Growth promoters have been used in the poultry industry for decades to enhance production, promote growth performance and body weight gain, and protect birds from pathogenic microbes. This improvement is observed by increased feed conversion efficiency, stimulation of the immune system, increased overall health, and regulation of the intestinal microflora. Antibiotic growth promoters are also used to fight against infectious pathologies such as necrotic enteritis, coccidiosis, etc. There are different types of growth promoters that have been used in poultry birds, some of them are listed below

Types of growth promoters in poultry:

Probiotics:

These are live microbial feed supplements that are used for balancing the population of microbes in the intestines, preventing digestive problems, and improving the overall health of poultry.

Prebiotics:

Prebiotics stimulate the growth of harmless bacteria by providing energy and other limited nutrients to the intestinal mucosa.

Phytogenic Feed Additives:

Also known as PFAs or botanicals, phytogenic feed additives are added to animal diets to improve performance and productivity. Phytogenics include essential oils, spices, and herbs. These are natural growth promoters.

Organic Acids:

These acidifiers help to lower gut pH in the birds, which in turn reduces the presence of pathogenic organisms.

Vitamins and minerals:

These are used to improve growth as well as feed utilisation, which in turn helps in better production. Certain vitamins also have the ability to reduce weight loss in birds caused by heat stress.

Antibiotics:

Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP) involve the use of antibiotics in poultry feed to improve overall growth and feed conversion. It promotes growth by reducing growth-suppressing metabolites caused by microbes.

But these chemically synthesized antibiotics have certain harmful side effects on poultry, environment as well as consumer health.

Side effects of using antibiotic growth promoter:

• Antibiotic Resistance: Overuse of antibiotics in animals leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to humans and animals, making infections harder to treat.
• Public Health Concerns: Resistant bacteria from poultry farms can enter the food chain and environment, posing serious risks to public health.

Spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria:

Ban on Antibiotic Growth Promoters

Due to the above-mentioned reasons, the World Health Organisation (WHO), along with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), encourages the health, agriculture, and veterinary sectors to reduce the injudicious use of antibiotics as growth promoters and further decrease the spread of resistant bacteria. The rapid spread of drug-resistant pathogens as well as the emergence of antibiotic-related environmental pollutants is of global concern.

Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters:

To minimize health risks, poultry farmers have great preferences for antibiotic residue-free chicken, resulting in a shift to antibiotic-free broiler meat production around the globe.

The natural antibiotic alternatives, including probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, organic acids, and phytogenics (phytobiotics), including herbs, botanicals, essential oils, and oleoresins, are the feed additives that acquired popularity in the poultry industry following the ban of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs).

An Effective NATURAL GROWTH PROMOTER:

HERBOFLOXIN

It is a promising alternative to antibiotics in poultry. A unique micro-emulsified formulation of phytoactive ingredients such as Thymus vulgaris, Eucalyptus, Syzygium, and Citronella. Our natural formulation not only helps to prevent the antibiotic resistance but also ensures healthy meat production for consumers. Hence, it effectively replaces the antibiotic growth promoters.

How Does Herbofloxin Work? 

Gut immune response:

It improves the gut’s immune barrier and reduces pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli in the gut. The improved gastrointestinal microclimate favors digestibility and uptake of nutrients.

Immune stimulant:

Herbofloxin contains phytomolecules with immunomodulatory effects that stimulate immune organs such as the spleen, thymus, and bursa, improving the number and function of lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells.

Haematopoietic cell production:

Herbofloxin exhibits a positive effect on the haematopoietic system and improves blood parameters and feed conversion by promoting the activity of digestive enzymes.

Reduces microbial load:

The addition of Herbofloxin to drinking water supports digestion and metabolism in the body, stimulates the growth and development of a useful microbiome, limits the multiplication and adhesion of pathogens, and changes the morphology and functioning of enterocytes. It also helps to reduce harmful intestinal loads and ultimately prevents meat contamination.

Natural growth promoter:

Improves the overall health of poultry by enhancing its nutrient utilization capability.

Benefits:

• Acts as a natural growth promoter in poultry
• Improves gastrointestinal microflora by reducing pathogenic bacteria
• Stimulates immune cell production and immune response
• Improves blood parameters
• Balances the pH of gut

For Sustainable Antibiotic- Free Production

*References on request*

Pork is one of the most extensively consumed meat globally. It is a vital source of animal protein for humans because of its nutritional value, distinctive chemical composition, and well-balanced protein content. Fat content and composition, water holding capacity, color, oxidative stability, and uniformity are the main attributes determining pork quality.

While it is true that exponential human population growth has occurred over the last few decades resulting in a significant rise in the demand for meat and its products. In the past, when the pork producers were paid strictly on a live-weight basis, it was to their advantage to optimize average daily gain and feed conversion ratio, this often resulted in carcasses with excess fat. But today’s modern consumers are increasingly critical of the food they eat hence for producers who market on a lean value-based system, carcass parameters are equally important along with growth performance.

WHY THERE IS INCREASE IN DEMAND OF LEAN PORK?

High levels of fat in the human diet can lead to excessive weight gain which increases the risk of the occurrence of health problems. Therefore, consumers are concerned about reducing the quantity of fat consumed in their diets and consequently prefer meat that is lean and has less visible fat. A major focus of the pork industry in the past few decades has been to increase lean tissue deposition to produce pig carcasses with a higher lean-to-fat ratio.

Lean pork is a nutrient-dense source of protein and several other nutrients such as thiamine, vitamin B6, phosphorus, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc.

WHY SUPPLEMENTATION IS PREFERRED TO ENHANCE PORK QUALITY?

Nutrition is one of the most influential factors that have an effect on pork quality and the overall profitability of pork production. Numerous feeding strategies can be used in growing-finishing pigs like manipulating the quantity and composition of the feed given, which will be effective in achieving desirable carcass composition and muscle characteristics per consumer demands in cost effective manner.

In an attempt to meet consumer demand for lean meat, synthetic additives like ractopamine (RAC) have been used in swine feed. Ractopamine (RAC)  is known to promotes muscle mass development, limit fat deposition, and reduce feed consumption. However, it has several undesirable behavioral side effects including restlessness, agitation, excessive oral-facial movements, and aggressive behavior. This leads to increases in necessity of alternatives to attend lean pork in swine.

Innovative feed additives and supplements can be used as alternative to synthetic additives like ractopamine. They are designed to enhance nutrient absorption, promote muscle growth, and improve overall meat quality.  ‘METALEAN’ is a leading example.

Enhancing Pork Quality with METALEAN: A Lean Meat Feed supplement

‘METALEAN’, a phytogenic lean growth supplement for pigs. It promotes uniform growth performance, improves feed efficiency and carcass characteristics.

The back-fat thickness in pigs could be considered as a primary index for predicting the yield of lean meat. The higher back fat thickness can impact lean meat quality adversely, ‘Metalean’ helps to lower back fact thickness and improves dressing percentage.

HOW METALEAN WORKS?

‘METALEAN’ can be efficiently used as a lean meat feed additive in pigs. The phytoactives in METALEAN influence insulin-like growth factors, which are one of the potent growth factors associated with a wide range of metabolic processes. The biological actions of IGF I are controlled mainly through the stomach, duodenum, and muscle tissue. METALEAN triggers the IGF-targeted gut-brain axis, which controls the fat and protein metabolism. It also upregulates fatty acid breakdown and limits fatty acid synthesis. Additionally, components from Allium and Piper species enhance diet-induced thermogenesis, further supporting fat reduction and muscle development.

Supplementation with METALEAN not only promotes a leaner meat profile but also enhances key pork quality parameters such as color, firmness, marbling, and water-holding capacity. These improvements make the pork more attractive to consumers and increase its marketability.

Choose ‘METALEAN’ for an effective, natural solution to meet consumer demand for leaner pork!

*References on request

 

 

The eggshell is an important structure of an egg, as it forms an embryonic chamber for the developing chick, providing mechanical protection, a controlled gas exchange medium and it is a container for the market egg, providing protection of the contents from pathogens and a unique package for a valuable food. Balancing proportion between calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D³, and the hormonal system in calcium metabolism during egg formation is important for Eggshell quality.

 

COMPOSITION OF THE EGGSHELL

The eggshell contains about

• 94- 97% calcite (calcium carbonate mineral)
• 2% organic matrix (proteins)

The complex structure of the eggshell is the end result of the interaction between calcium carbonate crystals and organic matrix molecules.

Key organic matrix proteins like ovocleidin-17, ovotransferrin, and osteopontin play important roles in regulating mineralisation, crystallographic texture and biomechanical properties of eggshell.

Eggshell cracking is one of the major concerns for the farmers as it causes pathogenic contamination and economic loss throughout the world. Estimates for the incidence of broken eggs in commercial production range from 6 to 8% of all eggs produced which have a negative impact on the profitability of any egg producer. However, incomplete hairline-cracked eggs are less obvious upon visual inspection and may inadvertently be used in commercial poultry which can lead to reduced hatchability and increases risk of contamination.

There are also external egg quality issues related to other shell defects like rough shells, misshapen eggs, body-checked eggs, shell-less eggs and stained or dirty floor eggs which do not necessarily result in egg breakage but give rise to increased risks of contamination along with lower hatchability and consumer acceptance.

FACTORS AFFECTING EGG SHELL QUALITY IN POULTRY –

Inadequate calcium intake and the factors affecting availability of essential organic matrix proteins can lead to degradation in egg shell quality. Approximately 60 to 75% of shell calcium (Ca) is derived directly from the diet. While calcium is important for eggshell formation, the role of organic matrix proteins like ovocleidin-17, ovotransferrin, and osteopontin is also significant. These proteins are crucial for the appropriate mineralization and structure formation of the eggshell, ensuring its strength and quality. The availability and activity of these proteins, along with minerals like phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and vitamin D are key factors that can greatly enhance eggshell quality. Improving these proteins’ effectiveness along with calcium supplement can lead to stronger and more resilient eggshells.

IMPROVE EGG SHELL QUALITY WITH SHELLVIN….

SHELLVIN is an organic egg shell supplement for poultry which helps overcoming calcium deficiencies, positively influences the formation of the shell ultra-structure. It contains organic calcium, shell enzyme co-factors, vitamin D3 absorption enhancer, and a precursor of the organic matrix of shell along with minerals which helps to decrease eggshell cracking. SHELLVIN triggers the organic constituents (proteins) of the egg shell matrix to modify the morphology of calcite crystals which eventually improves the texture and reduces thin egg shells in poultry.                  

BENEFITS –

Ensure stronger eggshells and healthier hens with SHELLVIN!

*References on request*