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6 March 2006 - 00:00
Start planning for heat stress now, advises DaniscoThough the hot summer months in many countries may seem some time away, Danisco Animal Nutrition is advising poultry producers to start planning their management and nutritional strategies now in order to minimise the negative effects of heat stress on poultry performance. Traditionally, producers rely on environmental control systems or introduce dietary electrolyte supplements to try to minimise the negative effects of heat stress. However, many now recognise the value of also supplementing diets with Betafin®, (Danisco Animal Nutrition), a form of natural betaine extracted from sugar beet and highly purified using patented chromatographic separation techniques. “Dehydration due to chronic heat stress often causes variation in the growth and feed conversion of poultry and in more acute situations results in increased mortality,” states Dr Gary Partridge, the company’s Technical Services Director. “Our form of betaine has very potent osmolytic properties, which helps the bird to maintain the correct cellular water balance. Dehydration is reduced, resulting in more uniform growth, particularly when the bird is exposed to fluctuating heat stress conditions.” A trial conducted at the Oklahoma State University, USA, showed that Danisco’s highly potent betaine increased water retention in heat-stressed broilers exposed to temperatures up to 35°C by 14%. Eight trials in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia also demonstrated the high value of betaine in greatly reducing the negative effects of heat stress in poultry. Betafin produced more consistent bird performance and improved feed conversion by an average of approximately 6%. The economic benefits for the broiler producer are considerable. Feed costs vary significantly throughout the world, from approximately $145/tonne in the US and $205/tonne in France to $275/tonne in Thailand. Based on these figures, this highly potent form of betaine can reduce feed costs by around $9 -$17 per tonne. “Including betaine in poultry diets undoubtedly offers significant benefits in terms of maintaining bird performance under high ambient temperatures and in other situations where water balance is disturbed, such as chronic disease challenge. Betaine can therefore perform a vital role as part of an overall strategy to minimise the adverse effects of environmental stress,” Dr Partridge concludes. For further information, please contact:Andrea Barletta Global Marketing Manager, Danisco Animal Nutrition. NOTES FOR EDITORSA photograph of Dr Gary Partridge is available from julian.cooksley@kendallscom.co.uk
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