Data shows scope to improve broiler gut health

The 2021 HTSi report, released at the UK’s Pig and Poultry Fair, looked at animal health data from 5,988 necropsied birds, covering more than 90% of the UK broiler market. The data incorporates multiple lesions to assess important markers of bird health, including gut health, locomotor function, respiratory integrity and bird welfare.

As intestinal integrity improves, so will FCR and average daily gain (ADG).

Intestinal Integrity score (IIS)

Tom Hepburn, EKS Technology and Analytics officer at Elanco, said the programme generates an Intestinal Integrity score, which takes into account 23 intestinal health lesions including coccidiosis to give a score of between 0 and 100. A score of 90 or below indicates poor intestinal health and is when producers see a significant impact on feed conversion ratio (FCR) and bird performance.

IIS lower in 2021 than 2020 or 2019

The report found that the index was lower in 2021 than either 2020 or 2019. Scores declined throughout the winter of 2020 and this continued into the spring. Post April there was a steady increase but this had plateaued.

Higher coccidiosis challenge in 2021

Hepburn said this could be due to seasonal challenges and added that the coccidiosis challenge in 2021 was higher, with report data showing a stronger and longer peak challenge from E. acervulina and E. maxima across the cycle – the 2 most prevalent species in the UK and Ireland.

Improved intestinal integrity: Delivers cost benefits

“As intestinal integrity improves, so will FCR and average daily gain (ADG). Maximising feed efficiency and improving these key performance indicators (KPIs) as a result, will always deliver a cost benefit, but even more so during times of high feed prices, such as at present.

“For every one unit increase in intestinal integrity, ADG increases BY 0.04G and FCR improves by 0.13 points. So, for example, if you’ve got an FCR of 1.520 and the intestinal integrity score moves from 90 to 100, FCR will improve to 1.507,” Hepburn added.

A poultry company producing 100m broilers per year could see an income boost of £572,000 by improving their intestinal integrity by 5 points, something that is very achievable with the right interventions.

The challenge is growing because we are pushing the birds harder and they are under pressure.

Health gut vital for broiler production

Rick Kleyn, independent nutritionist, said a healthy gut was so important for broiler production, as it enhanced bird welfare, improved the environment and boosted producer’s economic position.

Producers needed to ensure feed intake was adequate, make sure litter was dry and remove stresses from the bird’s environment, including heat stress.

The global results showed some interesting findings:

• The Netherlands – where birds are reared for longer (47-50 days) there were still cocci challenges but peaks were much lower, indicating that pressure on the birds does have an effect along with seasonality issues.

• Spain – birds also suffered from heat stress

• China – was particularly concerned by rises in E. necatrix

“The challenge is growing because we are pushing the birds harder and they are under pressure, “ said Hepburn.