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Clay minerals to fight footpad lesions Footpad lesions in poultry are an indication of animal welfare

standards. Footpad burns of ten indicate that the animals are not properly housed and fed. Here we look at how day minerals in the diet can help prevent these painful foot conditions.

By Arno van der Aa, Orffa Additives, the Netherlands

T he implementation of welfare measurements for brailers in recently approveellegislation

has once again put the importance of prevention of footpaellesions in a new perspective. In June 2007, EU Directive 2007-43-EC became effective anel

implementation is elue on 30 June, 2010. Dming the long negotiations the up take of footpacllesions has been in anel out of this elirective. Finally it was elecielecl not to inclucle them as an effective parameter. However, it was noteel th at at the evaluation of this elirective in 2012, this

parameter woulel be cliscusseel again.

Importante of the issue Concmrently, the eliscussion also

contimies on a nationallevel. In the Netherlancls, for example, footpael

lesions we re still plannecl to be taken up by the national implementation of the EU Directive 2007-43-EC. This woulel

mean that the incielence of footpael

lesions woulel become a tooI to elefine the elensity of birels a poultry farmer is alloweel to keep, which has a elirect influence on the economical results. Just before governmental approval in July 2008, footpaellesions were (again)

left out of the Dutch regulation. But, the government agreeel with the poultry inelustry to investigate possibilities for monitoring anel aeljusting footpaellesions. This again inelicates the significance of this problem, but also the elifficulty for governments to effectively incluele this

parameter in legislation. In some countlies footpaellesions have alreaely hael a elirect effect on fanners' income. Sweelen alreaely

starteel in 1994 with the "brailel' foot

t '" ~ 1;: .

Table 1 . Experimental setup. .

.

.

Treatment Additive Starter Grower Finisher 1 Control 2 Clinoptilolite 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% A negative con trol group against a treatment with Clinoptilolite

(AmmofVllN, Orffa Additives) added to the diet. The procental

addition of Clinoptilolite is a dilution of the diet.

health programme". In Denmark footpacl

lesions are measurecl in the slaughterhouse

anel farmers are put uncler veterinarian supervision anel given penalties when incielence anel severity of footpacllesions are too high. It is very likely that more countries will soon follow this kincl of practice, or that retail and/or NGOs become driving forces to fultil consumers' clemanels. For the benefit of the poultry inelustry, a pro-active approach seems aelvisable.

Multiple fadors Footpad lesions are a multifactorial disorder anel are affecteel by internal anel external factors. Internal factors of influence can be categorised as sex, breeel,

age, pressme, elaily growth and animal health. External factors incluele water supply, litter type, litter height, top elressing of litter, climate, season, light, bird elensity, faeces elistribution anel, last but certainly not least, feed composition (Velelkamp 2007). Within this article, the effect of feed measurements, but more particularly the use of clinoptilolite (clay mineraIs), will be discusseel.

Feed measurements There are several ways to manage litter quality anel footpaellesions with feeel strategies. The levels of sodium anel potassium in the feed may affect water up take and thereby leael to wet litter prablems. Some feed ingreelients, like soy and tapioca, have high potassium levels anel thereby also high levels of certain feed ingredients th at may affect litter quality. High levels of cruele protein are also known to have a negative effect on litter quality.

High pratein levels cause high levels of mic acid formeel in the liver anel excreted by kidneys, thereby stimulating water up take anel wet droppings. To prevent footpad lesions, inclusion levels ofbiotin may be of importance. Biotin impraves the formation and elevelopment of the upper skin. Earlier reports have shown that biotin eleficiencies increase footpael

lesions (Mayne, 2005).

WORLD POULTRY.VoI.24 No 12. 2008 ~p www.woridPoultry.net15

v'~_

Importante of litter quality Litter quality is an il11.portant parameter regareling the incielence and severity of footpad lesions. Moistme content is important, since wet litter is known to influence the OCCUlTence of footpad

lesions in broilers anel turkeys (Mayne, 2005). The combination ofwet litter combineel with nitragen components like ammonia is irritating for footpads.

The combination of wet litter and high

ammonia can affect the footpad, which results in colourisation of the skin, and ultimately ulcerations.

Damageel footpaels give free way for nmgi or bacteria to cause seconelary

infections, which may even leael to conelemnations of the car-cass (Ekstranel

. et al, 1997). Brailers affecteel by footpad lesions will experience pain anel therefore redllCed mobility, thereby leacling to lower feed intake anel grovvth.

Clay minerals and litter quality Clinoptilolites are specially selecteel clay minerals lmown for their typical structme, which enables the clay mineral to bind ammonia (Suchy et al, 2006). As a re sult

(%)

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_

__ __

---24~6---- , I

2~; [::Ù,i::-::: ~31-.-

22 51.- 22

control

gut health is improved, since ammonia is toxic to the gut wall. As an additional effect, a reeluction of footpad lesions may be expecteel because ammonia bOlmd to c1inoptilolite causes less

irritation to the footpads.

In 2001, the binding of ammonia by clinoptilolite was testeel in piglets by the University of Ghent in Belgium. They founel that 32% of total ammonia was bounel in faeces of piglets fed diets that containeel clinoptilolite, compared to only 1% with bounded ammonia in the con trol treatment. ResuIts from several trials have shown th at inclusion of clinoptilolite in the diet reduces water excretion and thus improves litter quality. As a resuIt of ammonia bineling

in the gut, technical performance is

also improved. In the following sections different trials are discussecl.

'Figùre'2. Èffect of.c1inoptilolitë on:lesioÍ1severity,' Germaíí field.trial 2005 :;;;' "

',,,.. ; -

'".~ "., ~ ,/ ~'~~< ~<~ '::;'r

~"J, ...~ '/~" ~~\ " '111: ~l ~"';\ '1<,

~

.Control IIClinoptilolite

c 80 .1----------------------------67-6,-.------.------

..3 60 .. ....--.-.......-.......---.-..------.....-...---.-----------..- ~40 iS 20- ~ 0

score 1 score 2 score 3

lesion severity score 4

Control

2116

3457 1.621

Clinoptilolite

2170

3611

1.629

Growth (0-35d) gr

Feed intake (0-35d) gr

Corrected FCR (0-35d) I

Litter score Day 7

Day 14

Day 21

Day 27 Day 31

Day 35 Footpad lesion scores* Day 28

Day 35 'Corrected FCR (o..35d) FCR corrected to 2732 grams at day 35, -0.01 for each additional25 grams of body weight.

'0.= No lesions, no disc%ration or scars. 1 = Mild lesions, parts of the footpad is discoloured to light brawn 2= Larger or multiple tumours, disc%ra- tion of the foot pad to dark brawn 3= Severe lesions; deep lesions, ulcers, and scabs.

1

2

2.8

3.5 4

1

2

2.3 3

35 4 4.3

1.7

U

15 1.1

Balance trial in Belgium In 2005, a trial was performed at CLO- DVV (Mel1e, Belgium) to measure the bio-efficacy of clinoptilolites in three different dosages. The trial was se1:l1p

as a balance trial with male Ross-308 broilers according to the EU Reference method (Bourdillon et al, 1990). Three different dosages of clinoptilolite (1 %. 2% and 3% on top of addition) were compared with a negative control group. There was a 7-elay adaption perioel (day 14-21 days of age) and the triallasted from 21 to 24 days. For eveq treatment six replicates of four male broilers were useel. Feed andnutrient intake, water excretion, elry matter of excretion, total excretion, fat eligestibility

and nitrogen-retention were measured. The illy matter content ofthe manure was significantly increased (Figure 1). Water excretion (H20{feed intake) decreased with the inclusion of c1inoptilolite.

Further resuIts showed th at the addition of c1inoptilolite ofup to 2% in the ration

Scoring of footpad lesions For the scoring, footpad lesions are assigned to one of these 4 classes:

0= No lesions, no discoloration or scars 2 = Larger or multiple tumours, discoloration of the foot 1 = Mild lesions, parts of the footpad is discol to light brown pad to dark brown (Sou(ce. ASG Repo(tJ/) 3 = Severe lesions; deep lesions, ulcers, and scabs

WORLD POULTRY .VoL 24 No 12. 2008 WP wwwWorldPoultry.net 16

hael no effect on feed intake, energy value of the diet, or nitrogen retention. This means that elilution of the diet up to 2% is possible, while keeping the same performance. This is explaineel by improveel fat eligestibility and improveel usage of protein sources. Using a dilution strategy inc1ueling c1inoptilolite can be a successful tooI to lower feeding costs.

field trials in Germany In 2003, a field trial was performed in Germany on a farm with two ielentical houses containing 26,500 birds each. The effects of additional c1inoptilolites were determined using on top of addi- tion 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% in starter, grower anel tinisher eliets respectively.

Litter quality improved numerically at days 14, 21 anel 28 with 0.5 (scale 1-6).

The trial was repeated in 2005 with an addition of 1.0% c1inoptilolites in all phases. Litter quality irnproveel numerically by 0.67 on average at elay

9, 21 and 28 (scale 1-6). Footpaellesions we re scored in 994 birds, on scale 1

(no lesions) to 4 (severe lesions) (Figure 2). Scores teneled to be positively influenceel by the c1inoptilolite versus con trol diets: score 1 (8.4% vs 4.2%), score 2 (24.0% vs 22.0%), score 3 (60.8% vs 66.8%) anel score 4 (6.9% vs 7.0%). In both trials economic results improved by 23% and 41% respectively. Interestingly, both trials resulted in an improvement in losses at the slaughterhouse.

Research trial in the Netherlands To improve litter quality and reduce footpaellesions prevalence anel severity, a trial was performeel in 2007 at Provimi Research Station "De Viersprong" in Velddriel, the Netherlands. In this trial the effe cts of c1inoptilolite (AmmoMIN, Orffa Adelitives BV) on top of addition in the eliet were measurecL Feeel composi- tion was formulated in such a way that wet litter was expected, to see c1ear ef- fe cts on litter quality and footpadle- sions. Birds were fed a contral eliet or a

diet with an adelition of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% c1inoptilolite in starter, grower anel finisher diets respectively. This means that c1inoptilolite replaces other ingredi- ents, leading to a nutritional dilution.

Both treatments contained 120 male birds elivided over six replicates (TabIe 2). Birds fed c1inoptilolite tenelecl to grow faster (+54 g) from day 0 to 35, although

not significant (P>0.05, ANOVA using GENSTAT). No differences were found in Couecteel Feed Conversion. These results show that at least similar results on performance can be obtainecl, with a tendency to higher growth, even with a dilution of the eli ets by adding c1inoptilolites. This can be explaineel by the bineling of ammonia in the gut. The elilution of the cliet with clinoptilolite may reduce the cost of the formulation. Litter scores were measured weekly on ascale from 1 (dlY) to 5 (wet). From elay 21 onwards, litter scores improveel

No. of birds, (replicates) Mortality (%) Gain (0-35 days), 9 Feed Intake (0-35 days), 9 FCR (0-35 days) FCR corrected (0-35 days)' Footpad lesion score

Day 28 Day 35 I Corrected FCR (0.-35 d) FCR corrected to 2272 9 at day 35, -0.0.7 for each additional25 9 of body weight

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.-1/ ClinoptiloJites are speciaJly selected clay minernis known for their typicaJ structure, which enables the day mineral to bind

ammonia.

numerically for birels feel clinoptilolite. Footpaellesions were scoreel from 1 (no lesions) to 4 (severe lesions) per birel at elays

28 anel 35. Accoreling to trial protocol, fì:esh wooel shavings

were aeleleel to cages when litter scores became too high (>4). Aeleling clinoptilolite to broiler eliets numerically improveel average footpaellesions, from 1.7 to 1.5 at elay 28 anel fi-om 1.3 to 1.1 at elay 35 for control anel clinoptilolite eliets respectively. It shoulel be noteel that even four out of six replicates of the control group requireel extra wooel shavings compareel to only

two clinoptilolite replicates. Extra aelelition ofwooel shaving is known to improve the incielence of footpaellesions. In practice, extra aelelition ofwooel shavings is not common; therefore, the effects on footpaellesions may even be higher. Experiences from other trials teach us that ellY matter of the faeces may increase elue to clinoptilolite aelelition.

Diluted diet vs isonutritious diet In 2008, a seconel trial was performeel at Provimi Research Station "De Vier-sprong" in Velelelriel, the Netherlanels_ In this trial a comparison was maele between eliets eliluteel with clay minerals versus isonutritious eliets in which clay minerals were taken up. In both treatments strategy was 0.5% clinoptilolite (AmmoMIN) aelelition or inclusion in starter eliets, 1.0%

clinoptilolite in grower eliets anel 1.5% clinoptilolite in finisher eliets. In the first case we speak of "on top off aelelition" or elilution of the eliet. In the seconel case clay minerals are calculateel within the eliets, anel eliets are reformulateel to obtain an isonutritious eliet. All treatments containeel 120 male birels elivieleel over six replicates.

Results of this trial are shown in Table 3. There was a

tenelency to lower mortality in clinoptilolite treatments (4.4% in control versus 3.3% anel 2.5% for respectively cliluteel anel isonutritious eliets). There was a tenelency to higher growth when clinoptilolite was useel in eliluteel feeels (+43 g), whereas growth in isonutrious eliets growth was significantly improveel (+99 g). In both treatments cOlTecteel feeel convers ion ratios show a high tenelency to improvement of more than four points (>2.6% improvement). Diets eliluteel with clinoptilolites showeel a high tenelency to improveel footpael burns scores both on 28 anel 35 elays, whereas isonutritious eliets with clinoptilolites showeel even better, significant improvements in footpael bum scores.

This trial confirms that there is a tenelency to better proeluction performance anel reeluction of footpaellesions. in broilers when clinoptilolites are useel to dilute the diet. This type of strategy wiH aelelitionally lower feeel costs. Besieles that this trial shows that when clinoptilolites are used in isonutritious diets, both on proeluction as weIl as footpael bUrI1s, significant results can be obtaineel. This further indicates the positive

effects of clinoptilolites for use in broiler eliets.

Condusions It seems footpaellesions in the poultry inelustlY are becoming increasingly important. Not only eloes one have to keep in minel

Control Refonnulated diet/ isonutrient

LSD Diluted diet/ "on top of"

120 (6)

3.3 2212'b

3551'b

1.599 1.568

120 (6)

4.2 2169b

3487b

1.608 1.608

120 (6) 2.5

2268"

3639' 1.605

1.565

74 121

0.ü30 0.044

0.7' 1.1'

0.4b

0.6b 0.5' 0.8'b

that animal welfare is important for the image of the poultry

meat inelustry, but footpaellesions can also impact performance elue to low mobility of the birels. It wiH also become increasingly

important in terms of legislation, although in many countries so far, practical implication seems to be at a bottleneck.

hKlusion of clinoptilolite in brailer eliets has several aelvantages.

First of all it can be useel as an assurance to prevent wet litter anel reeluce severity of footpaellesions. Seconclly, it is a cost price reelucirig measurement, while performance wiH be equal

or may even improve, in case the proeluct is useel to elilute the cliet. 11I

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