Laying hen health is big business!
Focus on welfare and boosting layers health increases as consumers and governments influence the animal welfare agenda and tighten legislation. The demand for free range eggs and antibiotic-free production increases and pressure is put on the egg-producers to reorganize the production and cost structure.
Improving hen health is the first step towards reducing the use of antibiotics, while maintaining a satisfying production result. A healthy hen is a bird with healthy guts, a resilient immune system and low pathogen count in the droppings.
All these factors are influenced by the quality of feed.
Feed benefits
Challenges in layer nutrition
Genetics, water, temperature, sanitation and nutrition are just some of the factors influencing the efficiency of a flock of hens. Hens in bad health are less productive and more susceptible to infections due to a weakened immune system. They spread infections to other hens as well.
Better gut health
Improving the overall health for layers means improving the gut microflora, the gut functionality and the immune system’s resilience against pathogens.
Reducing bacteria and parasites
Pathogenic bacteria, parasites and fungi are costly on the egg-production, but hard to control during breakouts, without the use of antibiotics.
There is a long list of bacteria and parasites affecting laying hen health, wellbeing and production performance.
Diarrhea in egg production
The parasites from the class Coccidia are a common cause of diarrhea in layers. Coccidiosis diarrhea is characterized by blood and mucous in the stool. E. coli and Salmonella spp., causes wet droppings as well. Diarrhea affect the egg-layer production efficiency up to 40 %.
Avoiding wet feet
Foot Pad Lesions are much more likely to occur in a wet bedding with diarrhea. Egg-layers with footpad lesions are more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria. Keeping the bedding dry and with a low count of bacteria is a key task.
How feed influences broilers
How feed influences layers hens
In poultry, nutrition it is well-recognized feed influences on gut health, nutrient absorption ability and the immune system response.
Better use of feed
Complementary functional feed increases the layers absorption of nutrients and utilization of the feed provided. A better use of minerals and feed reduce feed cost, increase production and lower the environmental burden.
Gut modulation in layers
Complementary functional feed increases the layers absorption of nutrients and utilization of the feed provided. A better use of minerals and feed reduce feed cost, increase production and lower the environmental burden.
By promoting the amount of lactic acid bacteria and diversifying the groups of bacteria present, the relationship between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria can be controlled through functional feeding.
Better armour and immune system
Through complementary feed the development of a fully functional immune system response and a thick gut lining can be supported. The gut lining works as an armour against bacteria entering the blood stream.
Reduction in bacteria
When pathogenic bacteria are repressed, a lower count of pathogens can be measured in the droppings. Choose a complementary feed with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds.
The complementary feed EP100i is based on fermented rapeseed with lactic acid bacteria. It contains prebiotic fiber and more than 1.000 bioactive metabolites supporting gut development. The composition of all these compounds results in a beneficial gut modulation.
Recommended use for functional feeding:
Add 4 % EP100i to the feed until week 16. Hereafter increase the inclusion to 4-6% in the rest of the paying period.
How EP100i works on layers:
- High digestibility of protein, fiber and minerals, without antinutritional factors, rich in health-promoting compounds.
- Increases diversity and promotes beneficial gut bacteria
- Prolonng the laying period and laying percentage
- Supports the development of a well-equipped gut with optimum absorption ability
- Supports the development of functional immune system response
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial compounds support health