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13 Jun 2023
IMPROVING EGG PRODUCTION WITH NOVEL POSTBIOTIC
EGG PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENTS WITH NOVEL POSTBIOTIC
Recently, a novel category of feed additives has been introduced: postbiotics. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) defines postbiotics as a “preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confer a health benefit on the host.”
All over the world, egg production is gaining popularity and importance, mainly fueled by increasing egg consumption. Therefore, there are some challenges that producers need to overcome to fulfill consumer demands. The most urgent challenges are related to eggshell quality and hen life span.
Maintaining normal physiology and good health of the laying hen is essential to produce high-quality eggs for longer periods of time. Dietary interventions like the feeding of fermented feeds, fiber, probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics are acceptable means for influencing the gut microbiota and its metabolic activity.
AO-Biotics® EQE is a fungal postbiotic produced using patent pending technology and specifically indicated to improve the number of sellable eggs, egg mass, and productive lifespan of laying hens.
| De Juan et. al. (2021) studied the effects of the dietary inclusion of 50 grams of EQE per metric ton of feed on the performance and egg quality traits of hens from 15 to 43 weeks of age. In this study, the addition of EQE significantly reduced the incidence of shell-less eggs. In addition, from 15 to 21 weeks of age, the feeding of EQE increased egg production by 9% and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 8%. |
Motivated by these results, de Juan et. al. (2022) performed a second study extending the laying period of hens to 65 weeks of age. In agreement with previous observations, the inclusion of EQE improved all major production traits at the peak of production, including increasing egg mass by 2%, egg production and egg weight by 1%, and FCR by 2%.
Several field trials have subsequently evaluated the inclusion of EQE in the diets of commercial laying hens. In agreement with findings reported by de Juan et. al. (2021 and 2022), the inclusion of EQE under commercial conditions improved egg mass, the number of sellable eggs per hen, and the productive lifespan of the flock.
In eight field trials involving more than 400 thousand laying hens, the supplementation of the AO-derived postbiotic resulted in approximately 2% more egg mass, 3% improvement in egg production, and 3% more sellable egg per hen. On average, a reduction of 24% in the mortality of the flocks was also observed, demonstrating that EQE improved the productive lifespan of the laying hens.
- In recent years, there has been growing interest in postbiotics as a means of improving animal health and performance in the laying industry. The laying industry has traditionally relied on antibiotics to control bacterial infections and promote growth. However, concerns over antibiotic resistance and residues in food products have led to a search for alternative solutions.
- Postbiotics, such as AO-Biotics EQE, offer a promising alternative, as they have been shown to improve gut health and reduce the incidence of bacterial infections in laying hens.
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The use of postbiotics in the laying industry represents an exciting development in animal nutrition, as it offers a natural and sustainable way to improve animal health and performance. With its expertise in fermentation and natural feed additives, BioZyme Inc. is well positioned to continue developing innovative solutions for the laying industry and other sectors of animal agriculture. The development of AO-Biotics EQE is a testament to the company’s commitment to improving animal health and welfare while also supporting sustainable food production — a commitment that began in 1951.
- A developer and manufacturer of natural feed products for livestock and poultry production, BioZyme Inc. has emerged as leader in the field of fermentation technology for animal feed. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for animal nutrition for more than 70 years. An international team of expert microbiologists and nutritionists work together to develop natural feed products that optimize animal health and performance.
- The company’s founder, Larry Ehlert, was a pioneer in the field of microbiology and fermentation, and his work laid the foundation for the development of AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, now one of BioZyme’s most notable products. This breakthrough all-natural, proprietary feed additive was developed in the 1980s, and is a proprietary blend of natural enzymes and microbials that promote optimal digestion and livestock, including equine, diary, beef, canine, sheep, goat, swine and poultry. The product has been shown to improve feed intake, weight gain, milk production, and reproductive performance in animals, as well as to reduce the incidence of digestive disorders and other health problems.
- BioZyme’s expertise in fermentation has been instrumental in developing innovative and effective animal nutrition products. The company’s extensive research and development in fermentation technology have enabled it to develop products that help improve animal performance, health and well-being.
- BioZyme’s deep roots in fermentation and its continued commitment to research and development in this area make it well-positioned to continue developing new and innovative products to meet the ever-evolving needs of the animal nutrition industry.
