November 09, 2020

Poultry production and feeding

by AB Vista, Spain

The Fifth Online Induction Session on Poultry Production and Feeding, organised by AB Vista, was held between the May 29th-June 8th. In total, 15 talks were presented in five different sessions.

The nine speakers invited were from both academia and industry in Spain. The objective of the induction session was to present an update of the current status on poultry production and feeding, mostly focused on the Spanish market, but with some aspects relating to a more broad and international view.
 


The topics presented across the different sessions ranged from factors influencing feed quality; components of feed and examples of energy, fibrous, and proteinaceous sources; use of additives to support gut health, legislation; mycotoxins and pathogen control in feed mills; macrominerals and electrolytic balance and performance and meat yield as the main economic targets in broiler production.

Dr Medel from Innovabiotics, a company with experience in animal and human nutrition, feed and food additives, highlighted that approximately 434,777 tonnes of feed additives are used each year in Spain, 20 percent of which are zootechnical additives. These additives have been designed to promote gut health and function and are of particular interest, given the ban on use of antibiotics as growth promoters in feedstuffs. However, feed producers are aware that none of the feed additives available in the market today are effective enough to replace antibiotics. Due to the huge range of feed additives available, it is difficult to select those combinations that will come closest to replacing antibiotics.

Dr Medel pointed out the importance of supporting gut function with additives as the best way to improve animal performance and reduce the opportunity of pathogens to proliferate.

Another topic discussed during the webinar by Dr Mateos was the use of fibrous materials in poultry to favour the development of the gastrointestinal tract. The value of fibre will depend on the level included, its solubility, water retention capacity, fermentability and, of course, the age of the animals. Dr Mateos judges an excess of soluble fibre as being detrimental for the animal (in the absence of exogenous enzymes) and, if some fibre has to be included, then it should be insoluble fibre. In particular, he suggests using insoluble fibre and indeed very lignified fibre, such as oat hulls, to stimulate the development of the gizzard and to increase intestinal peristalsis.


Read more HERE.
 

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.

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