The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers of India (CLFMA) conducted its 54th AGM and 62nd National Symposium in Hyderabad on 24th and 25th September 2021 at Hotel Taj Deccan. The theme of the event was ‘Feeding the Growing Livestock Population: Current And Future Challenges’, that was very relevant considering the recent surge in prices of soymeal, which is an important component of the animal feed.
The Chief Guest of the event was Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying,Shri. Parshottam Rupala. The event received an overwhelming response from the audience and witnessed the presence of more than 300 delegates from various parts of India.
Talking about the event, CLFMA ChairmanMr. Neeraj Kumar Srivastava said, “India’s livestock industry is growing at a CAGR of 7%. With increasing disposable income, the demand for animal protein is also witnessing a huge growth. The domestic grain production will not be able to keep pace with the growing energy and protein demand for animal feed unless some immediate steps are being taken to increase per acre productivity and total production of grains like maize and soybean. Considering these challenges, we had very fruitful discussions during these 2 days involving the industry and policy makers.”
The famous CLFMA awards were given to five leaders who had diligently worked and contributed to the development of the livestock sector.
Life Time Achievement awardees:
CLFMA Award:
Dr. A. Natarajan, MVSc., Ph.D, Prof. & Head, TNAVASU
Dr. V. Sridhar, GM, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
Prof. V. Ramasubba Reddy Retd. Professor (LPM Avian), Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad,
The National Symposium had 3 sessions followed by round table discussion.
First Session: Demand Supply Outlook of Corn & Soybean. Ms. Prerana Desai, Head of Research, Samunnati Agri, spoke on the topic Have Corn Dyanamics Changed in Recent Years.
Mr. Unupom Kausik, President, NCML, spoke on the topic “Market Driving Factors: Soybean & Soybean Meal. Overall speakers spoke about the demand-supply commodity outlook for corn & soymeal – the two most important commodities, that contribute significantly to the compound feed production.
Second session: “Special Address”
Mr. Balram Singh Yadav, MD of Godrej Agrovet Ltd. Spoke on the Sustainability & Future of Online sales of Poultry products.
Dr. Lipi Sairiwal, Assistant Commissioner AH, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying gave the presentation on the AHIDF Fund Central Sector Scheme under the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package of INR 15000 Crore in detail.
Third session touched upon the topic of Strategies for Sustainable Animal Agriculture viz. Contours of Sustainable Animal Feed Market by Mr. G. Chandrashekhar, Economist, Senior Editor, Policy Commentator and Market Linkages: Derivatives, Spot for Animal Feed products by Mr. Mrugank Paranjape, Managing Director & CEO of NCDEX e-Markets Ltd. In this session, the Industry Pain Points were discussed in detail.
Overall, the CLFMA interacted with various stakeholders in the industry and government on policy making related to the livestock sector. The association has diverse membership from across the animal protein value chain including feed manufacturing; poultry, dairy and aquaculture business; animal nutrition and health, veterinary services, machinery and equipment; processing, distribution and retailing of meat.
Feed efficiency is one of the main factors used for the improvement of chicken production. In addition, feed efficiency has an important economic impact on the competitiveness of the poultry sector. Another important feature in modern broiler farms is the correct management of diseases for maintaining productivity and economic viability.
Dr. Koushik De, Technical Services Director- SCA Novus International (Author)
The challenge of increased feed efficiency and potential health risks becomes essential to the survival of the intensive broiler production. The ban or limited use of antibiotic growth promoter in some regions of the world has forced the investigation of alternative products which can modulate the intestinal flora beyond the stomach barrier, obtaining comparable growth performance in the animal. Organic acids as well as aromatic compounds have been widely used as antimicrobials in food safety and as feed additives. An important quantity of studies in which the efficacy of organic acids in improving feed efficiency and growth have been clearly showed (Khan and Iqbal, 2016; Huyghebaert et al., 2011). The limiting factor in the use and efficacy of these compounds is the need to reach the intestine in order to exert their antibacterial activity, without being absorbed too rapidly after leaving the stomach.
Which organic acid to choose?
For feed decontamination, formic acid is given as the best antimicrobial organic acid. It is not the best choice for an intestinal microorganism target. The pKa value of formic acid is lower than 4; it is a small molecule and quickly metabolised. Benzoic acid has a pKa value of 4.2 and the phenolic part is an efficient damaging agent for the bacteria cell. Benzoic acid is a solid molecule and also less corrosive and safer to handle compared to formic, propionic or lactic acids. Figure 1 shows the minimum inhibitory concentrations of benzoic acid on different bacteria (not published data). As it is the general case for organic acids, gram-negative (i.e. E. coli, Salmonella) are much more inhibited than gram-positive bacteria.
Figure 1 – Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC in ppm) of benzoic acid against microorganisms isolated from animals.
Amongst the gram-positive bacteria, the “beneficial bacteria” (i.e. Lactobacillus spp.) is less sensitive to the antibacterial effects of benzoic acid. It has already been reported that benzoic acid plays an important role lowering numbers of many pathogenic bacteria as Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica (Giannenas et al, 2010).
Typically Benzoic acid is an organic acid that modify the intracellular pH of gut bacteria and shifts gut bacterial profile by creating an environment that minimize the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria (yousaf et al., 2016). Despite benefits of organic acids, a major constraint associated with organic acids is their rapid metabolism and absorption in the proximal parts of the gastrointestinal tract, which results in low concentrations in the distal parts. Thus, the mode of action for the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of free organic acids are questionable (Hume et al., 1993; Thompson and Hinton, 1997; Ricke, 2003; Van Immerseel et al., 2006; Goodarzi Boroojeni et al., 2014b).
Target release by encapsulation:
To reach antimicrobial concentrations in the distal intestine of poultry, it would be necessary to increase the level of organic acids dramatically in the feed, causing decreased feed intakes. Therefore, different attempts have been made to protect organic acids from dissociation and absorption in the proximal intestine by microencapsulating the active compounds in a matrix which would lead to releasing the active compounds in the distal parts of the gut (Yousaf et al, 2016). Novus has used a patented technology called Novus Premium Blend consisting of a protective vegetable fat matrix embedding the active substances which allows benzoic acid to be released slowly throughout the intestinal tract and modulating the gut microbiota.
AVIMATRIX® is a blend of nature identical flavoring compounds and preservatives processed by Novus Premium Blend Technology with a high Benzoic acid concentration. It has a stabilizing effect on gut microflora which offers cost effective performance enhancement. This encapsulation through Premium Blend Technology has shown the control release of Active Ingredients (AI) in the intestinal tract when compare with free Benzoic acid.
AVIMATRIX® has been shown to stimulates growth of Lactobacillus in the GIT, which increase lactate production. Lactate, as substrate, promotes growth of Clostridium clusters XIVa and IV. Clostridium cluster XIVa includes many known butyrate-producing bacteria. Butyrate is a preferred energy source for colonic epithelial cells and reported to improve growth performance, intestinal digestive and absorptive capacity. Clostridium cluster XIVa been reported to down-regulate bacteria virulence and gut inflammation.
L. reuteri stimulates the development of longer villi and significantly deeper crypts, specifically in the ileal region of the gut of young chicks. This enhanced ileal mucosal development caused by L. reuteri occurred in turkeys as well, and the effect was retained until the birds reached market age. AVIMATRIX® also has been shown to increase the ratio of Lactobacilli vs Escherichia spp throughout the intestinal tract and thereby positively alters the microbial balance of the GIT.
Conclusion:
Supplementing broiler diets with a protected benzoic acid (AVIMATRIX®) embedded in vegetable fat can positively impact the intestinal microflora by reducing coliform and clostridia counts in the gut and subsequently improve footpad health and litter condition. Because of effectuating an overall better gut health condition, this protected benzoic acid increases final bird weight and feed efficiency resulting in a considerable return on investment. The efficacy and consistency of results showed by the application of this product are related to both the mode of action of the active compound (benzoic acid) against intestinal pathogenic bacteria and its protection technology, which allows the active substances to be released throughout the entire bird’s intestinal tract. Thus, together with a proper farm management, this protected benzoic acid can be a powerful, cost-effective solution to manage intestinal health challenges and animal welfare ensuring a profitable poultry production.
The efficient conversion of feed into its basic components for optimal nutrient absorption is vital for both broiler and broiler breeder production and welfare. Gut health, an intricate and complex area combining nutrition, microbiology, immunology, and physiology, has a key role to play. When gut health is compromised, digestion and nutrient absorption are affected which, in turn, can have a detrimental effect on feed conversion leading to economic loss and a greater susceptibility to disease.
Dr. Koushik De, Technical Services Director- SCA Novus International
The industry has made huge efforts in recent years to develop solutions focusing on gut health. This is not only due to a direct link to improved feed efficiency and profitability, animal welfare or food safety, but also due to changes in consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
When it comes to poultry gut health, coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis are major economic challenges, particularly when present in a subclinical form where symptoms may not be observable. Due to epithelial damage and inflammation, these subclinical infections reduce feed efficiency and result in an opportunity for potential pathogens.
Poultry trials challenged with Eimeria and Clostridium perfringens showed that NEXT ENHANCE® 150 feed additive – an encapsulated, highly concentrated blend of thymol with carvacrol – promotes healthy intestinal microbial flora, as well as supports gut barrier function, inflammation processes and immunity. NEXT ENHANCE® 150 has a positive effect in the reduction of coccidial faecal oocyst shedding and minimize damage to intestinal epithelium in infected birds . Use of NEXT ENHANCE® 150 for reduction in coccidial oocysts in excreta could lead to the development of new strategy for the prevention of avian coccidiosis.
Oocyst shedding/ gram feces
Coated essential oil blend – protected for better performance:
Where essential oils are concerned, thymol and carvacrol are scientifically well-documented compounds. Due to their phenolic structure (having a cyclic ring with a hydroxyl group attached) they are recognized as efficient compounds showing a variety of beneficial effects in the gut. NEXT ENHANCE® 150 (NE150) is a highly concentrated blend containing thymol and carvacrol protected by a unique coating. This ensures that the active ingredients are stable during pelleting and can ultimately result in a controlled release to the lower parts of the intestinal tract.
Multi-faceted approach:
Thymol and carvacrol are highly effective against a wide range of potential pathogens. In a variety of studies, NE150 has demonstrated its potential to establish a healthy microbial composition by promoting higher lactic acid-producing bacteria and reduce pathogenic species. An example of the antimicrobial effects in broilers is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Reduction in caecal C. perfringens & Enterobacteriaceae 8 days post-challenge with Eimeria
In the study, an Eimeria challenge model was used, which typically increases the levels of C. perfringens. It is well known that C. perfringens is the causative agent for necrotic enteritis but requires other predisposing factors to become clinical or subclinical. The invasion of intestinal cells by the Eimeria parasite is seen as the major predisposing factor because it creates tissue damage and leakage of plasma proteins used by C. perfringens. Broilers, receiving NE150 showed lower levels of C. perfringens as well as lower levels of Enterobacteriaceae, a large family of pathogens including E. Coli or Salmonella. As a result, NE150 is shown to lower the risk of a bacterial overgrowth, which is key in the development of necrotic enteritis.
Biomarkers can be used to study the effect of protected thymol and carvacrol on intestinal integrity and gut barrier function. The stability of the tight junctions (a unique connection between cells), for example is linked to the amount of occludin, which increases the physical barrier function of the intestine. Under challenge conditions and during inflammation processes, occludin is known to be downregulated. A broiler study with C. perfringens challenge showed lower levels of occludin, which increased with the addition of NE150. This lowers the risk of pathogen translocation, or the uncontrolled transfer of different molecules from the lumen into the bloodstream. It has also been shown that broilers receiving NE150 under Eimeria or C. perfringens challenges showed significantly lower serum endotoxin levels, indicating improved mucosal barrier integrity. Adding NE150 to the ration has also shown increased villus height to crypt depth ratio, another well recognized marker for intestinal health. Macroscopic intestinal lesions are another relevant indicator of gut health. In Eimeria and C. perfringens challenge studies, these lesions were significantly reduced with NE150. Fewer intestinal lesions can result in a lower inflammation processes and can directly translate to performance improvements.
During a host-pathogenic infection, pro-inflammatory cytokines are released to activate the immune system. However, the inflammation needs to be controlled as a prolonged and persistent activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines can result in mucosal damage as well as impact the stability of tight junctions. The inflammation also consumes a lot of energy, which impacts performance. NE150 is shown to downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, which helps to protect intestinal barrier function and save energy. Conclusively, thymol and carvacrol lower the risk of performance depression and intestinal damage caused by inflammation.
Thymol and carvacrol are also known to have anti-oxidative capacities due to their chemical structure. To understand how NE150 could benefit broilers’ oxidative status, a study was done measuring various biomarkers, such as super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). These enzymes are responsible for the conversion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to harmless substances. ROS are a result of normal metabolism but are toxic to the organism and increase significantly during an infection or stress. It was shown that both enzymes increased (Figure 2) when NE150 was added to the diet. As a result, the malondialdehyde levels, a marker for lipid peroxidation, were significantly reduced in broilers. NE150 can therefore, directly and indirectly, help to maintain a balance between ROS and the defense system, which lowers the risk of tissue and cell damage as well as performance losses.
Figure 2: Improved antioxidant status
Consistent performance improvement
With its broad impact on gut health it is not surprising that broilers receiving NE150 show a consistent improvement in feed conversion ratio with an average of 3.7% when used at the recommended dosage rate. In addition, NE150 can be used in feeding programs to support the birds under coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis or gut health challenges to help alleviate negative effects on the animals.
This array of trials shows that producers can use NE150 in their strategy to improve feed conversion ratio, thereby reducing production cost efficiently and increasing the profitability of commercial broiler productions.
Natural is future 2.0 is a webinar series powered by Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., where we invite eminent speakers from across the globe to share their thoughts on the most relevant topics in the animal health industry.
In August, we had the privilege of hosting two speakers, Dr. Sudheer B. Rukadikar, Veterinary Pathologist and Poultry Health Consultant, and Dr. Chandan Chatterjee, Group Product Manager at Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd. The focus of their discussion was towards understanding and providing practical solutions to the respiratory challenges in poultry, faced during high humidity conditions.
Dr. Sudheer Rukadikar
Dr. Rukadikar started his talk by pointing out the increased incidence of respiratory diseases worldwide in recent days due to the intensive rearing methods followed. He has used the term respiratory disease complex (RDC) as acute respiratory diseases caused due to several etiologies characterized by respiratory distress, depression, and increased mortality in poultry.
Dr. Rukadikar mentioned that each year, India faces losses of millions of rupees due to poultry sickness caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Microbial illnesses in poultry are a huge concern, despite the widespread use of antibiotics and the best vaccinations available. The large bioburden is one of the explanations. Bioburden is the presence of disease-causing organisms in the shed, which are passed down from one flock to the next.
Dr. Rukadikar brought to notice that there has been growing concern about the presence of residual antibiotics in poultry meat in recent years. This puts pressure on poultry rearing practices to limit antibiotic use in poultry to therapeutic rather than prophylactic or growth-enhancing purposes. Also, the emergence of new multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria is a reason why we must use antibiotics at the lowest levels possible.
Clinical symptoms of RDC in chickens are sneezing; open mouth breathing; head shaking; ruffled feathers; gurgling breathing sounds; discharge from nostrils and eyes; eye swelling.
Why is the poultry respiratory system more susceptible to infections as compared to mammals?
While discussing the anatomy and physiology of the chicken respiratory system, Dr. Rukadikar pointed out that, unlike mammals, the chicken respiratory system is not limited to the thorax but extends throughout the body. As a result, maintaining the integrity of the system is crucial. The invasion of the respiratory tract influences the overall performance of the birds. Nostrils, trachea, and bronchi form the upper respiratory tract (URT). The lower respiratory tract is made up of the lungs and air sacs (LRT). The URT also acts as the first line of defense in the body, preventing pathogens from entering. Air sacs are very thin-walled expansions of the bronchi that are only seen in avian species. They are found all over the bird’s body, and they create pneumatic bones when linked to long bones. Any damage or infection to the air sac can cause the bones to get infected. The cleft in the hard palate is another unusual aspect of the bird’s anatomy.
The respiratory system is also a part of the immune system.
Putting the immune system in the spotlight Dr. Rukadikar explained that the avian immune system is comprised of various branches, including gut immunity linked with gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and respiratory immunity related to bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). The BALT works by eliminating inhaled particles and keeping the airways clean, preventing or inhibiting the entry of disease-causing pathogens from the air. Several supplements can be used to promote BALT function and immunity by strengthening the respiratory tract’s immunity and defending the body against disease-causing germs.
Challenges in the monsoon season
Birds can withstand relative humidity (RH) levels of 50-70 percent. However, due to increased air humidity during the monsoon season, dampness in the shed is high. Higher humidity always adds pressure to the respiratory system and birds cannot breathe properly.
Ventilation: Poultry houses should be well ventilated. Sufficient aeration is necessary to eliminate dangerous gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide from the shed. Gases such as ammonia accumulation can lead to damage to the ciliated epithelium in the trachea, which is known as the first line of defense in the respiratory system. When ammonia levels reach 25 ppm, it will lead to ciliostasis, where cilia stop moving, and at levels of 40 ppm, it leads to de-ciliation, which is the loss of cilia. Weakening of the first line of defense will lead to the entry of pathogenic organisms into the LRT, causing serious diseases. Hence, it is important to keep ammonia at the lowest level with proper ventilation. Dr. Rukadikar provided evidence through autopsy images showing disease changes noticed, to emphasize the damage caused.
Filthy litter: About 80 percent of the water consumed by birds is added back to the barn through respiration and excreted as faeces. Due to high humidity, the litter may not dry quickly; care must be taken to remove caked litter.
Vaccination Reactions: Dr. Rukadikar mentioned that vaccinations have, without any doubt, contributed significantly to the health and welfare of birds in poultry farming. But live virus vaccines can sometimes lead to vaccine reactions. Certain vaccine viruses replicate in the intestinal (Newcastle disease (ND), infectious bronchitis (IB), and IBD vaccine viruses) and/or respiratory tract (ND and IB vaccine viruses). But due to replication in the respiratory tract, ND and IB vaccines provoke respiratory distress. In combination, ammonia build-up with poor ventilation in the shed leads to a weakened respiratory immune system. Hence, efforts must be made towards avoiding vaccine reactions too.
Bringing the focus on the current known respiratory diseases in chickens, Dr. Rukadikar listed infectious coryza, infectious laryngotracheitis, IB, ND, avian influenza (AI), and chronic respiratory diseases, which are primarily diseases of the respiratory system. But diseases, such as fowl cholera, aspergillosis, and fowl pox (diphtheritic form), may also affect the respiratory organs.
He then explained the strategy to be followed to overcome respiratory distress.
Firstly, one must target improving respiratory immunity, aiming at keeping airways patent and reducing stress on the respiratory system.
Secondly, one should try to increase hemoglobin levels in birds so that oxygen-carrying efficiency is improved.
During the high-risk period, such as the monsoon season, one should use products that can remove excess mucus in the bronchi such as bronchodilators and expectorants.
General principles to be followed to prevent RDC:
Cleaning and disinfection of the poultry shed between flocks to reduce bioburden.
Avoid immunosuppression in birds.
Continuous disinfection by spraying.
Keeping the shed aerated, dust-free and the birds stress-free.
As prevention of RDC, one can use herbal products that act as expectorants and bronchodilators; expand the capacity of the lungs to ease respiratory distress.
Dr. Chandan Chatterjee, Group Product Manager at Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., took over the session and talked about a natural way to boost the natural immunity of the respiratory system. He put forth the concept of positively modulating immunity by enhancing immunity and negative modulation by reducing inflammation.
He introduced the product Respease™ which is an herbal liquid consisting of Glycyrrhizin, Vasicine, Rosmarinic acid, and the essential oil Carvone. Respease™ improves respiratory immunity and boosts oxygenation of the cells through its hematinic activity and respiratory soothing effect.
He showed histopathological slides with evidence of increased BALT area in chicken lungs after supplementation with Respease™. The anti-inflammatory property of Respease™ was tested for its effect on COX2 and PGE2 inhibition. Both COX2 and PGE2 are inflammatory mediators. Respease™ also exhibits properties of a mucolytic, expectorant, bronchodilator, anti-oxidant, and anti-spasmodic. Supplementation with Respease™ in a field trial consisting of 30,000 broiler birds showed improved FCR, increased body weight gain, lower mortality, and improved bird activity as compared to the untreated control group. Respease™ has been extensively assessed and has scientific backing for its ability to improve respiratory immunity and attenuate respiratory distress.
The questions addressed during the session are below:
How do we take care of respiratory challenges in layers? Is week-a-month antibiotic therapy sufficient?
Dr. Rukadikar: With the growing concern about the residual antibiotics in chicken meat, it is not advisable to follow the week-a-month schedule of antibiotics for prophylactic purposes. Management tools such as clean environment, stress-free, dust-free, good ventilation, and clean sheds. Also, when going for the live IB and ND vaccines, farmers should supplement the birds with products that minimize stress on the respiratory tract to avoid vaccine reactions.
Any change in the vaccination schedule required to control respiratory infections?
Dr. Rukadikar: There is documentation that administering a live LaSota vaccine in the presence of avian influenza (AI) can lead to respiratory reactions. Hence, it is better to go for clone vaccines which do not show vaccine reactions.
Can Respease™ be used in treatment also?
Dr. Chandan: Respease™ has been designed to be used for prophylactic purposes, but it can also be used for treatment purposes.
What kind of management improvisations helps in reducing respiratory challenges in humid conditions?
Dr. Rukadikar: Avoid overcrowding.
If humidity is high and no natural air movement is present in the shed, then fix high-speed fans to help air circulation.
Does Respease™ react with any other medicine or supplements when added to water?
Dr. Chandan: Respease™ is a very inert herbal product and it is a natural product. Hence, it doesn’t react with other medicines or supplements. It is very safe to add to water.
Even though a bird’s respiratory system is advanced in comparison to that of humans and very effective, it is more prone to respiratory infection. Why?
Dr. Rukadikar: The avian respiratory system is advanced, but also delicate. The bird’s respiratory system is not restricted to one part of the body. It is spread throughout the body and any minor insult to any part of the system will spread all over.
CRD is a common problem in the field. How can we manage the situation?
Dr. Rukadikar: a. CRD is vertically transmitted from parents to offspring, hence purchasing the chicks from a known vendor where the parents are not infected.
b. Preventive Treatment: Tylosin and Tilmicosin can be used according to the prescribed dosage.
c. If there is a doubt about mycoplasma infection, then the flock must be vaccinated for IB and ND at a young age. In spray vaccination, the size of the vaccine must be very critically managed.
What is the main point of cleaning with disinfection to protect against respiratory problems?
Dr. Rukadikar: Cleaning must be done well before introducing a new flock. This is not just for the prevention of respiratory diseases, but also for other diseases. Cleaning should be done well with no residues of organic matter. This should reduce the bioburden to a great extent. And disinfection with the recommended concentration has a good effect.
World Egg Day is the second Friday of every October, and Chicken Day in India falls on the second Thursday of the month. To celebrate, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – South Asia organized multiple events this year, including:
Employee webinar on the importance of protein in people’s diets
“Fastest Fingers” quiz for employees
Live egg counter
Eggshell crafts competition
Facebook campaign
Appreciating protein begins with understanding the importance of it in humans’ daily diets. Kemin South Asia organized a webinar session with Dr. Yamini, a chief dietician, to reiterate the importance of egg and chicken consumption.
The virtual quiz, “Fastest Fingers”, invited employees to answer posted questions about eggs, with those answering fastest being rewarded.
Kemin set up a food stall on its office lawn where employees could enjoy egg-based dishes, and the business unit offered a menu comprised of six recipes that incorporate eggs: egg roast, egg podimas, egg kalakki, eggs sunny side up, eggs with salt and pepper and half-boiled eggs.
For the eggshell crafts competition, five teams were asked to recreate “work from home episodes” using eggshells. The final products showed thoughtful and funny moments from Kemin South Asia’s work-from-home days. Dr. Tanweer Alam, Dr. Santosh and Dr. Sugumar judged the five entries and prizes were distributed to the winning team.
Along with these internal events, Kemin ran a three-day social media campaign that included two videos around the theme, “Eggs for All: Nature’s Perfect Package”. The campaign reached 617,000 users, garnered 408,000 video views, and generated 223,000 engagements.
Toxin management: Put a stop to hidden threat in feed
Synopsis: The article suggests how toxins in feed can cause hindrance to the farm profit and by adopting appropriate preventive measures one can put halt to the negative consequences of these toxins.
Toxin: A hurdle in way of farm profitability
Toxin word is derived from Latin word “Toxicum” means poison. Any small molecule, peptide or protein which has potential to alter the normal metabolism of host cells with deleterious effect comes under toxin. Poultry feed provides all the vital nutrients to birds so that their body functions well and their health remains in great condition. A healthy feed not only keeps them away from diseases but also enhances the quality of the produce derived from them. But, poultry feed also has the potential to contain a wide range of contaminants including biological, chemical (including radiological), or physical. Contaminants maybe introduced into feed from either natural sources (Mycotoxins) or potentially introduced during the manufacturing process. These toxic compounds present may exert anti-nutritional effects, reduce reproductive performance, decreases body weight, causes mortality and adversely affect health of farm birds.
Endotoxins: A Hidden threat in feed
Refers specifically to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) located in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS are released into the environment when the bacteria multiply or when their cell membranes rupture through bacterial lysis and thus causes inflammatory immune response in the poultry which comes at the expense of the production performance. Gastrointestinal tract is the main target site, where they can be transferred from the lumen into the bloodstream, causing endotoxemia. The permeability of the gut is tightly controlled by enterocytes which are connected by tight junction proteins, this keeps endotoxins on the luminal side. But when dysbiosis occurs, several external factors (Heat stress, sudden changes in diet, pathogen, low ruminal pH and high osmolality etc.) increases gut permeability and excessive triggering of the immune system. This promotes leakage of endotoxins into the bloodstream, can result in septic shock and even death. The translocation of endotoxins into the blood steam can also take place across the rumen epithelium, which is a multi-layer structure and is covered by keratinized cells. Endotoxins has cosmopolitan distribution: in the air, the water, soil and in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. Protecting all livestock from their toxic effects should be a priority for everyone from feed to farm. Like providing the products which are adequately heat processed, the risks of contamination with E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. are likely to be controlled.
Mycotoxins are cosmopolitan menace to farmers
Mycotoxins are low molecular weight secondary metabolites produced by certain strains of filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium, which invade crops in the field and may grow on foods during storage under favorable conditions of temperature and humidity.
Factors affecting development of fungi and mycotoxin production are:
Physical factors: Humidity, temperature, microflora zones and physical integrity of the grains
Chemical factors: pH, composition of the substrate and mineral nutrients
Biological factors: Presence of insects and specific strains
Aflatoxins are highly toxic compounds. The liver is the main organ affected, followed by the kidneys. They cause hepatic changes leading to serious liver damage characterized by hemorrhages, cirrhosis and fatty degeneration of the liver. Aflatoxins are absorbed from the gut and are transported to the liver where they are metabolized. Among the naturally occurring aflatoxins, AFB1 is the most acutely toxic followed by AFG1, AFB2 and AFG2.
T-2 toxin can cause caustic injury to the mucosa, destroying cells on the tips of villi, and affect rapidly dividing crypt epithelium.
Zearalenone affects the reproductive system of birds. This toxin is responsible for estrogenic syndrome that affects any stage of reproduction. Zearalenone is found to be relatively stable in heat conditions. While the mold can withstand high heat conditions, growth most efficiently in moist and cooler conditions.
Co-contamination of Mycotoxins is major risk as synergistic interactions exaggerate toxicity symptoms. A per recent survey conducted by renowned Indian company it shows that from the total samples analyzed, 86% samples were contaminated with more than one mycotoxin and 24% samples were contaminated with more than four different mycotoxins and corn gluten meal is highly contaminated with all mycotoxins.
Role of Toxin binder
Refers to a substance added to feed in minute quantities that is able to neutralize or immobilize harmful chemicals, mycotoxins or endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) within a gastrointestinal tract, thus avoiding negative consequences. They prevent toxins from entering the blood stream, where they can cause serious harm to poultry birds. They help by reducing bioavailability of toxins in the diet and prevent them from being absorbed through the gut and entering the blood circulation. They improve overall poultry health and also reduce risk of human exposure.
Aluminosilicates are clay minerals composed of aluminium, silicon, and oxygen, plus countercations. Natural soil minerals (Zeolite and bentonite) are crystalline alumino-silicates characterized by their ablity to exchange cations without major changes in structure. Natural clays can adsorb toxic products of digestion and decrease the accumulation of toxic substance, thus decreasing the incidence of internal disorders. Natural soil minerals may stimulate the lining of the intestinal tract that increases the production of antibodies, which could then inhibit the onset of enteritis. HSCAS and Montmorillonite clay are most studied binder, on many species including poultry.
Activated charcoal is a universal toxin binder. It is a general adsorptive material with a large surface area and excellent adsorptive capacity and recommended for various digestive toxicities. Many toxins are positively charged, and a binder that is negatively charged like charcoal will be attracted to them, and able to adsorb many of them. The Activated charcoal and the toxin are then excreted in the feces if it is part of food ingestion, or if it is cycling through the enterohepatic circulation with the bile. Activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body. Therefore, if it binds a toxin in the intestinal tract, it and the toxin end up leaving the body.
Organic acids controls and prevents fungal growth by lowering pH of feed. They also enhances digestibility of nutrients by lowering pH of gut. This aids digestibility of proteins and thus increases availability of amino acids.
Cinnamaldehyde inactivates S.enteridis, C.jejuni & reduces colonization, while Carvacrol has action against C.perfringens & E.coli. They down-regulate toxin producting genes, modulates transcriptional repressor and modifies bacterial membranes, thus arrest bacterial multiplication.
Yeast cell walls are potential mycotoxin binders, besides having nutritional value. Using only yeast cell walls instead of whole cells, the adsorption of mycotoxins can be enhanced. The beta-d-glucan fraction of the yeast cell wall is directly involved in the binding process with Fusarium mycotoxins as zearalenone, and the structural organization of beta-d-glucan modulates the binding strength. It appears that carbohydrate components are common sites for binding, with different toxins having different binding sites. Microbial cell walls can be used to alleviate the harmful effects of mycotoxins in contaminated feeds. Adsorbents derived from cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and lactic acid bacteria have shown to bind Fusarium toxins and help reduce the toxic effects in poultry. Complex carbohydrates in bacterium and yeast cell walls such as β-glucans and mannans have been demonstrated to adsorb mycotoxins (Zearalenone, Ochratoxin A (OTA), a toxic secondary fungal metabolite that widely takes place in various kinds of foodstuffs and feeds.
Herbslike Azadirachta indica has potent antifungal and antibacterial action that fights with the endotoxins producing bacteria. It is effective against a wide spectrum of insects, fungi and viruses, which reveals its great potential as a possible biological control of fungi and mycotoxins.
Humic acid acts as natural chelator of toxin or heavy metals & push them out of the body. The supplementation of Humic acid also enhances the humoral immunity by counteracting the aflatoxin contamination.
At last, feed contamination by fungi can be a plight for feed security. Under the unfavorable condition of temperature and humidity, the occurrence of mycotoxins including aflatoxins has become overbearing. Thus, there is a need for understanding multiple effects of mycotoxins, their trans-conversions and masked mycotoxins. The advances in Activated charcoal, aluminosilicates, yeast, yeast-based products, organic acids and various herbal extracts and their combinations have been quite successful to decrease the harmful effects of mycotoxins.
Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH) celebrates 10th Year Anniversary, appoints Managing Committee (2021-2023)
Indian Federation of Animal Health Companies (INFAH) hosted its 10th Annual General Body Meeting virtually on 27th Sept and 28th Sep 2021. Members had creative, virtual experience showcasing INFAH’s Vision and Mission along with gallery of INFAH’s Milestones. The AGM was attended by more than 100 industry colleagues representing Indian animal health and Nutrition industry.
On 27th Sep,2021 at the Inaugural session, Dr Vijay Makhija, General Secretary delivered welcome note. Inaugural address was given by Mr Vijay Teng, President- INFAH, showcasing the 10 years journey of INFAH, releasing the special edition of Annual report 2021 and launching INFAH movie which showcases INFAH’s accomplishments and key milestones.
10th Year Commemorative talk on Role of Government, Animal Health Industry & other stakeholders for making Healthier Animals & Healthier India was organized. INFAH members had the unique opportunity of listening and interacting with Regulators, policy makers & dignitaries viz. Dr Praveen Malik, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, MoFAHD; Dr. Bhupendra Nath Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Science) ICAR; Mr. Upamanyu Basu, Joint Secretary (Livestock Health), MoFAHD; Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary Cum Scientific Advisor, Indian Pharmacopeia Commission; Dr. S. P. Shani, Deputy Drug Controller & Head Veterinary Cell ,CDSCO; Dr. Ashok Kumar Assistant Director General (Animal Health ) ICAR; Dr. Amit Sharma, Director (Imports ), FSSAI; Dr. Rajesh Verma Assistant Drug Controller CDSCO &and Mr. Carel De Sarvaas (Executive Director, HealthForAnimals) Mr. Anurag Agrawal, Vice President- INFAH, shared his views on role of Ayurveda in Indian animal health care sector.
Three distinguished stalwarts Dr M.L. Kanchan, Dr S N Singh and Mr Bharat Tandon were conferred with INFAH Award for their contribution towards Animal Health Industry. On 10th Year anniversary special award was presented to Dr. Romila Iyer for bringing the diversity in the Animal Health sector and making significant contribution. The award ceremony was conducted by Dr B.P Manjunatha and Dr Tanweer Alam.
INFAH Awardee & Special Awardee 2021
Day 2 of AGM
Dr Shirish Nigam Resident Secretary New Delhi, delivered welcome note, President address was given by Mr Vijay Teng. Dr. P.G. Phalke Treasurer conducted the AGM proceedings. Dr. Vijay Makhija, General Secretary, INFAH presented the full year activity report for 2020-2021.
Mr Tarun Shridhar (Former Secretary, MoFDHD) delivered talk on “Emerging Landscape of India’s Animal Husbandry sector” and Mr Gaurav Marathe (CEO India, Managing Director Lincoln International Advisors Private Limited) presented on “Investor Outlook for Animal Health Industry.
INFAH’s Founder Members – Dr Asim Banerjee, Mr Satish Pasrija, Dr Arun Atrey, Dr D K Dey, Mr. Vijay Teng, Dr. Sandeep Karkhanis & Dr P G Phalke, Managing Committee, Subcommittees, INFAH Connect Team, INFAH Support Team and INFAH office team were felicitated at the AGM for their valuable contribution over the years and for successfully conducting the 10th AGM. Industry associations AAHA, CLFMA, IAAVR, IPEMA, PFI participated in this event and were also felicitated for the valuable support. New Members were welcomed and presented the Membership Certificate. The award ceremony was conducted by Mr Anurag Agarwal and Dr Jeetendra Verma.
Dr. B P Manjunath (MC member) proposed the vote of thanks. AGM concluded on a very positive note with a resolve to continue the contribution of INFAH towards betterment of the Industry and Society.
INFAH Managing Committee 2021-2023
The New Managing Committee is as under:
1) Dr. Vijay Makhija (President)
2) Dr. Tanweer Alam (Vice President)
3) Dr. Shirish Nigam (General Secretary)
4) Dr. P.G. Phalke (Treasurer)
Executive Members
5) Mr Vijay Teng, Immediate Past President
6) Dr D.K. Dey, Past President
7) Dr Arun Atrey, Past President
8) Mr Satish Pasrija, Past President
9) Mr Anurag Agarwal
10) Mr Gautam Chatterjee
11) Mr Natesan T
Poultry Federation of India (PFI) an apex and renowned association of poultry farmers, breeders, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and all allied industries, is organizing its 32nd Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) at Hotel Pullman, Aero City, New Delhi on December 23, 2021.
Delegate registration fee:
Until December 15, 2021 – Rs.3,000 per person
Spot Registration at the AGM Venue – Rs.4,000 per person
(Registration fee includes Lunch, High Tea, Cocktail, Networking Dinner and attending Musical Entertainment Program on December 23, 2021)
Sponsorship Opportunity
The Sponsor, companies can display their advertisements in form of standees/ banners on the prominent locations inside the conference hall. Table space will also be provided to the sponsors near the hall entrance. The logos of all the sponsors shall be printed on PFI Invitation cards, welcome banners, main backdrop banner and on all PFI promotional banners. All sponsoring companies will be honoured by presenting them mementos during the AGM.
For more details on sponsorship, you may kindly contact:
1. Mr. Ramesh Chander, President, Mobile Number: +919215944454 and 9416015834
2. Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, Vice President (HQ), Mobile Number: +919810016290 and 8860631632
3. Mr. Ranpal Dhanda alias Bittu, Secretary, Mobile Number: +919215700133 and 9416035827
4. Mr. Ricky Thaper, Treasurer, Mobile Number: +919810016293 and 9910016293
Accommodation:
Kindly note that PFI has blocked 80 rooms at Hotel Pullman, Aero city, New Delhi at special rate of Rs.6000 (Single / Double Occupancy< Inclusive of Taxes & Complementary Breakfast). If any requirement, kindly send the confirmation email at the earliest.
Looking forward to welcoming you all 32nd Poultry Federation of India AGM on December 23, 2021. With everybody’s support and cooperation, we all will make this AGM a grand success.
Dr. John Abraham was recently granted Indian patent for his innovation – “A method to produce bio-diesel production from rendered chicken oil”.
Dr. John Abraham
In an Exclusive Interview to Poultry TRENDSmagazine, Dr. John Abraham shares the process, economics, implementation options and how poultry industry can be made profitable and sustainable through biodiesel project.
Excerpt of the interview are reproduced hereunder:
What propelled you to make biodiesel from poultry waste?
This idea struck me, when I went to Namakkal Veterinary College for my Ph.D Programme. In Namakkal, there are about 1000 poultry farms with stocking capacity of 2-3 lakhs birds within a radius of 40 kilometer. The daily mortality of these farm accounts to about 60-90 birds per farm. These birds used to be brought to the Veterinary College for postmortem. Since the bio-secure disposal of these birds was a daunting task, the college established a rendering plant which could convert these waste into carcass meal and Rendered Chicken Oil (RCO). Carcass meal was used as pet feed ingredient and biofertilizer. But there was no use for RCO. My guide and co-guide urged me to find out a use for RCO. I accepted the challenge. After many days of study and trial and error experiments, I proposed that biodiesel can be made from RCO and I took up my Ph.D research on this project.
Describe the process of producing bio-diesel from chicken slaughter waste?
After collecting the broiler slaughter waste, (including feathers, viscera, shank and head) from chicken shops, the process called ‘dry rendering’ (The waste material is first dry cooked, then steam sterilized i.e. 130° C at 2 bar pressure and then moisture reduced to 10%) starts to transform it into carcass meal a valuable feed ingredient for pets and fishes. After that chicken oil a byproduct of rendering is converted to biodiesel in a two step chemical reaction called ‘acid catalysed esterification of Free Fatty Acids’ and then ‘transestericiation of tryglycerides’.
Process of producing bio-diesel from chicken slaughter waste
What is the economics of ‘bio-diesel production from rendered chicken oil’ project?
The collection of the raw material, itself fetches money. 1 kg slaughter waste is collected at the rate of Rs.7/kg from the chicken shops. 36% of the collected slaughter waste is converted into protein powder in the rendering process, which sells for Rs.35/kg and 10% of it is RCO. 87% of the RCO is transformed into biodiesel and 13% of RCO is crude glycerol which sells for Rs.90/kg. The production cost of biodiesel is only Rs.36 per litre. For commercial sales 12% GST is applicable.
How is the bio-diesel derived from poultry waste different from other biofuels?
Biodiesel can be prepared from any oil. The basic criterion is that the cost of the raw material should be one-third the cost of the present cost of diesel. The Indian biodiesel policy has prohibited the production of biodiesel from edible oil as it may cause scarcity and inflation. This biodiesel, since it is made from animal fat has high cetane number of 72 while the cetane number of petro-diesel is only 54. This indicates that this biodiesel has short ignition delays in engine, improving the engine efficiency. It has 11% oxygen by weight which leads to complete combustion in the engine, leading to reduced engine emission by 47.2% at 20% blending (B20). It also has lubricating properties and makes the engine smooth.
What challenges did you face in the research and patent process?
This was a new field all together (Bio-diesel researches are carried out at Agriculture Engineering Colleges or Bioenergy department of Institutes of Technology). Neither I nor my guide had any previous experiences with bio-diesel. So I had to toil a lot learning everything from the fundamentals to the research problem. The research proceeded by trial and error, each experience making an advancement and then optimizing the process parameters for maximum yield. Testing of biodiesel was carried out at the centre of excellence for biofuel of the Agriculture Engineering College of Tamil Nadu Agri University and engine testing was carried out at Palakkad Engineering College.
Regarding patent, the application was filed on 18th January 2014 and after the procedures, the patent office made the decision on 27th April 2020 that the claims are found in order for the grant, but since a biological material from India was used in the patent, they insisted that the patent certificate will be issued only after producing the agreement with National Biodiversity Authority of India for which it took more than a year and the certificate of grant was issued on 7th July 2021.
How can the poultry industry implement the bio-diesel project?
There are two ways in which this project can be implemented.
In Kerala State, rendering plants had come up which collects the chicken slaughter wastes from chicken shops of a district, render it and produce protein powder for pet and fish feed. They can install a screw press which would extract the oil. When oil is extracted, the protein percentage goes up and they would get more money for their protein powder. This oil can be converted into bio-diesel by installing a biodiesel plant. This biodiesel can be used as a fuel for their boilers which produces steam and also for their vehicles used for collection, which would reduce their rendering cost considerably.
In areas where there are large number of poultry farms: (like Namakkal) The poultry farmers association can put up a rendering plant and a bio-diesel plant, where the dead birds from all the farms will be collected and rendered. The protein powder can be sold and the biodiesel produced can be use in their boiler and for their vehicles.
How the poultry industry can be made profitable and sustainable through biodiesel project?
This project produces ‘Wealth from Waste’. Chicken slaughter waste which used to cause pollution and threat to human health in the wake of emerging diseases, can be transformed into three valuable products without producing further waste.
Bio-diesel a renewable biofuel which can drastically reduce engine emissions
Chicken carcass meal a protein feed supplements fork animal approved by FDA, and
Glycerol, which finds variety of application in pharmaceuticals baking and industry.
The value of these products especially since the diesel price is sky rocketing can produce additional income to supplement the poultry industry for profit and sustainability.
What is the potential of this biodiesel derived from poultry waste in Indian market?
The Indian biofuel policy 2019 proposes 20% blending of diesel by 2023 for national energy security. The biodiesel required for 20% blending is 25.7 MT. This is a huge market which cannot be fulfilled by any other inedible oil sources. In this context the biodiesel derived from poultry waste has huge potential as it provides good fuel properties for the diesel engine and drastically reduces the engine emission. The goal of the biofuel policy is the reduction of import of crude oil by 10% in four years time.
Bio-diesel is not a replacement technology, it is a transition technology to help clean up our environment by keeping the manufacture and consumer as local as possible. It is not about replacing all of our petroleum imports; It is about not importing so much.
What is the environmental impact of this invention?
There are two major environmental impact of this invention.
The unscientific and unhygienic disposal of broiler slaughter waste posing catastrophic threats to the human population and to the environment in the wake of emerging diseases like avian flu and swine flu, will be solved by the planned collection and scientific utilization of broiler slaughter waste by dry rendering process to produce carcass meal. As present, the disposal of broiler slaughter waste causes ground and surface water pollution, obnoxious odors and health hazards posed by indiscriminate breeding of pathogenic microorganism, parasites, house flies and also indiscriminate breeding of stray dogs which is spreads rabies. All these problems will be solved.
Diesel engines are a major source of environmental pollution. Acid rain, global warming, climate change and health hazards like cancer are the ill effects of increased pollution. Recently, diesel vehicles were banned in Delhi due to rising levels of pollution. The major impact of this innovation is on all diesel vehicles. The bio-diesel produced from rendered chicken oil contains 11% oxygen by weight which burns completely inside the engines reducing the engine emissions by half. When used at 20% blending level can reduce the engine emissions by 47.2%, thus have a considerable impact on environmental pollution, mitigating climatic change. It can be confidently stated that this invention reduces the carbon foot print and earns valuable carbon credits.
Dr. John Abraham, MVSc (IVRI), Ph.D (TNVASU), presently working as Associate Professor, Dept. of L.P.M, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Pookode, Wayand, Kerala, India . He was awarded first rank and 4 gold medals for his Ph.D work entitled “Utilisation of Dead Poultry Birds for Biodiesel Production”. He was also recently granted Indian Patent IN 371344 (219/CHE/2014)- A method to produce bio-diesel production from rendered chicken oil. He also holds patent for “Bicycle type milking machine” and two design patents (Drinking bowl for cattle and Transformable goat pen). He has authored a book entitled ‘Swine Production and Management’ which was published by CRC Press, Francis and Taylor. He was awarded the Atal India Challenge-2019, DST-Lockheed Martin-India Innovation Growth Award-2016, Millennium Alliance National Award-2016, Dr. Verghese Kurien’ Memorial Best Scientist Award and Best Teacher Award-2013.
Standardized Botanical Powders (SBPs): Part 4 of 5
Environmentally conscious consumers place a premium on global sustainability, animal welfare, and obtaining better food for their families, driving them to solely purchase organic items. This segment of the population has grown at an exponential rate over the last decade, and their numbers are continuing to rise. According to reports published by BusinessWire, the global organic meat products market is expected to grow from $14.38 billion in 2019 to $20.39 billion in 2023. To meet this market demand, manufacturers must take on the task of producing higher-quality, consistently efficient, value delivering sustainable herbal products.
In this series of articles, Dr. Raina Raj, Head of Marketing at Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd., provides in-depth knowledge of what SBPs are, and their benefits in the poultry diet.
Natural Remedies is the number 1 veterinary herbal healthcare company in India with presence in more than 30 countries across the globe. Through its world-class Research and Development centre, Natural Remedies offers a category of science-based Phytogenic feed additives, called Standardised Botanical Powders (SBPs).
In previous articles of this Series, we explored what standardised botanical powders (SBPs) are, their value, and the benefits they give to the poultry farming community. SBPs are herbal powders whose specific phytochemical active concentrations are standardized with minimal variation, to ensure efficient Phyto active function in the animal’s body. Through standardization of botanical powders, the product can be monitored for consistency, and it provides the expected and desired results for the animals.
Advertisement
Consistency in efficacy is crucial in today’s poultry sector, and the usage of SBPs will help with that. In previous articles, we discussed the scientific foundation to produce SBPs as well as the protocols that must be followed to ensure that the active phytoconstituents remain of high quality. It’s crucial to keep the herbal constituents stable in a poly-herbal composition. Environmental factors such as humidity, air, light, and temperature can affect stability. Stability is further affected by factors such as particle size, pH, the characteristics of water and other solvents used during manufacturing, the nature of the container, and the presence of other chemicals resulting from contamination. Maintaining an SBP’s stability ensures that the product’s strength, quality, and purity remain consistent as per specifications.
In the current article, we shall shed light on the desired botanical, organoleptic, physical, chemical, and biological properties of SBPs that make them stable and maintain high quality.
SBPs should be assessed and documented for their properties
SBPs should be thoroughly studied for their inherent properties as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: The many assessments that an SBP must go through are depicted in this schematic representation.
Botanical properties such as physical shape, external appearance, and markings should be documented.
Organoleptic properties are properties that create an individual experience through the senses of the consumer. These properties are colour, odour, texture, taste, and fracture.
Physical attributes such as pH, moisture content, ash value, which is the inorganic residues obtained after complete combustion of a compound, and extractive values are used to assess quality, purity, and to detect adulteration.
Chemical propertiesshould be assessed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and gas chromatography (GC). The SBPs should be analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively for their chemical properties.
Biological properties should be studied for microbial contamination, toxicological and pharmacological residues.
The next sections go through some of the key attributes that contribute to the making of an efficient SBP.
Assessment of the particle size of the SBPs
Poultry are simple stomached animals largely dependent on the repertoire of endogenous enzymes for their nourishment. One of the most critical aspects that determine feed utilisation in these animals is particle size distribution. Finer particle size provides for better contact with digestive enzymes, which results in optimal nutrient absorption and improved animal performance. However, the fineness of the particle size has limitations. Increased incidences of gizzard dysfunction are seen in the flock when the particle size is very fine. Hence, during the manufacture of SBPs, the particle size of the product plays an integral role. Particle size can be assessed using a particle size analyser, as in Figure 2, which works on the principle of laser diffraction.
Figure 2: Particle size analyser results
Large particles scatter light at small angles as compared to that of the laser beam, whereas small particles scatter light at a much larger angle. The angular scattering intensity is used to determine particle size. The flow of the SBP particles should be assessed for parameters such as the angle of repose, which is a characteristic related to inter-particulate friction or resistance to movement between particles, the compressibility index, and Hausner ratio.
Figure 3: Particle size of different products shown at higher magnification.
In Figure 3, the particle sizes of three products, A, B, and C, are compared. While they are all in powder form, higher magnification reveals that product A has the best particle size when compared to B and C. The ability of a product to be homogeneously blended into the feed mixture is also influenced by particle size. Hence, as indicated in Figure 4, an SBP must be examined for its capacity to be uniformly mixed.
Figure 4: Assessment of uniform mixing of the SBP with other feed ingredients.
Thermostability assessment
It has been observed that, under higher temperatures, many of the constituents present in poly-herbal formulations may react with each other, raising serious concern about the stability and efficiency of the formulation. Natural products are often susceptible to deterioration, especially during storage, leading to the production of metabolites with no activity, loss of active phytoconstituents, and, in extreme cases, the production of toxic metabolites. Hence, qualitative, and quantitative evaluation of SBP stability at higher temperatures is essential. In Figure 5, the product under test doesn’t show any change in the active ingredient composition before and after being autoclaved at 121͒ C, indicating that the compound is thermostable. These results ensure that the SBP is stable and will have the desired biological activity in the target animal.
Figure 5: Thermostability assessment for the SBP both qualitatively and quantitatively. SBPs should be thermostable.
Microbial Load assessment
Herbal plants may be associated with a broad variety of microbial contaminants transmitted through soil or air as illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Schematic representation of the possible pathways of microbial contamination of medicinal plants
They could be bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Multiple environmental conditions influence the microbial load, which has a significant impact on the overall quality of herbal goods and preparations. According to study reports, the most found pathogens are enterobacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella. Hence, microbial assessment of medicinal plants on procurement and SBPs after manufacturing is essential. ISO guidance suggests standardized protocols for aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeasts, and moulds, E. coli, and Salmonella in herbal medicines as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7: Microbial analysis of herbal products
Assessment for toxic contaminants
Contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and mycotoxins, if not maintained below safe levels, can lead to life-threatening toxicity in animals. To ensure the SBPs are safe, they should be tested for these contaminants. The samples can be tested for pesticide residues with Gas Chromatography – Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) and Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Heavy metal contamination can be detected using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Aflatoxin and mycotoxins can be detected using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD).
Assessment of Hygroscopicity
The SBPs should be non-hygroscopic, among other physical qualities. The ability of a substance to absorb moisture from its surroundings is known as hygroscopicity. It’s an unfavourable feature since it might cause lumps and prevent correct mixing with other feed ingredients. As a result, the SBPs must be designed to be non-hygroscopic. Figure 8 depicts a method for determining hygroscopicity. Product A is less hygroscopic as compared to B since it doesn’t form lumps.
Figure 8: A test for the hygroscopicity of products A and B after 7 hours of storage under high humidity.
The efficiency of a feed supplement can be attributed to its physical properties as well as its functional efficacy based on the performance of the birds. Here we elaborately provided evidence of the physical attributes necessary to be tested in an SBP, which would keep the product stable and efficient for a prolonged period as well as make management of the product easy.
In our next article,Productivity Check of SBPs in the Field, we shall elaborate on the scientific assessment of functional efficiency through their biological effects.
Talking about the event, CLFMA Chairman Mr. Neeraj Kumar Srivastava said, “India’s livestock industry is growing at a CAGR of 7%. With increasing disposable income, the demand for animal protein is also witnessing a huge growth. The domestic grain production will not be able to keep pace with the growing energy and protein demand for animal feed unless some immediate steps are being taken to increase per acre productivity and total production of grains like maize and soybean. Considering these challenges, we had very fruitful discussions during these 2 days involving the industry and policy makers.”
Overall, the CLFMA interacted with various stakeholders in the industry and government on policy making related to the livestock sector. The association has diverse membership from across the animal protein value chain including feed manufacturing; poultry, dairy and aquaculture business; animal nutrition and health, veterinary services, machinery and equipment; processing, distribution and retailing of meat.
World Egg Day is the second Friday of every October, and Chicken Day in India falls on the second Thursday of the month. To celebrate, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – South Asia organized multiple events this year, including:
Toxin word is derived from Latin word “Toxicum” means poison. Any small molecule, peptide or protein which has potential to alter the normal metabolism of host cells with deleterious effect comes under toxin. Poultry feed provides all the vital nutrients to birds so that their body functions well and their health remains in great condition. A healthy feed not only keeps them away from diseases but also enhances the quality of the produce derived from them. But, poultry feed also has the potential to contain a wide range of contaminants including biological, chemical (including radiological), or physical. Contaminants maybe introduced into feed from either natural sources (Mycotoxins) or potentially introduced during the manufacturing process. These toxic compounds present may exert anti-nutritional effects, reduce reproductive performance, decreases body weight, causes mortality and adversely affect health of farm birds.
Poultry Federation of India (PFI) an apex and renowned association of poultry farmers, breeders, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and all allied industries, is organizing its 32nd Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) at Hotel Pullman, Aero City, New Delhi on December 23, 2021.
segment of the population has grown at an exponential rate over the last decade, and their numbers are continuing to rise. According to reports published by BusinessWire, the global organic meat products market is expected to grow from $14.38 billion in 2019 to $20.39 billion in 2023. 
