Today's innovations constantly introduce nutritional tools aimed at helping poultry producers manage challenges, from high animal feed prices to chronic enteric issues and strict environmental regulations, as noted by PoultryWorld, which cites a new study on poultry nutrition and health.

Proven profitability

Considering the cost of poultry diets, it is essential for these innovations to offer value and proven profitability for the producer's investment.

Over 10 years of research studies conducted on broilers globally have validated the performance of Selko Presan. This feed additive is designed to support the gut health of birds and help them reach their productivity potential.

Multiple scientific studies have provided data supporting its ability to promote enteric health, reduce the need for antibiotics, and maintain production even in challenging environments.

Presan-FY has supported the efficient use of feed and final results for poultry producers since 2012, with over 20 billion kilograms (kg) of supplemented feed fed to over 5 billion broilers, resulting in over 1 billion kg of meat and savings of over 3 billion EUR for the producers.

Dual-direction design strategy

As a mixed feed additive, the product incorporates carefully selected elements, including medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), slow-release C12, targeted-release butyrates, phenolic compounds, and high pKa organic acids. The combination of components was selected to support two essential elements of gut health: intestinal barrier function and stable gut microbiota.

The additive helps strengthen the integrity of the intestinal barrier, supporting the recovery of tight junctions in the intestinal tract. The small intestine determines which molecules can enter a bird's bloodstream, and tight junctions rely on complicated protein structures to form barriers between intestinal cells.

These structures, composed of about 40 different proteins, help control what is allowed through the intestinal wall. Additionally, the feed additive also helps develop villi.

Villi are finger-like projections that increase the absorption capacity and surface area of the intestine and work together with crypts that extend to the mucosa. An efficiently functioning intestinal wall will have longer villi and smaller crypts.

Moreover, Presan-FY helps stabilize the gut microbiota. Intestinal microbial activity can affect growth efficiency as the microbial community competes with the host animal for nutrition.

This situation can also generate unwanted by-products. For instance, when undigested protein leaves the small intestine, it feeds the cecal microbiota, which then ferments and generates toxic metabolites.

Toxic metabolites

These toxic metabolites can affect the turnover of cells in the intestinal tract and inhibit growth performance. Increased cell turnover leads to accelerated degradation of enterocytes and goblet cells, which increases the rate of metabolism and protein synthesis and establishes a larger population of immature cells that are less efficient in nutrient absorption.

Intestinal microbes can also reduce the digestibility of fats by deconjugating bile acids, which continue to reduce lipid absorption and generate toxic by-products known to inhibit bird growth. The ingredient mixture is designed to manage these challenges.

The additive works to reduce the number of bacteria, thereby reducing competition for nutrients and helping prevent fermentation of undigested proteins in the ceca, where it can generate toxic metabolites.

A lower number of bacteria limits the rapid turnover of enterocytes and goblet cells, and more mature intestinal cells help improve nutrient absorption efficiency and enzyme secretion. This also reduces the catabolism of bile acids and, therefore, supports better fat digestion.

A stable microbial community has been linked to better feed conversion rates in both healthy broilers and challenged broilers. Increased microbial gene diversity is understood to provide birds with improved resilience and support better production potential due to the different roles that microbiota play in the gastrointestinal tract.

It is known that different microbes have different roles in birds. For example, specific microbes generate compounds that influence the digestive process and intestinal integrity, support the development of host defense mechanisms, and outcompete colonization by pathogenic bacteria.

Research and results

Studies conducted on over 40,000 broilers from multiple countries since 2012 have established the positive influence that Presan-FY can have on bird health and performance, along with documented improvements in feed efficiency.

Comparative trials

With the increasing interest in using feed additives in poultry production, many products claim their modes of action and how they improve gut health and productivity.

It is known that different components influence birds and protect them from various challenges. For instance, organic acids offer an antibacterial effect and support improved digestion.

Prebiotics can reduce pathogen adhesion and support intestinal barrier integrity. A mixed feed additive that combines several ingredients can help achieve positive results in multiple areas. The combined approach aims to provide a response that is greater than what could be achieved with separate supplements.

The greatest economic value per bird

When compared to other animal feed additives in a study, Presan-FY was found to provide better support for broilers facing challenges and raised without antibiotics or coccidiostats. The birds that received the product also demonstrated the greatest value per bird in terms of additive cost.

Providing flocks with a combined feed additive tailored to support gut health and integrity and including ingredients that address multiple aspects of the gastrointestinal tract helps maintain profitability and performance in poultry, even in challenging or stressful situations.

Over 10 years of research have shown that this support can offer cost-effective assistance to producers looking to reduce antibiotic use in their farms, while supporting birds with more stable digestive systems that enhance performance and defend against challenges.