Management practice to control Salmonella from

t h e fe e d m i l l t o t h e l o a d i n g o f b i r d s
SALMONELLA CONTROL SOLUTIONS 2 • Organic acids
• C4
• Vaccines and control in 1 • Probiotics
breeders • Prebiotics
• Feed and water treatment • ….
• Bio-security rules to lower
infection in environment • Antibiotics
• Bedding free of Salmonella • Organic acids
• Probiotics
• Beta-glucans
• Phytogenics
• Limit stress
• Luminal Antibiotics + probiotic
• Organic acids
• Protected SC & MCFA
• Prebiotics
• Beta glucans
3 • Beta-glucans
• Systemic Antibiotics • Bacteriophages
• Vaccines 4 • ….

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 2

CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF SALMONELLA:
HOLISTIC APPROACH

• Monitoring throughout the poultry production chain

• Tracking and tracing see previous session
• Biosecurity and Hygiene
• Target on the points from the monitoring program

• Additives in feed and water for preservation

• Improve intestinal health

• Alternatives
• Antibiotics

• Vaccination

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 3

WAT E R H Y G I E N E

• Water tank and line

• Sanitizing cleaner
• Break up biofilms
• Use machine with air bubbles
• Acidification
• Removes scale build-up
• Sanitation
• Chlorine – 3 ppm
• Stabilized hydrogen peroxide
• Routine flushing

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 4

W H AT D O E S B A D G U T H E A LT H L O O K L I K E ?
• Typical Signs
• Wet litter in house
• ‘Diarrhea’ loose faecal droppings
• Feed intake stable for a couple of days (should increase
daily!)
• Increased water/ feed ratio
• Necropsy (not always all of these apply!!)
• Gut strength: fragile, thin, transparent
• Poor tonus of gut wall
• Inflammation
• Blood vessels dilated
• Excessive fluids in small intestine
• Ballooning of intestinal wall
• Undigested feed in hindgut
Copyright Vetworks 2023 5
 WET litter
VETERINARY NO VETERINARY
SCORE BE / COCCIDIOSIS
INDICATION INDICATION

COCCIDIOSIS BACTERIAL ENTERITIS

COCCIDIOSIS VIRUS FEED MANAGEMENT

✓ ANTICOCCIDIAl ✓ CHECK STATUS ✓ ADDITIVES FEED/WATER

PROGRAM LITTER
BREEDERS ✓ STRUCTURE
✓ VACCINATION ✓ NSP (De Gussem, 2021)
✓ DISINFECT
✓ MYCOTOXINS
Copyright Vetworks 2023
✓ OTHER 6
 WET litter
VETERINARY NO VETERINARY
SCORE BE / COCCIDIOSIS
INDICATION INDICATION
BE SCORE TRESHOLD Total Mean Lesion Score = rough indication:
COCCIDIOSIS BACTERIAL ENTERITIS 0 – 2 no treatment needed
3 - 5 non-AB alternative
TMLS < 1 : ok
1 < TMLS < 2 : check again in 5 - 7 days
treatments TMLS > 2 : treatment (drinking water)
6 - 10 AB allowed, only narrow TMLS one house: therapy decision
spectrum G+
TMLS many houses: coccidiosis control decision

COCCIDIOSIS VIRUS FEED MANAGEMENT

✓ ANTICOCCIDIAL ✓ CHECK STATUS ✓ ADDITIVES LITTER FEED/WATER

PROGRAM BREEDERS ✓ STRUCTURE
✓ VACCINATION ✓ DISINFECT ✓ NSP
✓ MYCOTOXINS
Copyright Vetworks 2023
✓ OTHER (De Gussem, 2021) 7
GAIN IN FCR AND BW: PROGRESS FROM ‘GENETICS’
B U T W H AT A R E M A I N D R I V E R S ?

• Behaviour: selection for high feed intake birds

• Shorter life span, less feed spoiled for maintenance so more efficient FCR
• Higher demands for capacity of digestion and absorption
• As soon ‘something’ goes wrong:
• In past activation of gut brain axis with negative feedback on feed intake to avoid poor digestion and absorption of
nutrients
• Now threshold of activation increased: bacterial or necrotic enteritis
• Historically focus on controlling bacterial element of the BE/NE (AGP, probiotics, acids,….) now more focus
on inflammatory response
• Indications of changing (innate) immune system e.g. Enterococcus problems:
normal inhabitant, able to slip through (innate immunity) gut barrier

Copyright Vetworks 2023 8

G U T H E A LT H K E Y FA C T O R I N P O U LT R Y P R O D U C T I O N

• 70% of production cost is feed

• Efficient digestion and absorption is essential for optimal performance

• Optimal nutrient absorption in the front gut
• Optimal fermentation in the hint gut – caeca
• Complex interaction between host (immune system) and intestinal microbiota

• 50-70% of antimicrobial use in broilers is for intestinal problems

(mainly Bacterial enteritis)

• Increased pressures to reduce the use of antibiotics: antibiotic resistance concerns

Copyright Vetworks 2023 9

 A N AT O M Y I N T E S T I N A L T R A C T B I R D S : S H O R T A N D
EFFICIENT!

- Birds are designed to fly, GIT light

- Need for peristalsis/ antiperistalsis to

achieve adequate digestion

- Gizzard and tunica muscularis/ tonus

should be well developed

Copyright Vetworks 2023 10

G A LT G U T A S S O C I AT E D LY M P H O I D T I S S U E

• 50% of avian immune system in GALT!

• What if you stimulate GALT?

• Even mild activation of the immune system has huge impact on FCR and
ADG
• When this happens, immune response (adaptive and immunity) will
improve, but at high cost for performance
(Humphrey and Klasing, 2004)

• Note Ballooning! Thinner Tunica muscularis….

Copyright Vetworks 2023 11

G U T H E A LT H K E Y FA C T O R I N P O U LT R Y P R O D U C T I O N

Golden triangle of intestinal interactions

Copyright Vetworks 2023 12
N O R M A L / B A D G U T M I C R O B I OTA C O M P O S I T I O N 2 0 0 5

Copyright Vetworks 2023 13

M E TA B O L I S AT I O N O F C A R B O H Y D R AT E S

Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides

Monosaccharides
Bacteroidetes, lactobacilli, Effects of D-(Lactate)
bifidobacteria, … • Production increases
Butyrate
Firmicutes Lactate, acetate
Propionate
Clostridium cluster IX

Propionate

Butyrate
Copyright Vetworks 2023 14
M E TA B O L I S AT I O N O F C A R B O H Y D R AT E S

Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides
Effects of propionate
• Energy source epithelial cells
Monosaccharides • Salmonella invasiveness
Bacteroidetes, lactobacilli, • Inflammation
bifidobacteria, … • Satiety
Firmicutes Lactate, acetate • Treg cell in colon
Effect of butyrate
Clostridium cluster IX
• Mucus secretion
• Inflammation
• Epitehlial integrity and tight junctions
Propionate
• Enzyme production
➢ GLP-pathway!

Butyrate
Copyright Vetworks 2023 15
M E TA B O L I S AT I O N O F C A R B O H Y D R AT E S

Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides

Monosaccharides
Bacteroidetes, lactobacilli,
bifidobacteria, …
Firmicutes Lactate, acetate Excess of Lactate?
• pH drop
Clostridium cluster IX • Toxic for
• Firmicutes
Propionate

Butyrate
Copyright Vetworks 2023 17
M E TA B O L I S AT I O N O F C A R B O H Y D R AT E S

Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides

Monosaccharides
Bacteroidetes, lactobacilli,
bifidobacteria, …
Firmicutes Lactate, acetate
Clostridium cluster IX

Propionate

Butyrate
Copyright Vetworks 2023 18
M E TA B O L I S AT I O N O F C A R B O H Y D R AT E S

Polysaccharides

Oligosaccharides

Monosaccharides
Inflammation!
Bacteroidetes, lactobacilli,
bifidobacteria, … Methanogenic bacteria
Firmicutes Lactate, acetate
(Archaebacteria)
SO42-
Clostridium cluster IX

H2S CH4
Proteobacteria
Propionate
Sulphate reducers (SRB), e.g.
Desulfovibrio

Butyrate
Copyright Vetworks 2023 Also Enterobacteraceae 19
(SALMONELLA !)
V I C I O U S C I R C L E O F PAT H O G E N E S I S O F B E

Presence of nutritional
High feed intake,
nutritional factors
1 factors that favour some
bacterial groups and
(high NSP levels, feed disfavour others causing
texture...), coccidiosis, disbalance
mycotoxines, viruses, …
2

Inflammation and
oxidative stress caused by
interference of
4 microbiota with mucosa
Less functional gut
Copyright Vetworks 2023
3
20
 SOLUTIONS TO VICIOUS CIRCLE

• AGP
• Reduce feed intake
1 BE instigators
• Ionophores
• Limit nutritional factors • Organic acids
( limit NSP, feed texture,…) • Pre/probiotics
• Anticoccidial program • Phytotherapeutics
• Mycotoxin binder • Beta-glucans
2 • Antimicrobial peptides
Presence of
nutritional factors • Bacteriophages
that causing
disbalance

• Organic acids
• probiotics
• Enzymes
• Beta-glucans
• Feed structure
• MOS
• Fiber De Gussem, 2010
• AGP
• Phytogenics 3
4 Inflammation/oxidative • Phytogenics
Less functional gut Copyright Vetworks 2023 21
stress
A LT E R N AT I V E S T O E N H A N C E G U T H E A LT H

• Organic acids

• Probiotics

• Prebiotics

• Phytotherapeutics (herbs and etheric oils)

• Others: Bacteriophages, Antimicrobial peptides, Toll-like receptor

agonists……….
Copyright Vetworks 2023 22
“A LT E R N AT I V E S ” TO E N H A N C E G U T H E A LT H :
H O W TO C H O O S E ?
AGP (VC2 & VC3)

Anticoccidials (VC1 & ionophores VC2), mycotoxin binders (VC1)

Pre- & probiotics (VC2)

Phytotherapeutics (herbs and etheric oils) (VC1, VC2, VC3, VC4)

VC1
VC
Organic Acids (VC2 & VC3) 2
Enzymes (VC4) , beta-glucans (VC2, VC3)

Bacteriophages (VC2), Antimicrobial peptides (VC2)

Toll-like receptor agonists (VC3)

VC3
Copyright Vetworks 2023 23

VC4
HOW TO MONITOR AND ASSESS COST ?

1. Macroscopic lesion scoring (Coccidiosis & BE)

(based on J&R, 1970; De Gussem, 2010)

1. Compare with BENCHMARK

• Evaluate efficacy preventive program

2. Global Benchmarking versus Local Benchmarking

• Vetworks data on global average 28 days; TMLS-1.21; BE-2.75
• Other benchmarks also good

3. Damage cost estimation

• Coccidiosis 0.1 €/bird, BE 0.1€/bird as reference
• Is the average damage of company higher or lower than this benchmark?
Copyright Vetworks 2023 24
 H O W T O S E L E C T A D D I T I V E S / A LT E R N AT I V E S O L U T I O N S ?

1. Impact assessment 2. Investment report: 3. VC analysis 4. Solution selection

• Cox and BE scoring how do we facilitate • Bring together veterinarian, • Select products that fit our
• Comparison with global digestion today? needs
nutritionist and production
average • Compare the data from
• List all additives and manager Impact Assessment to
• Global average cost = 0.2€
• Innovative tools? components included in • What is result of compare with new product
• Histology and inflammation the feed and water that Impact/Investment performance
markers help to better can have an impact on gut • Can we eliminate products? • Evaluate during use
understand health • Where do we need extra
• Calculate the cost of each suport?
Copyright Vetworks 2023 25
Organic Acids
• Widely present in nature
• In plants and animal tissues
• Intestinal bacterial fermentation products of carbohydrates:
• Acetate, propionate, butyrate, lactate………

• Antimicrobial activity of the acid depends on

• Chemical structure, chain length
• SCFA – short chain fatty acids C1-C5
• MCFA – medium chain fatty acids C6-C12
• pKa value of the acid
• Chemical form (acid, salt, coated, esterified)
• MIC values versus certain pathogens
• Animal species
• Buffering capacity of the feed

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 26

Organic acids
• Differentiate Antimicrobial action as preservative outside the bird
+
Effect inside digestive system on microbial community and intestine integrity

• Alternative control tool for E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cl. perfringens

• Improve intestine morphology and integrity
• Improve nutrient digestibility
• Reducing microbial competition with the host for nutrients
• Lowering the incidence of subclinical infections
• Immunomodulation

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 27

Outside the animal (feed and water)
• Long history of use as preservatives/ acidifiers
• Mainly SCFA and their salts

• Lowering pH

• Direct reduction of microbial population

• Reduction buffering capacity of the feed

• Reduce colonisation

• Energy source

• Mineral utilisation
• Built complexes with Ca, P, Mg, Zn – better availability
• P utilisation better by lower pH

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 28

Inside the animal
• Management of complex microbial community
• Structure/ integrity of intestine
• Immunomodulation
• Improve digestibility ( feed pH – enzyme activity )

• SCFA
• Effective in crop and gizzard, lower intestine need protection
• Act mainly on enzyme/ protein synthesis and DNA of bacteria
• MCFA
• Better antimicrobial activity (higher pKa, degree unsaturation)
• Act on cell wall/ membrane and transport mechanism for nutrients
• E. coli, Salmonella – caprylic, caproic acid, Cl. perfringens – lauric acid
• Smell, taste, corrosiveness problems
Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 29
Antimicrobial activity of the acid

pH≈7

Intestinal lumen
cell wall pH<7 pH≈ 6.4-6.6
membrane

+ +
H H
Energy
enzyme
protein synthesis
nutrient transport

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 30

FEED ADDITIVES AND SALMONELLA SPECIFICALLY

Coated products in-feed

Infection day 5 with 10e5 cfu
Sampling day 8

Butyrate very effective as coated

product specifically for
Salmonella control CTRL

BUT

Van Immerseel

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 31

Butyric acid

• Natural product of bacterial fermentation

• Better gut development (villi + tight junctions, energy source)
• Reduction of inflammation, repair processes
• Increased gastric and pancreatic secretion
• Modulation Cl- secretion – drier faeces
• Prevention Salmonella colonisation
• Promotes beneficial and diverse microbial ecosystem
• Needs precise delivery to work in the middle/ caudal intestine
(slow release matrix)

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 32

B U T Y R AT E A S S I G N A L T O R E D U C E I N VA S I O N A N D
C O L O N I Z AT I O N

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 33

B U T Y R AT E F O R M U L AT I O N A N D S A L M O N E L L A

• Salmonella Enteritidis challenge of broilers with 10E5 cfu

• Infection day 17
• Sampling day 21

Onrust et al., 2020

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 34

What chemical form is the best for me?
• Advantages of salts versus acid
• Odourless
• Solid and less volatile form (handling)
• Less corrosive and may be more soluble in water

• Coating or microencapsulation
• Broad range of different techniques
• Plant oil most common carrier
• Increased palatability, odourless
• Less corrosive, easier to handle
• Higher stability of the product
• Precision of delivery to the gut
• Concentration of product

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 35

What chemical form is the best for me?
• Esterification = alcohol + organic acid +
+ H2O

• Raw materials
• Alcohol
• Glycerol
• Organic acid ( )n
• Fatty acids
• Butyric acid – C4
• Capr(yl)ic acid – C8/C10
• Lauric acid – C12

• Result
• Mono-, di-, triglycerides

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 36

Advantages of Esterification
• Allow the product to be concentrated at a high rate
• Up to 80% of the active ingredient in the final product

• Provide chemical protection of the acid

• Acid is gradually set free by lipases in the intestine

• Takes away the problem of smell and taste

• Esters provide high stability of the product

• Esterification is a very efficient process, which makes the product less expensive

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 37

Probiotics

Single or mixed cultures of living microorganisms which beneficially

affect the host by improving the properties of the indigenous microbiota
(Fuller 1992)
contribute to intestinal microbial balance

• Incorporated in feed or water

• Very important in young animals
• DOC No contact with mother hen
• Early feeding: start with a balanced enterotype
• Restore intestinal microbial ecosystem after AB use or infection
• Species mainly used in chicken
• Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 38

Mode of action
• Modulate gene expression of intestinal epithelial cells
• Balanced microbial ecosystem and mucosal barrier

• Competition with pathogens for adhesion site and nutrients

• Production antimicrobial compounds against other bacteria

• H2O2, bacteriocins ….
• Quorum sensing (Boyen et al 2008)

• Cross feeding: produce nutrients for beneficial bacteria

• Lactate to feed butyrate producers

• Immunomodulation
Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 39
Selection of Probiotics in Poultry Industry
• Adhesion to the intestinal cells under the mucus layer
• Must overcome potential hurdles
• Low pH of the stomach
• Presence of bile acids in intestine
• Competition against other micro-organisms in GIT

• Different types of probiotics

• Single strain versus multiple strains
• Defined versus undefined culture
• Sporulated versus non sporulated

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 40

Prebiotics
Non digestible food ingredients that selectively favor the multiplication
or metabolic activity of a specific fraction of the intestinal microbiota
(Gibson & Roberfroid, 1995)

• Non-digestible oligosaccharides (presence of β-links)

• Inulin + fructo-oligosaccharides (plant roots)
• Mannan-oligosaccharides (yeasts)
• Resistant to gastric acidity, host enzymes
• Nutrient source for fermentation by intestinal bacteria
• Selective stimulation of microbial community
• Well fermented by beneficial, poorly by pathogenic bacteria

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 41

Mode of action of prebiotics prebiotic
direct effect SCFA
Villi growth
commensal tight junctions
effect on
bacteria crypt development
microflora mucin production
degradation
effect on

energy
bacterial
metabolites

pathogen
x

cytocine production B cells T cells

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 42

Prebiotics
• FOS + inulin (plant roots)
• Increased the population of Lactobacillus, restricted growth of C. perfringens and E. coli in broilers
(Kim et al., 2011)
• Inulin in vitro improved ability of chicken macrophages cell line to kill S. Enteritidis cells
(Babu et al., 2012)

• MOS Mannan oligosaccharides (yeasts walls – [Link] cerevisiae)

• Increase Lactobacillus spp., reduce pathogens (Cl. perfringens, E. coli, Salmonella)

• Β-glucans: immunomodulators
• Change cytokines profile and TLR expression (Yitbarek et al. 2012)
• Influence B-, T-cell proliferation
• Reduced incidence and severity of inflammation caused by Eimeria maxima (Lensing et al. 2012) or
Salmonella (Baurhoo et al., 2012)

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 43

Advantages of Prebiotics
• Very stable in feed

• Resistant to conditions in crop and stomach

• Stimulate available microbial population

• No issue with strain/ host compatibility as for probiotics

• More effective for prevention than for treatment of disease

• Create inhospitable environment for pathogens

• Combination pro- and prebiotics = Synbiotics

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 44
Herbs and essential oils

Carvacrol Thymol Allicin

Cinnamaldehyde

oregano thyme garlic cinnamon

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 45

Herbs and essential oils
• Plant-derived products:
• Natural defence mechanism and attractants of plants

• Phenolic compounds, Terpenes, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Ketones, Acids,

Isoflavonoids…

• Used since ancient times:

• Improve taste, digestion

• Proven antibacterial activity & anticoccidial

• In some trials comparable results to AB growth promoters

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 46

Herbs and essential oils

• Mode of action:
• Antioxidant properties Improve gut health
• Effect on tight junctions
• Antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial activity
• Immunomodulation
• Stimulate appetite More feed intake
Better FCR
• Stimulate endogenous digestive enzymes

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 47

Herbs and essential oils
• Large variation in composition and concentration:
• Origin (soil, climate, cultivation), harvest and storage, extraction method
• Cave! Contaminants: mycotoxins, heavy metals

• Oils derived from different sections of the same plant show different activity

• Need to standardize origin and concentration of individual components

Essential oil compounds

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 48

Bacteriophages
• Natural viral bacteria killers ubiquitous in the environment

• Specific phage administration

• Decreasing E. coli, Salmonella & Campylobacter counts in chickens

• What do we target ?
• Reduction in contamination in processing facilities
• Reduce shedding and contamination during grow-out on the farm

• Resistance development is an issue

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 49
Phagovet Trial (CECAV)
Table 2: Enumeration of Salmonella spp. in cloacal swabs (Log10 CFU/g)

95% CI
Day Treatment Mean SE P-value
Low Upper
T2 7.56 0.787 6.02 9.1 0.544
7
T3 6,88 0.787 5.34 8.43
T2 7.29 0.62 6.08 8.51
21 <0.001
T3 1.82 0.62 0.6 3.03

Concerning cloacal swabs, Salmonella enumeration by the beginning of the study (day 7),
showed good colonization of the bacteria, without differences between groups. However,
significant differences were shown by day 21 between T2 and T3 (groups).
Phagovet Trial (CECAV)
• Table 3: Enumeration of Salmonella spp. in cecum samples (Log10 CFU/g)

Treatm Mea Concerning cecum samples, a slightly

Day SE 95% CI P-value decrease was observed between
ent n Low Upper Salmonella enumeration in groups
T2 1.86 0.55 0.77 2.94 T2 and T3, however no significant
35 0.98
T3 1.84 0.55 0.75 2.92 differences were observed.
Phagovet Trial (CECAV)
Table 4: Enumeration of Salmonella spp. in boot swabs samples (Log10 CFU/g)

Treat 95% IC
Day Mean SE P-value
ment Low Upper
T2 6.64 0.663 5.34 7.94
7 0.127
T3 5.21 0.663 3.91 6.51
T2 5.03 0.718 0.27 3.09
21 < 0.001
T3 1.68 0.718 3.63 6.44
T2 5.31 0.575 4.18 6.44
35 0.002
T3 2.83 0.575 1.71 3.96

Boot swabs were collected on days 7, 21 and 35. From day 21 onwards a
significant decrease on Salmonella enumeration was observed between the
treatment’s groups.
Bacteriophages challenges
• Resistant mutants can appear within hours
• Administration of multiple bacteriophage isolates for
treatment?
• How to predict correct coctail?
• What is optimal time or times to expose the flock ??
• Direct for slaughter or control in the farm?
• Right concentration of phages
• Application route
• Variations of microbiota in chickens in the field conditions
Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 53
Solutions to vicious circle
1 BE instigators • AGP
• Reduce feed intake • Ionophores
• Limit nutritional factors • Organic acids
(limit NSP, feed texture,…) • Pre/probiotics
• Anticoccidial program • Phytotherapeutics
• Mycotoxin binder • Beta-glucans
2 • Antimicrobial peptides
Presence of
nutritional factors • Bacteriophages
that causing
disbalance

• Organic acids
• probiotics
• Enzymes
• Beta-glucans
• Feed structure
• MOS
• Fiber De Gussem, 2010
• AGP
• Phytogenics 3
4 Inflammation/oxidative • Phytogenics
Less functional gut
stress

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 54

“Alternatives” to enhance gut health
• AGP (VC2 & VC3?)

• Anticoccidials (VC1 & ionophores VC2), mycotoxin binders (VC1)

• Pre- & probiotics (VC2)

• Phytotherapeutics (herbs and etheric oils) (VC1, VC2, VC3, VC4)

• Organic Acids (VC2 & VC3)

• Enzymes (VC4) , beta-glucans (VC2, VC3)

• Bacteriophages (VC2), Antimicrobial peptides (VC2)

• Toll-like receptor agonists (VC3)

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 55

How to select additives/ alternative solutions?

1. Impact assessment 2. Investment report: 3. VC analysis 4. Solution selection

• Cox and BE scoring how do we facilitate • Bring together veterinarian, • Select products that fit our
• Comparison with global digestion today? needs
nutritionist and production
average • Compare the data from
• List all additives and manager Impact Assessment to
• Global average cost = 0.2€
• Innovative tools? components included in • What is result of compare with new product
• Histology and inflammation the feed and water that Impact/Investment performance
markers help to better can have an impact on gut • Can we eliminate products? • Evaluate during use
understand health • Where do we need extra
• Calculate the cost of each suport?

Copyright Vetworks 2022 16/11/2023 56

SALMONELLA AND ANTIB IOTIC S

• Diseased, sick valuable birds, not preventive

• Should be based on antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates
• A good monitoring during and after use is crucial
• Prescribed and supervised by expert veterinarian
• Is not the sole solution, need biosecurity and other measures in combination

• Be aware of antibiotic resistance issues and spread of resistance

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS Distribution of antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates from broiler flocks, EU, 2014 57
S A L M O N E L L A A N T I B I O T I C R E S I S TA N C E

Quinolones/fluoroquinolones

Sulfonamides
Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 58
P R E V E N T E A R LY C O L O N I Z AT I O N W I T H S A L M O N E L L A

• Early feeding of DOC: start up with probiotics

• Competitive exclusion: no place for Salmonella to attach

• Support microbial community and train the immune cells

Microbial colonization of the guts in DOC

mainly by horizontal transmission from
the hatchery,
not from the mother hen.
Smith and Rehberger -2018

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 59

L I T T E R M A N A G E M E N T S T R AT E G I E S

• Full cleanout?
• Decaking
• Windrow composting
• Litter treatments
o Acidifiers
o Enzymes
o Bacteria
o Others (plant)

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 60

IN-HOUSE WINDROW COMPOSTING

• Form litter in windrows 46-61 cm tall

• Monitor temperature
• Achieve >54C to kill Salmonella

• Turn every 3-4 days to ensure all litter is heated

• Level litter at least 4 days before next flock to purge moisture and ammonia

[Link]

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 61

F E E D H E AT T R E AT M E N T

• Aim for a total kill of Salmonella

• Feed has to be handled in a biosecure manner after treatment as there is no residual effect on
Salmonella

• Minimum requirements:
• 15% humidity
• 86oC
• 6 minutes
• Salmonella kill target 1.105 per gram of feed

• Prevent recontamination in feed mill, transport and farm by acidifying

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 62
L I T T E R T R E AT M E N T S
• Acidifiers
• PLT (Poultry Litter Treatment) – sodium bisulfate
• Poultry Guard – bentonite clay, sulfuric acid
• Formic acid
• Salmonella reductions?
• Others
• Enzymes
• Bacteria – competitive exclusion
• Plant extracts

Copyright 2023 VETWORKS 63

SALMONELLA IN DUST – DUST CONTROL

Settled Dust Airborne Dust

Feed
Animals
Litter
Feces

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DUST CONTROL

• Good litter management

• More moisture = less dust

• Too much moisture = pododermitis
• Moisture 20-25%
• Electrostatic space charge systems

Mitchell et al., 2004

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EXAMPLE SALMONELLA PREVENTION IN BREEDER
PULLETS
Monitoring program including using genotyping

• AB Treatment
• ↓ Salmonella pressure
• Broad spectrum for 5 days (repeated after 2 weeks)
Antibiotic treatment (5 days) followed by probiotic • Antibiogram
treatment (3-5 days) • Enrofloxacin, florfenicol, amoxycillin or trimethoprim/ sulfa…
• NOT within four weeks after Salmonella vaccination
• Probiotics for 5 days (only after AB use? Or multiple times?)
• Competition: prevention of recurring Salmonella growth
• Check for Salmonella activity
• Butyric acid + MCFA (C12) esterified (1:1)
Lowering pH in GIT, optimizing GALT and gut barrier • Minimally at 4kg per ton
function • ↑ dosage → ↑ efficacy
• ↑ performance
• Vaccination
Immunity • 3x live vaccines (E+T)
• Inactivated booster
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• Beta glucans
T H A N K YO U F O R YO U R
AT T E N T I O N !
Copyright Vetworks BV

Maarten De Gussem
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