{"id":57182,"date":"2020-04-29T23:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-29T23:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zinpro.com\/improve-poultry-gut-health-in-antibiotic-free-chicken-production\/"},"modified":"2023-07-19T13:10:12","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T18:10:12","slug":"improve-poultry-gut-health-in-antibiotic-free-chicken-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zinpro.com\/en_na\/resource-center\/blog\/improve-poultry-gut-health-in-antibiotic-free-chicken-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Poultry Gut Health in Antibiotic-Free Chicken Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

The gastrointestinal tract is one of the\nlargest immune organs in a bird\u2019s body. It is responsible for digesting and absorbing\nnutrients and acts as a barrier against infections. The gastrointestinal tract\nis responsible for up to 70% of the animal\u2019s immune response activity, so\noptimal gut health is vital to poultry growth and performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the continued growth of antibiotic-free chicken and no antibiotics ever (NAE) production, infectious challenges \u2014 primarily coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis<\/a> \u2014 can be made worse if poultry producers don\u2019t have consistent prophylactic management practices and a quality nutrition program in place. Poultry gut health is vital in managing potential health challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaky Gut and Intestinal Inflammation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The gastrointestinal tract is comprised of a\nlayer of epithelial cells, bound together by tight junctions. This is a\ncritical component of the barrier that protects the bird from infectious\nagents. During times of stress or zinc deficiency, those tight junctions can\nmalfunction, resulting in a condition called leaky gut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When tight junctions are weakened by pathogens\nsuch as bacteria and their toxins they are able to pass between the epithelial\ncells, an immune response is triggered and results in intestinal inflammation.\nIntestinal inflammation causes a roughness in a bird\u2019s gastrointestinal tract,\nwhich impairs its ability to absorb nutrients and achieve its genetic\npotential. This is compounded by the fact that inflammation itself consumes a\nsignificant amount of nutrients that could otherwise be used for growth and\nproduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more: Leaky Gut and Inflammation in Animals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improve Intestinal Integrity with Performance Trace Minerals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that the weakening of tight\njunctions is more serious when a bird is experiencing zinc, manganese or copper\ndeficiencies. These trace minerals are cofactors for important enzymes,\nregulatory molecules and protective proteins that are produced by the immune\nsystem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two avenues through which zinc,\nmanganese and copper mitigate inflammation caused by leaky gut: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. By strengthening tight junctions in the gastrointestinal tract during an immune challenge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. By enhancing the white blood cell population in the animal, so that birds can respond to immune challenges with an inflammatory response that is rapid and robust. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Supplementing your poultry nutrition program\nwith inorganic sources of trace minerals may not be enough to improve\nintestinal integrity in your flock. The amount of inorganic trace minerals a\nbird is able to absorb is limited. Therefore, poultry producers should\nsupplement their poultry nutrition programs with performance trace minerals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Performance Trace Minerals Reduce Coccidiosis Lesion Scores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In one study, 320 male Cobb broilers were fed\nfour diets with basal levels of 40 ppm zinc (diets 1, 3, 4 had 80 ppm manganese\nand diet 2 had 40 ppm manganese from sulfate) supplemented with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n