Intestinal conditioner pronutrients are active molecules of a botanical origin that optimize gut physiology, improve nutrient digestion and intestinal absorption. These molecules increase the absorption of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids at the intestinal level, allowing a greater use of the nutrients present in the feed.

Its administration in geese improves the production parameters: growth and conversion rate in fattening and egg size and internal quality in breeders. Indirectly, it also improves litter quality by greater consistency of stool, which helps to prevent foot-pad dermatitis.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of intestinal conditioner pronutrients on production parameters in geese during the laying period.

Material and methods

The trial lasted 8 weeks. It was conducted with 5300 4-year-old geese, divided into two experimental groups:

• Control group: standard diet without any production enhancer.
• Pronutrient group: standard diet + intestinal conditioner pronutrients at a dosage of 0.5 ml/l continuously in drinking water.

Animals were kept in a farm with a covered free ranged. The breeding density was of 0.8 birds/m².

Results

No significant differences were observed between the two experimental groups in the average weight of the animals, obtaining an average weight of 6.49 kg in the control group and 6.51 kg in the group with intestinal conditioner pronutrients.

During the trial, the control group reported problems associated with bacterial infections (E. coli) and fibrinous lesions were observed in the gut and liver, associated with vaccination against Derzsy’s disease. The cumulative morbidity in the control group was 13%, while the number of animals affected was lower in the group with pronutrients (9%).

Significant differences in cumulative mortality were observed between the two experimental groups. In the control group, mortality was 3.62%, while in the group with intestinal conditioner pronutrients it was 2.65%, which means a mortality reduction of 26.8%.

Table 1. Morbidity and cumulative mortality in the control group and in the group with intestinal conditioner pronutrients.

The laying rate was similar between both groups throughout the trial.

In relation to egg weight, the differences between the two groups were significant throughout the trial. Egg average weight in the control group was 146.63 g, while in the group with intestinal conditioner pronutrients was 152.13 g, obtaining 5.5 g more weight per egg.

Table 2. Egg weight assessment in the control group and in the experimental group.

At the same time, significant differences were observed in relation with the percentage of dirty egg. In the control group, the percentage of dirty egg was 56.88%, while in the group with pronutrients that percentage was 47.7% lower, with a value of 29.75%.

Table 3. Percentage of dirty egg in the control group and in the group with pronutrients

To assess the health status of animals, foot-pad lesion score was assessed on a scale of 1-3, from lowest to highest severity. In both groups it was observed how the degree of foot-pad lesion score increased in both groups as the trial passes, however, in the batch with intestinal conditioner pronutrients, this trend was less marked.

Table 4. Evaluation of the degree of foot-pad lesion score (1-3) in the control group and in the group with pronutrients throughout the trial.

Conclusion

The administration of intestinal conditioner pronutrients improved the health status of animals thanks to a greater intestinal integrity and greater absorption of nutrients. The group with pronutrients achieved lower morbidity and mortality compared to the control group, with a reduction of 30.8% and 26.8%, respectively, and, at the same time, lower foot-pad lesion scores.

On the other hand, the administration of pronutrients improved laying parameters, with larger eggs (5.5 more grams per egg) and a lower percentage of dirty egg (47.7% reduction).

Intestinal conditioner pronutrients are marketed under the name Alquernat Nebsui of Biovet S.A.