The rearing phase of pullets is essential for the laying: good handling in this phase will determine the production rates during the laying period.

Management strategies should be focused on the obtention of pullets with good weight and uniformity. Uniformity should be greater than 85%, which means most animals’ weight should be between ±10% of the batch average weight.

Regarding health status, coccidiosis is of particular importance at this stage, as it can cause a mortality increase and worsen productive performance.

The purpose of the trials below is to evaluate the effects of intestinal optimizer pronutrients (IOP) and intestinal conditioner pronutrients (IAP) in pullets.

There are two trials comparing the effect of intestinal optimizer pronutrients (IOP) against the anticoccidial vaccine, and a third trial evaluating a combination of intestinal conditioners and optimizers against the anticoccidial vaccine.

1. INTESTINAL OPTIMIZER PRONUTRIENTS VERSUS ANTICOCCIDIAL VACCINE

• Objectives

Se evaluó la el efecto de los POI en relación a la uniformidad y la mortalidad, en comparación con la vacunación en lotes de pollitas de recría.

• Experimental design

  • Trial A

    • Number of animals: 32513 pullets
    • Duration: from week 1 to 16
    • Groups:

• Trial B

  • Number of animals: 32513 pullets
  • Duration: from week 1 to 17
  • Groups:

• Results

In both trials, better uniformity was observed in batches treated with IOP, and mortality was similar in both batches.

Trial A

Trial B

2. PRONUTRIENTS OPTIMIZER AND INTESTINAL CONDITIONERS VERSUS ANTICOCCIDIAL VACCINE

• Objective

Assess the impact on uniformity, mortality and weight of the combination of IOP and IAP compared to the anticoccidial vaccine.

• Experimental design

  • Number of animals: 32513
  • Duration: from week 1 to 9
  • Groups

• Results

The group that received IOP and IAP obtained 14.31% more weight, a better feed conversion rate and better uniformity (+4%). Mortality was also lower in pronutrients group.

3. FINAL CONCLUSIONS

The use of intestinal optimizer pronutrients was effective to control of coccidiosis, this was reflected in an improvement of uniformity and mortality (21% lower in one of the groups treated with IOP).

When intestinal conditioners are added, as well as intestinal optimizers, apart from an improvement of uniformity and mortality, animals obtained better weight (+97 g7bird) and FCR.

Therefore, it is a good option to combine these two active principles in pullet diets.

The intestinal optimizer and conditioner pronutrients are marketed under the name Alquernat Zycox and Alquernat Nebsui, respectively, by BIOVET S.A.