Managing immunity- a synergistic approach
Maintaining optimal immune response in birds has become a major challenge in modern poultry production. As nutrition is a major cost in animal and poultry nutrition, maintaining optimal health via this route is desirable. It is well known that antioxidants can enhance the immune system. The potential of some plant extracts to do so has also been investigated. B. P. Manjuatha explores some of the effects, and other nutritional compensatory measures which need to be examined in the light of new research.

Vitamins improve dairy production
Increasing the levels of vitamins above the published requirements can have real health benefits, especially in the highest-producing dairy cows. Adrian Packington explains.

Antibiotic resistance on the web
The Internet has proved a vital resource for spreading information and opinion rapidly. In terms of developing a strategy to combat antibiotic resistance, it seems, everyone has an input. Sarah Mellor gives some edited highlights of the debate so far.

Plant antibacterials suit modern production
Since the European ban of most traditional antimicrobials and growth promoters in animal feed, many alternatives have been discovered, tested and commercialised. Geert Bruggeman, Katrien Deschepper and Koen Molly believe that safe, innovative and powerful plant extracts will play important roles in the sustainable husbandry practices of the future.

Herbal additives improve milk processing
Experiments into milk quality performed in Poland show just how functional feeds can be used to make functional foods. When Juliusz Kraszewski's team fed lactating cows on diets containing a herbal additive, not only was milk yield improved, but it was found to have a positive influence on the processing characteristics of the milk for butter and cheese making and improved the nutritional quality of the milk for human nutrition.

Further benefits of botanicals
Not only do botanical feed additives have many different uses, but they act in different ways, from stimulating appetite to assisting in establishing a healthy intestinal microflora. Lucy Tucker shares her experience of botanicals in milk replacers for calves.

Short and medium chain fatty acids make a comeback
Medium chin fatty acids have been out of the spotlight for a while, whilst their shorter chain relatives have generated considerable interest. Hubèrt van Hees and Bert van Gils have found that the two work more effectively in synergy when included in piglet diets.

Probiotics are a safe combination
It is commonly believed that when probiotics are given as monocultures their effects are weaker than when a mixture of two or more bacterial species are used. Tchonka Mincheva Miteva has looked into the ideal combinations of lactobacilli and enterococci for making an effective probiotic.

The subtleties of yeast
Yeast culture products and live yeast products are often included in ruminant feeds as a rumen stimulant or modulator. Their use has extended to include feeds for poultry and pigs. However, discerning the difference between the terminologies used to describe yeast products can sometimes seem an arduous task. Charlie W. Stone gives some handy hints.

Acidifiers team up for best effects
Acidifiers have become a popular choice in pig diets, especially in those containing exogenous enzymes. As Corné van der Eijk explains, effective replacement of AGP's can be best-achieved using organic acids in combination with other feed ingredients.

Phytobiotics- a sustainable solution
Plants have evolved with effective antimicrobial and antifungal defence systems. Combining their strengths with an effective promoter of beneficial gut bacteria gives us a double-barrelled weapon in the fight against bacteria--caused production losses.
 
April 23, 2003