USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, in which the role dietary calcium plays in necrotic enteritis (NE) development and pathogenesis was examined. The research was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from the Sanderson Farms and is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org. The project summary is as follows.
Project #BRF009: The Role of Dietary Calcium in Necrotic Enteritis Development and Pathogenesis
(Dr. Audrey P. McElroy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas)
Dr. Audrey McElroy at Texas A&M University recently completed a research project where she conducted two experiments to better define the involvement that calcium has in changes that occur in the intestinal environment, resulting in NE morbidity and mortality in broilers. She also evaluated the effect that calcium source has in broiler diets that contain animal protein and those that do not (all veggie) on natural occurrence of NE. Data showed that dietary calcium, in particular limestone particle size, limestone geographic source and diet inclusion levels, are complex contributors to intestinal health and broiler performance.
The research summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website. Information on other Association research may also be obtained by visiting the USPOULTRY website,www.uspoultry.org.
