Indian Poultry industry has been showing robust growth over the years including the Covid inflicted period. The value of poultry products produced in the country during 2021-22 was Rs. 2.31 lakh Crores and its contribution to the value of total livestock products including milk has gone up from 17% in 2011-12 to 19% in 2021-22.
The major problem faced by the industry currently is the increasing incidence of impairment of gut health that impacts general immunity among the birds and consequent drop in production performance and its efficiency in both layers and broilers. The response of the industry so far to combat this issue has been the usage of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed. However, the growing concern on the potential of such a practice on building anti-microbial resistance (AMR) among microbes in the environment and consequent import regulations of different countries has compelled the industry to look for alternatives to the usage of AGPs. Natural biopolymers display the desired qualities for such an alternative and could potentially benefit the poultry industry.
Several natural biopolymers exhibit antibacterial properties, making them valuable in fields like food preservation, biomedicine and agriculture. Various such biopolymers derived from versatile sources such as crustacean shells, insect exoskeletons, fungal cell walls and plant-based biopolymers exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, bio-compatible, and bio-degradable properties making them best suited for preventing bacterial infections in poultry and maintaining poultry gut health.
Such types of natural biopolymers have gained recent attention in poultry production as promising feed additives for supporting gut health, particularly due to their antimicrobial, prebiotic and immune-boosting properties. Here is a closer look at how those biopolymers can positively influence poultry gut health and the mechanisms behind their potential benefits.
1. Antimicrobial Properties:
• Description: Natural polymers have broad-spectrum anti-microbial effects against various pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Clostridium perfringens which mostly cause harm to poultry gut health. They work by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, thereby inhibiting growth of such bacterial pathogens without negatively affecting beneficial bacteria.
• Benefits for Gut Health: By reducing harmful bacterial populations, they help in maintaining a balanced gut microbiome of beneficial bacteria, which can prevent dysbiosis and related issues like necrotic enteritis and thereby ensure optimum performance of the birds matching their genetic potential.
2. Prebiotic Effects:
• Description: Natural biopolymers can act as prebiotic, serving as substrates for beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which promote gut health by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
• Benefits for Gut Health: SCFAs like butyrate support intestinal health by serving as an energy source for intestinal cells, reducing inflammation, and enhancing gut barrier function. This can improve nutrient absorption and feed efficiency.
3. Immune Modulation:
• Description: Natural biopolymers have shown their ability to enhance immune responses in poultry by stimulating the activity of macrophages, T-cells, and cytokines. They also help in reducing inflammatory responses.
• Benefits for Gut Health: A stronger immune system helps birds to resist infections, reducing the risk of gut inflammation caused by pathogens. This can lead to fewer disease outbreaks and lower use of antibiotics in flocks.
4. Enhanced Gut Barrier Integrity:
• Description: Natural biopolymers have been shown to strengthen the gut barrier, helping to prevent the entry of harmful pathogens and toxins from gaining entry into the bloodstream through the gut.
• Benefits for Gut Health: A more robust gut barrier reduces the risk of systemic infections and chronic inflammation, leading to healthier and more productive birds.
5. Antioxidant Properties:
• Description: Natural biopolymers also exhibit antioxidant activity, which helps in neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in poultry. Oxidative stress is known to damage the gut lining and impair immunity.
• Benefits for Gut Health: By reducing oxidative stress, they help to protect intestinal cells, promoting a healthier gut environment conducive to efficient digestion and nutrient uptake.
- Improvement in Production Performance:
• Description: Due to the combined antimicrobial, prebiotic, and immune-boosting effects, natural biopolymers improve feed efficiency and growth and egg production performance in poultry.
• Benefits for Gut Health: Healthier birds with better gut health can convert feed more effectively into body mass/egg number, which is particularly beneficial for fast-growing broiler germplasms. In addition, improved gut health in laying hens can lead to higher egg production and egg quality.
Practical Applications of Natural Biopolymers in Poultry Production:
• Dosage and Formulation: Natural biopolymers are typically added to feed in concentrations ranging from 50-500 mg/kg, depending on the formulation and specific poultry needs.
• Use in Antibiotic-Free Systems: They are particularly useful in antibiotic-free poultry systems, where they can serve as an alternative to traditional growth-promoting antibiotics/antibacterials.
• Combination with Other Additives: They can be used alongside probiotics, prebiotics, and organic acids to create a synergistic effect, enhancing gut health benefits.
Economic Benefits of Using Natural Biopolymers:
- Reduced Feed Costs: Natural biopolymers can improve feed efficiency, meaning less feed is required per unit of weight gain/per dozen eggs.
Ii) Lower Healthcare Costs: By reducing the incidence of gut-related diseases, they can help lower costs associated with veterinary treatments and medications.
Iii) Improved Product Quality: Healthier birds produce higher-quality meat and eggs, which can fetch better market prices.
Conclusion: Thus, natural biopolymers offer multiple benefits to the fast-growing poultry industry by ensuring robust poultry gut health, enhancing growth/egg production performance, supporting immune function, improving profitability and providing an alternative to antibiotics. Their antimicrobial, prebiotic, and immune-boosting properties make them valuable feed additives in modern poultry production, particularly for producers aiming to maintain good poultry gut health and looking for an effective alternative to antibiotics.