Oorsig/Review
Poultry skin and footpad quality
The skin functions as a protective armour against
inflammation from skin lesions that can lead to
cellulitis and bacteria that can result in footpad
dermatitis in chickens. Maintaining strong skin
and footpad integrity is a critical means to help
prevent scratches and infection that can result
in chronic inflammation and potentially lead to
carcass condemnation.
Respiratory infections
Respiratory infections can destroy the epithelial
lining of the upper respiratory system, allowing
pathogens to access the lower respiratory system.
When this occurs, it can result in a prolonged
inflammatory response that may lead to reduced
weight gain, lower feed conversion and increased
mortality.
stocking densities and ventilation to help manage
heat stress in your operation are also critical.
Another step is the inclusion of performance
trace minerals in the ration. Performance trace
minerals, when fed as part of a well-balanced
livestock or poultry nutrition programme, can
help manage the effects of chronic inflammation.
They fortify the immune system to provide a
more robust and balanced immune response
by playing a vital role in building healthy first
responder cells, as well as ensuring the pro-
inflammatory proteins are in balance with the
anti-inflammatory proteins This helps animals
recover from an inflammation challenge faster,
while minimising economic losses.
The role of trace minerals
The impacts of chronic inflammation are
significant: poor reproductive performance,
increased incidence of lameness, decreased
milk production, increased respiratory, and
poor carcass quality. While these are significant
performance impacts, they also have a negative
impact on the wellness of the animals in our care.
In today’s volatile markets, it’s imperative to
fully understand the sources and implications
of inflammation and take preventative steps to
protect the wellness and performance of the
animals in your care.
Preventive steps should include more rigorous
management to identify triggers that may
negatively impact gut integrity and heat stress
– two significant sources of inflammation.
These can include increased oversight of feed
quality to minimise the presence of mycotoxins
and potential tissue damage that may occur in
animals consuming the feed. Ensuring proper
Performance trace minerals, when fed as part of a well-balanced
livestock or poultry nutrition program, can help manage the
effects of chronic inflammation.
This article was first published in the February 2019
issue of Essential Feed. Dr Connie Larson is the global
research and nutritional services (RNS) manager
at Zinpro Corporation. She has a master’s degree in
ruminant nutrition from Montana State University
and earned her doctoral degree in ruminant nutrition
from New Mexico State University. Contact jackie@
chemunique.co.za for any questions related to this
article.
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