The welfare of livestock is a key issue that has been the focus of research for a number of years. The wellbeing of the intestinal tract means: maximising feed efficiency, ensuring consistent production and limiting health-related interventions. We’ll take a closer look into how fibre and a correct microbiome development contribute towards improved livestock welfare.
- What is intestinal resilience and how to ensure it
- The role of fibre in improving livestock welfare
- The importance of microbiome development
- Symbionts use in accelerating microbiome development
- How to manage fibre composition to ensure livestock welfare
- AB Vista, discover more by webinar
What do we mean by gut resilience and how to improve it.
Gut resilience is the ability of the intestinal tract to adapt to changes. Improving intestinal resilience is therefore essential to prevent dysmetabolism and enteric infections.
Dr. Xaviere Rousseau, Global Technical Support Manager at AB Vista, outlined three pillars that ensure higher gut resilience: fibre, the microbiome and the animal’s age.
The role of fibre in improving livestock welfare.
Fibre has moved on from its original notion as an anti-nutritional component and it is also now recognised as playing a key role in animal gut health. It is therefore fundamental that we understand the different characteristics and types of dietary fibre in order to best use it to our advantage.
The amount of fibre that reaches the caecum and is subject to fermentation, represents a fundamental substrate from which short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are released and used by the animal as a source of energy.
The importance of microbiome development
Sufficient development and the correct profile of the microbiome in the caecum is crucial for fibre fermentation. The role and composition of the microbiome are central to intestinal well-being of all animals, not just for this metabolic action, but for many other important functions. For example, a correct microbiome profile also counteracts the development of pathogens, supporting the immune system and further ensuring well-being.
The microbiome in younger animals
When it comes to the age of the animals and how this may affect intestinal resilience, the webinar brings to light an issue that has emerged from several research studies in younger animals. The microbial population of the distal portion of the intestine in these animals is not yet mature or developed sufficiently to attack the fibre which reaches it, thus being detrimental to feed conversion.
The products that are available today to support gut resiliance and speed up the development of the microbiome were explored. Among these, the focus was on the most innovative category, symbionts.
Symbionts to speed up microbiome development
Symbionts enable maximum utilisation of fibre whilst contributing towards intestinal well-being.
With 100g/ton inclusions, symbionts ensure prebiotic action from the Arabinoxyloligosaccharides (AXOS) made available by NSP enzymes, and provide a direct stimulation for microbiome development and maturity with the Xyloligosaccharides (XOS) arriving in the cecum and colon.
Dr. Jae Cheol Kim, Technical Manager of AB Vista Asia, demonstrated the excellent results obtained from the practical application of this product on pigs and broilers, whilst Dr. Laura Merriman, Swine Technical Service Manager of AB Vista North America, explained the benefits of including the right amount of fibre in diets.
How to manage fibre levels to ensure livestock welfare
A closer look was given to the tools available to discover more about the characteristics of the different types of fibre used in feed and how to make the most of it, given this new role it plays.
Not all fibres are the same and so to be able to work with the correct level of fibre it is essential to know the characteristics of the different types. Hence the practical demonstration of a new application from AB Vista, the Fibre Calculator, which underlined how thanks to this tool, it is possible to better manage fibre quotas of different feeds to ensure intestinal well-being of the animals.
AB Vista, a webinar offering further insight
AB Vista wanted to bring together an update on the latest studies and tools to improve livestock welfare focusing on optimising intestinal resilience.
AB Vista’s webinar in full is posted on the website of All About Feed.
Garzanti Specialties for animal nutrition
We work with a number of international suppliers to develop highly technical solutions to support and improve the health, well-being and productivity of both livestock and household pets.
Discover the full range of products online that Garzanti Specialties distributes to improve animal welfare.