When there are flocks with a bad start and whose growths “come to a standstill” in the last two weeks of fattening, it could mean that there are cases of hepatic steatosis, as these are the main symptoms. This last symptom is directly linked to the accumulation of several factors, as explained by Dr. Christophe Briens, veterinarian and poultry specialist of the French CCPA Group. These factors are:
- Climatic context (heat and humidity),
- Productive context (facilities are not always adapted to thermal stress) and
- Feed context (imported raw materials sometimes contaminated with mycotoxins, diets concentrated in energy and with a high content of palm oil).
“Palm oil, used due to its availability and price, is not recommended at the beginning of the poultry breeding,” said Briens. He has carried out numerous autopsies in the field in Latin America and, in addition to hepatic steatosis, suspected also the presence of adenovirus, which aggravates the clinical picture.
High temperatures in some geographical areas and humidity explain very high heat stress indices. A bird’s tolerance to heat decreases by two degrees with high humidity. “Heat stress increases the risks of hepatic steatosis in birds,” said Briens.
“Hepatic steatosis is an accumulation of triglycerides in the liver, which causes a ‘congestion’ of the liver that blocks all digestion mechanisms,” said Jean Philippe Llorca, commercial manager in Latin America for Nutristar International, a subsidiary of Group CCPA.
Protect the liver
The liver plays an essential role in poultry health and productivity. It performs a myriad of metabolic activities, such as detoxification of the body and its proper functioning. Both are fundamental for optimal digestibility of the diet and productive performance.
“It is important to protect the liver for several reasons,” said Llorca. “It stimulates feed consumption and digestion, especially during the intensive growth phases, during phases of heat stress or when there is a risk of poisoning due to the presence of mycotoxins, or after treatment or management of the birds.”
Synergy between plant extracts
There are solutions on the market that limit the risks of hepatic steatosis and prevent falls in feed consumption.
“The high efficiency of nutritional solutions comes from the synergy between the plant extracts of their composition,” said Briens, who recommended the following extracts:
- Milk thistle (antioxidant and regenerative properties of liver cells),
- Rosemary (liver detoxifying effect),
- Boldo (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory),
- Artichoke (increased bile secretion, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, diuretic, cardiovascular protection),
- Other components of the product also improve bile secretion and decongest the liver.
“Poultry producers who have used the combination of natural active ingredients reported a decrease of one to two points in mortality and a better feed conversion index during the first 21 days,” said Llorca.
A test with 53,000 hens carried out in a farm of half a million layers in Lima during the summer of 2016 led to better productive results after administration of the solution, at 50 weeks.
In this test, researchers observed that the laying rate, the average egg weight and the egg mass increased in the weeks following the treatment. These results are superior to the technical references of Hyline Brown genetics.
The efficiency of this solution, based on natural active principles, is the result of research and development work started more than 15 years ago to reinforce, through nutrition, the immune status of animals and always adapt to regulations European Union, marked by a 2006 ban on growth-promoting antibiotics.
The liver and its functions
The liver carries out a large number of digestive, metabolic and excretory activities, which have a significant role in poultry health and productivity.
- Fat metabolism: The liver produces bile that emulsifies lipids and aids in fat digestion. With choline, it can transform fat deposits into adipose tissue so that the tissues can use them for energy.
- Carbohydrate metabolism: The liver is responsible for converting excess carbohydrates ingested into lipids. Together with the pancreas, it maintains blood glucose.
- Vitamin metabolism: The liver assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Vitamins B1, B2 and niacin are metabolized and stored in the liver.
- Erythropoiesis: It is the formation of red blood cells in the blood. In birds, the liver is the site of this function. Hemoglobin is synthesized in the liver.
