Cedar Rapids, IA (PRWEB) August 03, 2013
Recent research continues to demonstrate the health and production benefits of the metabolites in Diamond V Original XPC™ for poultry veterinarians and producers. Diamond V is the world’s leading supplier of nutritional fermentation products used to optimize digestive function key to animal and aqua health, productivity, efficiency and profitability.
The effects of Original XPC and a coccidiostat (Salinomycin) were investigated individually and in combination at Southern Poultry Research during a coccidiosis challenge in broiler chickens. A total of 320 test birds were housed and lesion scores were conducted. Male broilers (Cobb X Cobb) were used from 0d to 27d of age. All birds received vaccinations at the hatchery for Marek’s Disease (HVT:SB-1) and birds were weighed at 0d, 21d and 27d of age. Feed consumption was measured at 21d and 27d. The study included five treatments with eight birds per cage and eight replicate cages per treatment. Test articles were added to the feed of each treatment.
All birds except the negative controls were challenged orally with a coccidia inoculum at 21d. The challenge dose per bird was designed to be much greater than a routine field challenge and to produce approximately 3.0 lesion scores for each species in the infected, non-medicated control group.
At 27d, all birds from each cage were lesion scored. The upper, middle and cecal regions of the intestine were scored, using the system of Johnson and Reid where 0 is normal and 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicate increasing severity of infection.
Results
A statistical reduction in E acervulina coccidia lesions sores were demonstrated in the upper GI tract when Original XPC (2.5 lb/t) was included in the feed. Salinomycin (60 g/t) inclusion further reduced lesions compared to the non-medicated, infected group. E. maxima lesion scores in the mid gut were also significantly reduced from the addition of Original XPC to the diets, and the response was equivalent to that of Salinomycin and to the combination of products. Cecal lesions reflecting E. tenella were also significantly reduced when feeding Original XPC, and an even greater response was observed when Salinomycin was included.
Body weight gain during the coccidiosis infection was severely affected in the non-medicated, infected group. Adding Original XPC to the feed significantly improved body weight gain, and Salinomycin produced even greater gain. The combination of Original XPC and Salinomycin provided the greatest weight gain among the infected groups.
The treatment response for feed conversion ratio was similar to body weight gains in that significant improvements were seen with Original XPC and also with Salinomycin. Combining Original XPC and Salinomycin resulted in feed conversion similar to that of non-infected controls.
Previous research has demonstrated that the metabolites in Diamond V Original XPC empowers the bird’s immune system by strengthening the innate immune response and supporting adaptive immunity within the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, chemical signals (cytokines) help suppress the inflammatory response during a challenge, and metabolites in Original XPC increase antibody production to commercial vaccines.
Previous work also demonstrated that feeding Original XPC can reduce the incidence and severity of intestinal lesions when birds are challenged with coccidiosis. Further evidence of reduced coccidiosis stress from feeding original XPC is the improved body weight gain and feed conversion when birds are fed Original XPC during a coccidia challenge.
About Diamond V
Diamond V, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, is the world’s leading supplier of nutritional fermentation products used to optimize digestive function and nutrition key to animal and aqua health, productivity, efficiency and profitability. Our commitment to innovation, technology and quality has earned Diamond V a global reputation of trust and reliability within the animal feed industry. For more information contact Diamond V at 800-373-7234 or on the Web at http://www.diamondv.com.