The relationship between the poultry microbiome and bird health is crucial for optimising productivity, animal health and welfare. Ongoing threats of bacterial diseases like Salmonella and E. coli in poultry production, mean that ensuring birds have a robust and balanced microbiome has become a key strategy in disease prevention and improving overall performance.
To delve deeper into this topic, Feedinfo sat down with Dorthe Sandvang, Innovation Department Manager at Novonesis, and Alex Sly, Global Technical Consultant: Nutritional Health at Elanco, to better understand how advancements in the field of probiotics are reshaping bird health and contributing to safer and more efficient production systems. The discussion covered the ways monogastric microbiomes can contribute to poultry health, how you develop an effective probiotic product and insight into GALLIPRO® FIT- a product of Novonesis, distributed by Elanco Animal Health designed to enhance poultry microbiomes.
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[Feedinfo] How does the poultry microbiome influence the overall health and productivity of birds? [Alex Sly] The poultry microbiome has several functions which aid in improving intestinal integrity and support birds during times of bacterial challenge. Gut microbiota are essential for developing and maintaining the structural integrity of the gut. By producing short-chain fatty acids, they contribute to the formation of intestinal villi, crypts, and mucosal layers, which are critical for efficient nutrient absorption and overall gut health. These microbes enhance digestion and nutrient utilization by producing enzymes that break down and ferment complex dietary components like carbohydrates, fibers, proteins, and lipids into simpler, absorbable molecules. |
Alex Sly, Global Technical Consultant: Nutritional Health, Elanco |
Beneficial bacteria play a defensive role by competing with pathogens for nutrients and attachment sites on gut cells, and through the formation of a protective biofilm which lines the gut, preventing bacterial translocation and reducing the risk of systemic infections. They also produce antimicrobial substances, such as bacteriocins and lipopeptides, which directly inhibit pathogen growth.
Gut microbiota are crucial in modulating the immune system. They interact with immune cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), promoting a balanced immune response and enhancing the production of immunoglobulins, cytokines, and other immune factors. This helps protect against infections, maintains immune balance, and contributes to the bird’s overall health and disease resistance.
Thus, a stable and diverse microbiome plays a big role in promoting good intestinal integrity which results in improved growth and feed conversion rates, leading to more efficient poultry production.
[Feedinfo] Poultry producers are currently tackling bacterial diseases like Salmonella, E. coli, E. cecorum and Clostridiums, which can dramatically impact their operations. What role can improving gut microbiota robustness play in the control of these diseases?
[Alex Sly] Microbiome robustness, or the ability of the intestinal microbiome to adapt to changing conditions (stressors), is essential for maintaining intestinal integrity and optimal gut function in poultry. A robust and balanced gut microbiome acts as the first line of defence against pathogens. Essentially, the good bacteria in a robust gut microbiota can outcompete the harmful bacteria for resources and space, making it harder for the pathogens to colonise and cause disease. Additionally, a healthy gut microbiota can stimulate the immune system, making the birds more resistant to infections.
By enhancing gut microbiota robustness, poultry producers can create a more resilient and disease-resistant flock. This approach not only helps control bacterial diseases like Salmonella, E. Coli, E. Cecorum, Campylobacter and Clostridium, but also promotes overall bird health, leading to better productivity and reduced reliance on antibiotics. Establishing a healthy microbiome early in life is particularly important, as it allows these benefits to be maximized over time.
Probiotics are a valuable tool for poultry producers in developing a robust microbiome. They promote a favorable shift in gut microbial composition, positively influencing the intestinal environment, enhancing gut health, and reducing the impact of bacterial diseases. This is especially effective when specific probiotic strains are selected for their ability to target common pathogens in poultry production. The result is improved intestinal integrity, a stronger defense against harmful bacteria, and enhanced overall performance.
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[Feedinfo] How is a poultry microbiome established and what factors can affect its development and balance? [Dorthe Sandvang] The poultry microbiome is initiated before the bird is even hatched. The early inoculation of bacteria right after hatching has a major impact on the microbiome. In the beginning of the birds’ life, the microbiome is not strong and has a lower diversity, but we see the microbiome change and develop over time. |
Dorthe Sandvang, Innovation Department Manager, Novonesis |
Many different factors have an impact on the development of the microbiome. Feed and environment are obvious factors, but also genetics and different microbes already present in the gut (both beneficial and pathogenic) can affect its development. An early application of bacteria will help the development of the microbiome, so an efficacious probiotic product can make a big impact, even if applied at a low concentration.
[Feedinfo] How do you design poultry probiotics to ensure they are most effective in boosting the health of the microbiome?
[Dorthe Sandvang] Selecting and designing an avian probiotic is a long scientific process. Product safety, stability as well as even distribution in the feed is essential, before we even start talking about the efficacy of the product and health of the microbiome. At Novonesis we complete whole genome sequencing and cell line work of probiotic bacteria to confirm the mode of action before we get close to poultry. We then need to confirm that what we see in the labs can also be observed in the birds.
To ensure a novel poultry probiotic product has the potential of boosting the health of the microbiome and thereby the performance of the bird, we need to go deep into the gut. We make DNA preparations, microbiome sequence and bioinformatic analysis of many broilers and layers in production facilities in many regions and countries. We know the poultry microbiome looks different depending on feed, age of the bird and overall environment, so we need to investigate the effects of potential novel product candidates under many different conditions.
When we designed GalliPro® Fit, gut health through strong microbiome robustness was our first priority. Therefore, relying on sound science and addressing major enteric challlenges GalliPro® Fit resonates with poultry producers globally.
[Feedinfo] Ensuring food safety is a challenges for poultry producers. How can probiotics help to achieve this?
[Alex Sly] Probiotics offer a multifaceted preventative approach to enhancing pre-harvest food safety in poultry production. As mentioned, they can achieve this by reducing the levels of harmful pathogens like Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. Coli in the gut. By outcompeting these pathogens for resources and attachment sites, probiotics limit their ability to colonise the intestines, thereby lowering the risk of contamination in poultry products and minimising pathogen shedding which promotes a cleaner production environment.
Additionally, probiotics strengthen the intestinal barrier and boost the immune system, further preventing systemic infections that could lead to contaminated meat during processing. This improvement in gut health and pathogen control also translates to reduced condemnation rates at slaughter, as healthier birds are less likely to suffer from infections and conditions that would otherwise render them unfit for consumption.
By minimising pathogen loads and promoting robust gut health, probiotics are a valuable tool for proactively enhancing pre-harvest food safety, contributing to a more sustainable and responsible poultry industry that delivers safer products to consumers.
[Feedinfo] Can you tell us more about GALLIPRO® FIT and the role it can play in contributing to a healthy microbiome in birds?
[Alex Sly] GALLIPRO® FIT is a specialised triple-strain probiotic designed for poultry. It is uniquely formulated to enhance the gut microbiome and strengthen intestinal integrity, leading to consistently improved performance and profitability across production cycles.
Developed by Chr. Hansen, this probiotic features three carefully selected strains: Bacillus subtilis DSM 32324, Bacillus subtilis DSM 32325, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 25840. These strains were chosen for their ability to rapidly colonise the gut, outcompete harmful pathogens, and promote a stable, resilient microbiome. Research has shown that GALLIPRO® FIT not only boosts productivity in broilers under commercial conditions, but also helps maintain a healthy microbiome during periods of stress or challenge. This makes it an essential tool for poultry producers aiming to optimise both bird health and operational efficiency.
[Feedinfo] What is next for Novonesis when considering solutions to improve the microbiome of poultry?
[Dorthe Sandvang] We are developing the next generation of probiotics for health and performance through microbiome and intestinal integrity investigations. To make a great poultry microbiome solution we aim to go beyond the normal line of thoughts to make the biggest impact for the market.
Right now we are investigating the impact of different conditions and combinations of feed supplements on poultry health and the microbiome. We have seen that an increased inclusion rate in the pre-starter and starter feed gives a huge pay off for the microbiome, but these investigations are far from finalized, and we are working hard to learn more about this exciting area.
Published in association with Novonesis
