There is a growing consumer market looking for antibiotic-free poultry. Total sales of organic food reached $47 billion in 2016, up more than 8 percent from 2015. Sales of organic meat and poultry grew more than 17 percent to $991 million in 2016, marking the category\u2019s biggest yearly gain. The organic sector is still just five percent of overall sales, but it\u2019s growing fast, which presents both pressure and opportunity for poultry producers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To\ncapitalize on this growing antibiotic-free market trend and produce birds that\nhave a strong immune response to potential pathogen and toxin challenges,\npoultry producers are turning to performance trace minerals \u2014 zinc, manganese\nand copper \u2014 to fortify broilers,\nbroiler breeders and layer natural defenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trace\nminerals strengthen animals\u2019 first lines of defense against disease. In the\nintestine, a single layer of epithelial cells forms the main barrier against\npathogens \u2026 these tight junctions seal the gaps between the neighboring cells\nto prevent pathogen or toxin intrusions. Heat stress, dysbacteriosis or a zinc\ndeficiency can loosen the tight junctions, allowing pathogens and toxins to\npermeate this barrier (Leaky Gut) and reach the bloodstream causing inflammation\n(Finamore et al., 2009). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The skin also\nprovides a primary defense against disease for all humans and animals. Zinc is\na key trace mineral that helps strengthen the integrity of the skin helping it\nto resist scratches and heal faster in the presence of cellulitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a\nresearch study, the percentage of broilers affected by cellulitis was decreased\nfrom 52 to 40 percent when the broiler diet was supplemented with 40 ppm of\nzinc as a zinc amino acid complex. Another study showed improved footpad\nintegrity, with 50 versus 30 percent of birds having normal footpads (Downs et al.,\n2000; Saenmahayak et al., 2010). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If\npathogens and toxins manage to cross the epithelial cell barrier and access the\nbloodstream, then the immune cells, such as white blood cells \u2014 a process\ncalled immune activation or inflammation \u2014 are called into action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Macrophages,\na type of white blood cell, engulf and destroy foreign matter such as bacteria\n(e.g., Escherichia coli<\/em>) and cellular debris and, thus, play a crucial\nrole in inflammation. Complexed trace minerals are essential for mounting a\nproper immune response through the multiple roles they play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n