Steering poultry flock resilience with trace minerals
Which comes first when it comes to producing more resilient flocks – a more robust immune status, or improved performance parameters? Both are important factors to consider. Precision nutrition, including the source of trace minerals fed, is one strategy nutritionists can use to nurture more resilient, higher-performing flocks.
As essential ingredients in the poultry diet, trace minerals are known to support critical signalling and metabolic processes within broilers and layers that positively affect performance. Recent scientific trials have demonstrated that trace minerals are pivotal for a proper immune response, which can be a precursor of improved performance. The source of trace mineral can contribute to birds’ immune response and supports flocks’ resilience, especially in times of a challenge, such as an extreme weather event.
Trial takeaways
During the recently held European Poultry Conference in Valencia, Spain, scientists presented findings from trials that showed how essential minerals, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn), work to support the immune response in birds experiencing an lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. One takeaway from the trials is that the source of trace mineral supplied influenced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) response activity occurring inside birds. SOD is an enzyme that helps break down free radicals and supports an antioxidant defence mechanism in the presence of a LPS challenge by exerting an anti-inflammatory effect.
Simply defined, an LPS challenge includes components of the outermost membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Scientists have observed that upon exposure to an LPS challenge, the host animal releases pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) as a first defence against the infection pressure. Understanding that minerals play an essential role in eliciting the host animal’s immune response, Selko poultry researchers designed trials to assess how the source of Zn, Mn, or Cu – inorganic or hydroxychloride (Selko IntelliBond) – acts to elicit immune responses.
Researchers conducted 2 LPS infection trials. Different levels of Zn, Cu, and Mn were fed in trials comparing inorganic and hydroxychloride (Selko IntelliBond) sources of trace minerals.
In the first study, broiler chicks were allocated to 1 of 6 dietary treatments: 50 ppm Zn+45 ppm Mn from IntelliBond or inorganic (sulphate) source, 100 ppm Zn+90ppm Mn from IntelliBond or inorganic source, or only 10 ppm Zn, or 100 ppm Mn from the IntelliBond source. An LPS challenge was administered on day 21. The study showed an improved SOD response in birds receiving the IntelliBond trace mineral. Researchers observed that the improvement in the SOD response was predominantly driven by zinc (Figure 1). Researchers attribute the more robust response to the improved bioavailability of the IntelliBond mineral. Feeding a higher quality, more bioavailable mineral can allow the bird to elicit a quicker response in the face of a challenge.
In a second trial presented at EPC, 500 birds were randomly allocated to diets with high and low levels of copper from a sulphate or IntelliBond source. An LPS challenge was administered at 35 days. Birds supplemented with high levels (150 pm) of IntelliBond Cu trace minerals had increased hydrogen peroxide activity, indicating a higher burst of macrophages (P<0.05) compared to birds receiving the sulphate sources. Additionally, birds receiving IntelliBond mineral sources had higher SOD activity in the liver.
Findings from a third trial shared at EPC demonstrated the improvements observed in feeding a highly available source of zinc. The trial involved 784 broilers and assigned birds to 1 of 7 dietary treatments. A control group was fed 50 ppm of ZnO and 50 ppm of ZnSo4. The other 6 treatment groups received a dose response of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 ppm of Zn from an IntelliBond source. Inclusion of Zn at 100 ppm from the IntelliBond source resulted in a 3-point feed conversion ratio improvement (P<0.05) and a clear dose response was observed (Figure 2).
Gene expression results of jejunal tight junction proteins indicated a clear dose response, too, with 100 ppm increasing expression significantly. Challenges such as heat stress can lead to local and systemic inflammation as tight junctions in the gut start to open and potentially allow pathogens to pass through. When compared to birds receiving sulphate trace minerals, researchers noted an increased expression of tight junctions in birds receiving IntelliBond minerals. Thus, supplying a higher quality source mineral that reduces inflammation may help to maintain nutrient digestibility.Sustainability
Sustainability is always a consideration in livestock production, and that includes the amount of minerals excreted into the environment. In a broiler study, researchers saw that supplying mineral supplementation at a lower level (about half) could elicit an immune response that acted nearly identical to a full dose of an inorganic trace mineral. These findings demonstrate an opportunity for diets to meet the bird’s mineral needs while reducing the amount of minerals excreted by the animal. In addition, feeding a less soluble mineral can prevent leaching of minerals into the environment. As the regulatory environment changes, these findings present nutritionists with enhanced flexibility to support the animal and comply with environmental regulations.
Immune support
Trace minerals have long been known to drive improved performance metrics, including growth, feed conversion and reproductive health. Recent findings underscore the role that trace minerals can play in steering an immune response, which can in turn drive better performance. Research conducted with monogastric species – including broilers and layers – has demonstrated that the immune system is the first thing compromised when an animal receives an inadequate supply of minerals. As the animal diverts energy to defend against a challenge, less energy is available to support growth. As a result, disease-challenged birds may grow more slowly, and flocks may lose the uniformity demanded by customers in today’s marketplace. Less resilient flocks may also lead to increased medical treatment and higher feed costs.
Ongoing research seeks to uncover more insights about the link between immunity and performance and presents new questions. For example, in analysis of study findings looking at high and low levels of copper in the diet, increased levels of hydrogen peroxide in birds fed IntelliBond minerals was observed. These levels may be linked to oxidative bursts indicating more active macrophages, suggesting a heightened immune response. Researchers are continuing to investigate this finding.
Today’s producers are under pressure to achieve higher levels of efficiency and, as extreme weather events occur with more frequency, precision nutrition can help nutritionists navigate challenges while meeting flocks’ needs. Feeding a highly bioavailable source of zinc, manganese, and copper at the optimal dosage can help support immunity and positively affect performance by nurturing more resilient flocks.
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