Effect of pronutrients in laying hens

This article includes the lecture given by Dr. Júlia Pié, head of the technical team of Biovet S.A., at the XXXI International Symposium of Biovet in Tarragona, 2018, during the second session dedicated to pronutrients, which took place on May 28^th, 2018. With the title, “Alquernat Nebsui liquid in laying hens. Effect on productive parameters and egg quality” a study conducted by the Mississippi State University in February 2018 was presented. The trial assessed the positive effect on production caused by the addition of this natural product based on pronutrients. The veterinarian of the team of Biovet S.A, Dr. Maria Soriano, has made the adaptation of the paper.

INTRODUCTION

Alquernat Nebsui is a product based on pronutrients, that acts as an intestinal conditioner. It is rich in pronutrients that promote enterocytes regeneration (Picture 1), and that is why it is used as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) and to improve productive parameters of all kind of animals.

Picture 1: Electron microscopy pictures of intestinal mucosa whether using Alquernat Nebsui

OBJECTIVE

Determine the capacity of Alquernat Nebsui L (liquid) to improve egg productive parameters in laying hens thanks to the increase in the use of nutrients, due to a better status of the intestinal mucosa.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

This trial was performed in the Poultry Research Farm of Mississippi State University, in 65-week-old hens and lasted for 9 weeks.

For this purpose, birds were separated in two batches. First one was the control, which didn’t receive any product similar to Alquernat Nebsui, and the second one was given Alquernat Nebsui in liquid form, administered continuously in drinking water at a dose of 0.5 ml/L (Chart 1).

Chart 1: Distribution of hens by batches.

Both batches the had same environmental conditions, the same feeding system and the same composition of the basal diet. During the first four weeks, hens were housed in cages with capacity for two birds, and because of fighting problems, they were changed to cages of 3 animals from the fifth week till the end of the trial.

Before showing the results, it must be highlighted that at the beginning of the trial there was a significant snowfall, a rare phenomenon in the area, and added to the initial fighting problems, both may have affected productive parameters.

RESULTS

Regarding the productive data, as seen in chart below (Chart 2), the laying rate is increased in a 2.9% on average, thanks to the use of Alquernat Nebsui during the trial.

Chart 2: Laying rate results.

In relation to the feed intake, it was 2.2% lower on average in the case of A. Nebsui batch. As you can see in the chart below (Chart 3), in the last weeks the feed intake of batch 2 was slightly superior to the control, as a result of higher production that is reflected in greater nutrient requirements. Despite of this, when conversion rates (Chart 4) were calculated, control batch needed, on average, 9 g more of feed to produce the same number of eggs.

Chart 3: Daily feed intake results, in grams.

Chart 4: Results of feed conversion rates (FCR, in grams) related to weight of the egg (gr).

Talking about egg features, different parameters were analyzed, like weight of the egg, yolk and albumin percentage and egg quality. Egg quality was determined by several data: amount of carotenes present in the egg, yolk colour and measurement of egg Haugh units (higher units, better quality).

Size and weight of eggs had no distinction between batches, although internal properties of the egg did change.

Using Alquernat Nebsui, eggs didn’t show significant differences in yolk nor albumin percentage. Assessment of the amount of carotenes in egg showed an increase of only 1.2% of total carotenes in Alquernat Nebsui batch, but what was really visible was the difference between the utilization of the carotenes present in the diet. Thanks to Alquernat Nebsui, 4.8% more carotenes were absorved because of a better intestinal assimilation, and those where placed in the yolk. Due to this, yolk colour was 1.6 points higher in A. Nebsui batch compared to the control. Measurement of Haugh units revealed a 1.9 points difference on average between batches (Chart 5).

Chart 5: Haugh units results (egg quality).

Shell features, like weight and thickness, were also determined, and a slight increase in both parameters appeared in A. Nebsui batch, that was of +0.75% respectively, as shown in charts 6 and 7.

Chart 6: Shell thickness, in millimeters.

Chart 7: Shell weight results, in grams.

CONCLUSIONS

Alquernat Nebsui batch showed better productive parameters, with a higher laying rate (+2.9%) that is maintained in time, and lower feed intake at higher productivity that was translated to a lower FCR.

Regarding egg quality, higher content in carotenes was observed in the treated batch despite of that both had the same diet composition, what showed that intestinal absorption was increased. This parameter was correlated with a better yolk colour and greater Haugh units.

In relation to egg shell features, both had superior values in proportion to the control group.

Alquernat Nebsui is a product manufactured and developed by Biovet S.A. Laboratorios.