Use of immunomodulators increases efficiency, safety and profitability in poultry production

Among the best known are beta-glucans, which have proven to improve health and reduce the use of growth-promoting drugs and antibiotics

Immunomodules and beta-glucans are a very important issue for the various poultry production systems, mainly because they strengthen the immune responses of birds in the face of bacterial and viral challenges. Traditionally, in poultry farming, antibiotics have been used to modulate and maintain the intestinal microbiota in balance, seeking to preserve the health of the birds as much as possible, as well as allowing them to express their maximum productive potential.

The veterinarian and National Poultry Manager at Yes, Matheus Calvo de Paula, explains that most of the performance-enhancing additives used in poultry farming are still antibiotics, but in recent years, this scenario has been changing. This is because agribusinesses are looking for alternatives to replace antibiotics with non-medicated additives.

This movement is taking place due to high pressure from the foreign market and end consumers, with the aim of preventing the appearance of antibiotic residues in meat and eggs from conventional breeding practices, and also the possible increase in antibiotic resistance. All this without losing focus on maintaining the performance, keeping the production indexes at levels that bring profitability to the producer.

Most alternative additives to antibiotics aim to act directly on intestinal bacteria by controlling the unbalanced growth of these bacteria in the intestine. "Or even in virulence through the quorum sensing, which is a communication mechanism between bacteria that allows the coordination of bacterial behavior in relation to the environment, regulating gene expression in response to the growth of its population at the gut level, and also in the induction of pathogen virulence factors" , complements Paula.

But, according to the expert, not all of these available technologies are capable of acting against the viral challenges. Therefore, Yes, a company that develops biotechnological solutions for effective, safe and sustainable animal nutrition, brought to the market the technology from beta glucans, GlucanGold. It is a natural ingredient, with 60% of beta-glucans, obtained through a biotechnological process of purification of the yeast cell wall Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Beta-glucans do not act directly on etiological, viral or bacterial agents, but rather by immunostimulating birds to produce defense cells, such as the recruitment of macrophages, dendritic cells, interleukins and immunoglobulins. All this at the systemic and intestinal mucosa level.

"In this way, it is possible to provide more immunocompetent birds to be able to overcome the challenges imposed in high production performance, in addition to getting the most out of the poultry's production potential”, stresses the manager.

Regions where viral and, mainly, respiratory challenges are intense, the use of beta-glucans guarantees more immunocompetent birds, being an excellent tool to minimize production losses.

The effects of systemic and intestinal immunomodulation are wide and several tests in this regard have already been carried out. "The use of beta glucans increased protection against Salmonella, as well as the response of the chicks to the challenges of E. coli.. In these tests, better body weight and feed conversion were observed in the birds, which consumed beta-glucans for seven days, compared to the treatment without beta-glucans”, detailed the veterinarian.

The form of use of beta glucans is done through the feed, providing balance to the immune system and contributing to a more effective and lasting protection from environmental and health challenges. This factor positively impacts the production efficiency and profitability of the activity.

The benefits of using purified beta-glucans are several, but the strengthening of natural defenses, reduction of mortality, superior post-vaccination response and improvement in the balance of the intestinal microbiota, reducing the colonization of pathogenic microorganisms, stand out.

In March of that year, Yes received the Feed & Food Safety certificate, which validates it as a Certified Company GMP, HACCP and Certified Company Level 3 of MAPA for the Lucélia (SP) unit in the scope of production of additives and premixes for animal feed. The certificate encompasses all the fundamentals of quality management system, good manufacturing practices and hazard analysis and critical control points. “We are constantly improving our food quality and safety system, and the Feed & Food Safety certificate confirms our structured system that meets the most demanding standards of the global market”, explains the Quality Manager at Yes, Alexandre Salomão.

“The use of beta-glucans in poultry production improves health and reduces the use of growth-promoting medicines and antibiotics, providing the consumer with a safer and better quality food”, concludes Matheus.

About Yes

Yes, a biotechnology company in animal nutrition, develops and produces nutritional additives such as mycotoxin adsorbents, prebiotics, organic minerals, blends and yeast derivatives with the objective of improving the performance and health of animals. All products comply with the strictest laws in world markets such as the United States and Europe. Founded in 2008, Yes has a head office in Campinas/SP, four production plants, one in Lucélia/SP, one in Novo Horizonte/SP, one in Borá/SP and one in Conceição da Barra/ES, a center for Logistics and Distribution in Lucélia/SP and another in Londrina/PR. It operates throughout Brazil, in addition to exporting to over 35 countries, being present in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Since 2016 the company has been part of the investee portfolio of the Aqua Capital investment fund.

More information: https://yessinergy.com