Jagadeesh N and Chanthirasekaran R
Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt. Ltd.
Gut Health: A Cornerstone of Poultry Performance
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of poultry harbors a diverse microbiota—bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses—that begins to develop at hatch through exposure to feed, the environment, and handlers. This microbial community plays a vital role in digestion, nutrient absorption, immunity, and overall bird performance. In high-performing poultry lines, elevated feed intake can strain the digestive system, leading to undigested nutrients in the small intestine. This often triggers dysbiosis—a microbial imbalance—resulting in inflammation, compromised gut integrity, and nutrient malabsorption.
A healthy gut microbiome is essential not only for optimal nutrient utilization but also for maintaining physiological balance and immune function. Poor gut health can depress growth and productivity, making intestinal health a key focus for the poultry industry. Additionally, the GIT influences food safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.
The global restriction on antibiotic growth promoters due to rising antimicrobial resistance has led to increased digestive disorders in poultry. While alternatives such as enzymes, probiotics, organic acids, and plant extracts are available, they often fall short in delivering consistent performance and pathogen control. This has intensified the need for advanced, comprehensive solutions that enhance intestinal resilience and effectively manage enteric diseases.
To meet the growing demand for sustainable and profitable protein production, the poultry sector must prioritize gut health through innovative strategies that go beyond conventional approaches—ensuring robust immunity, efficient feed conversion, and improved overall performance.
ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry is a combination of multifunctional, broad-spectrum Bacillus strains, which improve the control of enteric pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens, enteric E. coli, Salmonella species, and Enterococcus species with superior performance and return on investment, with the following benefits
- Maximizing Intestinal Resilience
- Reduces Clostridial toxins.
- Better growth of commensals
- Reduces the expression of the Salmonella invasive gene.
- Reduces dysbacteriosis.
- Improves FCR
- Efficient and Sustainable Poultry Production
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the trial was to check the efficacy of ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry on Gut Health in Broiler Breeders during the laying period in terms of mortality, egg production, and hatching egg selection in actual farm conditions in Cobb-430Y broiler breeders.
TRIAL DESIGN
The experiment was conducted in a well-managed broiler breeder farm in India in 2023. The details of the experimental groups are given in Table 1. A total of 20316 Cobb-430y broiler parent female birds were selected for a 16-week study. Birds were placed in two different sheds with an open-sided California cage system under natural environmental conditions. The birds were fed with a breeder mash feed diet and ad libitum water during the experimental period.
| GROUP | DESCRIPTION | NUMBER OF BIRDS |
| Control | Breeder diet without any probiotics/prebiotics | 10,316 |
| Treatment – ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry* | Broiler diet with ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry through feed for 16 weeks at the dose of 200g per ton of feed | 10,000 |
Table 1: Dosage and trial details of experimental groups
Note: * ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry is an intestinal health enhancer developed by Kemin Industries, containing multifunctional, broad-spectrum Bacillus strains having specific modes of action against Clostridium perfringens, Enteric E. coli, Salmonella species and Enterococcus species.
PARAMETERS MEASURED
- Livability – assessed in terms of mortality %
- Productivity – assessed by Hen Day Production %
- Hatching eligibility – assessed by Hatching Egg selection %
RESULTS
Results indicated that the treatment group fed with ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry had superior performance in terms of mortality, production, and selection percentage. The study revealed that ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry could be used from the initial chick stage or from housing to till culling to get better production performance; otherwise, an initial cushioning period of 5 to 6 weeks is required to combat field or bird challenge and to get superior performance. The detailed results are mentioned below.
Impact on Mortality
Over the 16-week trial period, female mortality in the ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry group was 1.06% higher than the control group during the first 6 weeks of supplementation. However, in the following 10 weeks, mortality in the ENTEROSURE™ group was 0.94% lower than the control group, indicating improved outcomes over time. Week-wise mortality details for both ENTEROSURE™ and the control group are given in a graphical representation in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Mortality % of experimental groups (Female birds) during the trial period.
Hen Day production (HD%)
In the total trial period of 16 weeks, the ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry group had Hen Day production of minus 1.0% compared to the control group in the first 6 weeks after supplementation and 0.7% higher compared to the control group in the next 10-week period with ENTEROSURE™ supplementation. Week-wise Hen Day production details for both ENTEROSURE™ and the control group are given in graphical representation in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Hen Day Production % of experimental groups during the trial period
Hatching Egg Selection (HE%)
In the total trial period of 16 weeks, the ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry group had a Hatching Egg Selection % on par with the control group in the first 6 weeks after supplementation and 0.2% higher compared to the control group in the next 10-week period with ENTEROSURE™ supplementation. Week-wise Hatching Egg selection % details for both ENTEROSURETM and the control group are given in graphical representation in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Hatching Egg Selection % of experimental groups during the trial period
ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry Enhances Broiler Breeder Performance
The use of ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry in broiler breeders has demonstrated clear benefits in productivity, cost-efficiency, and chick quality. During a 16-week trial period—from 31 to 46 weeks of age—supplementation led to a 0.94% reduction in female mortality, a 0.7% increase in total egg production, and a 0.2% rise in hatching egg output during the final 10 weeks, following an initial 6-week adaptation phase. Additionally, there was a 0.1% improvement in overall production and selection rates.
These results suggest that ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry can be effectively used throughout the bird’s lifecycle—from chick stage to culling—to support consistent performance. When introduced mid-cycle, the product typically requires 5 to 6 weeks to overcome initial field and bird-level challenges before delivering measurable improvements. This makes ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry a strategic solution for enhancing intestinal health and maximizing productivity in broiler breeder operations.
CONCLUSION
The study demonstrates that ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry significantly enhances the economic performance of broiler breeder birds by improving key productivity metrics such as Hen Day egg production, hatching egg selection, and overall livability. These results position ENTEROSURE™ HC Dry as a highly effective intestinal health promoter, capable of supporting gut integrity, optimizing production parameters, and improving bird survivability in breeder layer operations.
References are available upon request