Poultry & feed additives: the effects of butyrates

Key challenges in poultry production

Broilers

Broilers are raised in high-intensity systems, focusing on the animals to grow fast and have a low feed conversion rate (FCR). However, their rapid growth predisposes them to significant challenges, including:

• Gut health disorders: Rapid growth strains the digestive system, often leading to issues such as dysbiosis, Clostridium perfringens overgrowth, necrotic enteritis, and poor nutrient absorption.
• Immune stress: Crowded housing and environmental conditions can increase immune stress in broilers. This is making them more susceptible to infections.
• Feed utilization: Maximising feed efficiency while mitigating digestive upsets is essential for cost-effective production.

Layers

Layers are bred for sustained productivity over longer periods than broilers, requiring robust gut health, bone strength, and egg quality. The primary challenges include:

• Calcium absorption: The calcium metabolism of the layer should be efficient. This is important for shell strength and bird longevity.
• Gut health and longevity: Unlike broilers, layers require long-term maintenance of gut integrity for consistent performance.
• Egg production cycle: Nutritional imbalances or gut health issues can lead to variability in egg production and quality, which is detrimental to profitability.

The benefits of butyrate in poultry nutrition

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that plays a crucial role in intestinal health. Encapsulated calcium butyrate can, with targeted application in poultry, offer multiple benefits for both broilers and layers.

1. Butyrate enhances gut integrity

• Strengthening the intestinal barrier: Butyrate promotes the proliferation of gut epithelial cells and enhances tight junctions, improving the intestinal barrier function. This is particularly crucial for broilers with compromised gut health due to rapid growth[1].

• Managing dysbiosis: Butyrate has antimicrobial properties that help maintain a balanced gut microbiota, suppressing pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens[1].

2. Butyrate supports nutrient absorption and improved FCR

By improving the villi morphology[2,5] and intestinal surface area, butyrate enhances the absorption of essential nutrients. This is especially valuable in broilers, which require optimal nutrient uptake to support rapid weight gain. In layers optimal villi length is important to ensure effective calcium and mineral utilization for egg production.

Improved gut integrity and nutrient absorption result in a lower feed conversion ratio[1]. It can reduce overall production costs in broilers and ensure a steady egg production in layers.

3. Butyrate reduces intestinal inflammation

Butyrate has anti-inflammatory properties [3] and helps reduce immune system stress that can be caused by dietary or environmental factors. Lower levels of intestinal inflammation result in better digestion. The feed efficiency and the performance of the animal will be better. Additionally, reducing intestinal inflammation can have a positive effect on stress and cortisol levels.

5. Butyrate can improve egg quality

Butyrate is associated with improved eggshell quality [4]. Butyrate supports long-term gut health, which is critical for maintaining consistent egg production and quality. And it also facilitates proper calcium absorption.

6. Reduced antibiotic dependency

With the increasing need to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production, butyrate can be a good alternative. It helps protect the animal by improving immune function and gut health.

Practical applications of butyrate in poultry diets

To maximize the benefits of butyrate, it is essential to choose the right formulation.

• Encapsulation: Encapsulation technology ensures butyrate is released gradually along the gastrointestinal tract, reaching sections where its effects are most needed.
• Calcium or Sodium butyrate: Navigator nutrition offers all kinds of butyrate, so you can choose the version that best suits the feed or ration.

• Handling properties: Encapsulation also improves the handling properties of butyrate in the plant. It protects the butyrate from the odor that butyric acid can give.

Powerful and sustainable feed additive

Butyrate is a powerful nutritional feed additive with which you can address the challenges in poultry production. For broilers, it supports healthy growth, gut efficiency, and resilience. While for layers, it enhances long-term productivity and egg quality. Butyrate is your sustainable choice for mor more efficiency in poultry production.

For more information on butyrate applications in poultry nutrition, reach out to our team of feed experts. Together, we can help you optimize your flock’s potential.

References:

1. Dietary Protected Butyrate Supplementation of Broilers Modulates Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins and Stimulates Endogenous Production of Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Caecum – Gábor Mátis, Máté Mackei et al. Animals 2022, 12(15), 1940.
2. Effect of dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate on ceacal microflora and villi morphology in broiler chicken – K Deepa, MR Purushothaman et al. ChemiJounal 2020, 8(4), 44-48.
3. Effects of sodium butyrate on intestinal health and gut microbiota composition during intestinal inflammation progression in broilers – Zou X, Ji J et al. Poultry Science, Volume 98, Issue 10, 2019, 4449-4456.
4. Effects of coated sodium butyrate on production performance, egg quality, serum biochemistry, digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal health of laying hens, Sasa Miao, Wenting Zhou et al. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2021, 20(1), 1452-1461.