AVIATOR™ is a multi-component, all-natural feed supplement containing Refined Functional Carbohydrates™ (RFC™) that has Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) status as a feed ingredient. Studies with AVIATOR™ show a reduction in Salmonella prevalence in breeding hens and in their progeny.
It is not easy to break the disease cycle of pathogens like Salmonella. That it because Salmonella infection and spread can occur at any point in a poultry production system. Multiple points of entry to poultry facilities, contact with wild birds, rodents and other animals, as well as bio-security breaches can make it difficult to prevent pathogen spread. However, the implications for animal health and productivity, along with food safety concerns, mean poultry producers must focus on ways to keep Salmonella out of poultry production. As a result, control measures need to be enforced at each point of poultry meat and egg production.
Refined Functional Carbohydrates help prevent spread of Salmonella
It has been estimated that there are approximately 5.4 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year costing the Australian economy over $1.2 billion yearly. Nutritional solutions like Refined Functional Carbohydrates (RFC) can help provide ways to prevent the spread of Salmonella and other pathogens while delivering nutritional benefits. RFCs are the components harvested from yeast cells (S. cerevisiae) using specific enzymes during the manufacturing process. This enzymatic hydrolysis yields: MOS (Mannan Oligosaccharides), Beta 1,3-1,6 glucans and D-Mannose. These compounds are naturally present in all yeast cells but are not readily bio-available. The method of processing used to refine the yeast cells influences the size and structure of these liberated components, which, in turn, affects bioavailability and functionality. Research shows that each RFC has a specific mode of action when fed to poultry. In the case of poultry, RFCs interfere with Salmonella’s adherence to the intestinal tract, as well as agglutinate the bacteria to render it harmless once it passes through the intestinal tract. Furthermore, because of the multi-functional nature of RFCs (reducing the effects of harmful pathogens) less energy is needed for fighting disease challenges and supporting the immune system, making more energy available for growth, synergistically helping poultry performance.
No evidence of caecal Salmonella
Vertical transmission of bacterial pathogens like Salmonella is common in poultry and is responsible for in-cloaca transmission of these pathogens to the egg. Sub-optimal incubation and brooding of these infected eggs and chicks can contribute to bacterial outbreaks resulting in high mortality and morbidity in broilers. It was theorised that the RFC™ in AVIATOR™ can reduce the presence of pathogens in the caeca, cloaca and anatomically associated reproductive tract, leading to cleaner eggs and healthier chicks. To test this hypothesis, broiler breeders reared on litter and transferred to slat-littered breeding pens under normal conditions were supplemented with or without AVIATOR™ for 65 weeks beginning at one day of age, and caecal prevalence of pathogens was tested at 23 and 65 weeks of age. At 23 weeks of age, caeca from 71.4% of the control breeders were positive for Salmonella whereas 0% of caeca from AVIATOR™-fed breeders were positive. At 65 weeks of age, 40% of caeca from control broiler breeders were positive for Salmonella whereas 0% of caeca from the AVIATOR™ breeders continued to be negative for Salmonella (Figure 1). Furthermore, when caeca from broiler chicks from these broiler breeders were tested at 34 days of age, 12.5% of broilers from control breeders were positive for Salmonella whereas caeca from broilers where the broiler breeders were supplemented with AVIATOR™ were negative (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Prevalance of Salmonella in Ceca of Breeder Hens
Figure 2. Prevalence of Salmonella in Ceca of Broiler Progeny of Control vs. AVIATOR™ Fed Breeders
Data from multiple research trials show that you can depend on AVIATOR™ to enhance your flock’s health and productivity while reducing the unwanted spread and negative effects of Salmonella.
By Dr. Geoff Irish, AusPac Ingredients
References are available on request.
