IMPROVING GUT HEALTH

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

KEPRO’S ACIDIFIERS: THE PREVENTATIVE APPROACH FOR GUT HEALTH

VETERINARY SOLUTIONS FROM HOLLAND

Different types of acids : organic and inorganicTo acidify drinking water or feed, different types of acids can be used. The market offers organic acids and inorganic acids. The principal difference between organic and inorganic acids is the presence of carbon in the chemical composition of organic acids. Due to their carbon-group, the organic acids are able to penetrate the bacterial cell wall, inorganic acids are not capable of doing this. Organic acids also have a high nutritional value which adds to the performance and digestion in poultry.

Organic acidsThe advantage of organic acids is their strong antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial effect of organic acids is through:- Modification of bacteria’s internal pH.- Inhibition of bacteria’s metabolic functions.- Accumulation of toxins in the bacteria.- Disruption of the bacteria’s cell wall.

Kepro’s products Keprogan, Keprogan Plus and Keprofix Oral are organic acidifiers. More information on these products will follow in this brochure.

Inorganic acidsInorganic acids do not have the antimicrobial mode of action, but are very effective in reducing and buffering (stability for a long while) the pH of the drinking water. Inorganic acids have also shown higher persistence in the gut than organic acids. Although inorganic acids do not kill bacteria, they do have an inhibiting effect on bacteria, and can be used to sustain (not improve) the quality of the drinking water. Inorganic acids can play an important role in digestion of proteins, minerals and trace elements, for instance in releasing more calcium, magnesium and zinc from the feed. Inorganic acids can also reduce the amount of scale inside the drinking water pipes.

Keprofoscal Oral is an inorganic acidifier. More information on this product will follow in this brochure.

Different types of acids : coated and uncoatedThere are different methods to acidify water of feed. You can use uncoated products or coated products.

Uncoated acidifiers (Keprofix Oral, Keprogan, Keprofoscal Oral): - Acidify water (lower the pH) or feed.- Acidify only the upper digestive system.- Support digestion.

Coated acidifiers (Keprogan Plus):- Acidify feed.- Acidify the entire digestive system.- Support digestion.- Stimulate gut cells, enzymes and helpful to bacteria in the

intestinal system.- Reduce pathogenic bacteria in entire digestive system.

As shown in image 1, the resident time of feed and bacteria in the upper digestive tract is about 115 minutes. This time is used to kill pathogenic bacteria which enter the digestive tract and to improve the digestion of proteins, minerals and trace elements.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO IMPROVE GUT HEALTH IN POULTRY? Gut health is crucial for

performance, health and welfare

of production animals.

A healthy gut is essential for

efficient digestion and optimal

nutrient absorption. When gut

health is compromised, this

will have a direct effect on the

performance of animals. In order

to maintain a healthy gut in the

animals, both management, good

quality feed and biosecurity are

very important.

Besides viruses and parasites,

pathogenic bacteria are an

important cause of bad gut health.

Feed and drinking water can be

an important source of bacterial

infections for animals.

Resident time of feed in upper digestive system (crop, gizzard and proventriculus): 115 minutes

Resident time of feed in lower digestive system : 310 minutes

Image 1 - Uncoated acidifiers work in the upper digestive system, coated acidifiers in the whole digestive system

One of the options to improve gut health is acidifying drinking water or feed. Acidifying helps to:- Improve animals performance:

- Decrease pressure on the animals immune system so more nutrients are available for production.

- Optimise pH in upper digestive (crop and stomach) or entire digestive system may improve protein digestibility (activation and better function of proteolytic enzymes).

- Improve digestibility of minerals and trace elements like Ca, P, Zn and Mg.

- Reduce bacteria populations in the water/feed system and in the animals to prevent disease, hereby inhibit the spread of pathogenic bacteria Improve performance during heat stress by protecting the gut Stimulate feed intake.

- Reduce scale and biofilm build up in the water system.

Keprofix Oral consist of a blend of organic acids: formic acid, citric acid and sodium propionate, a sodium salt of propionic acid. The advantage of using a blend of acids over using an individual acid is that a combination of acids will have a stronger antimicrobial effect and also works against yeasts and moulds. The acids in Keprofix Oral are uncoated, so are only active in the drinking water, crop and gizzard of the birds. To extend the mode of action throughout the entire digestion system, Keprofix Oral also contains an essential oil. The combination of both organic agents (organic acids and essential oils) results in more efficiency due to providing beneficial influences throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. Synergistic effects of combining organic acids and essential oils were found resulting

in improved feed conversion and improved average daily gain in poultry.

Indications Keprofix Oral- An effective alternative for antibiotic

growth promoters to achieve the target performances in poultry.

- To prevent bacterial diseases in poultry, like E. Coli infections.

- During diseases or in the treatment of animals recovering from disease, because of the acidic effect.

- To reduce the contamination of water by acidifying it.

- To reduce pathogenic gut micro-organisms. - To enhance the digestibility of proteins and

thereby improve the feed conversion in poultry (broilers, breeders, layers).

Hardness of drinking water 10 15 20 30 45

Dosage in ml of Keprofix Oral per 1.000 litres of drinking water 400 800 800 1.200 1.200

Keprofoscal Oral is an inorganic acidifier. Keprofoscal contains high levels of phosphoric acid, which is active in the upper digestive system.Due to the high amount of phosphoric acid, Keprofoscal has a dual mode of action:- Keprofoscal corrects deficiencies of the

minerals calcium and phosphorus and the trace elements zinc, selenium, cobalt, manganese and copper.

Image 4 - Drop test to measure hardness of the water

Image 5 - Dip sticks to measure the pH value of the water

How to use Keprofix Oral / Keprofoscal Oral :

dH 10 20 30 40 50

L Keprofoscal per 1.000 L water

1,00 1,35 2,00 2,70 3,40

ARE YOU ABLE TO MIX ACIDIFIERS THROUGH THE FEED?

MIX ACIDIFIER THROUGH FEED MIX ACIDIFIER THROUGH DRINKING WATER

YES NO

- To prevent disease spread through feed - To stimulate upper gut flora - To stimulate immune system.

- To prevent disease spread through feed

- Supports the flora in the entire di-gestive system

- To stimulate immu-ne system

- To stimulate growth and rene-wal of gut cells (butyric acid)

- To prevent Salmo-nella

- To support during treatment against Salmonella.

- To prevent disease spread through drinking water

- To stimulate upper gut flora

- To stimulate immune system.

- To solve problems with calcium digestibility (weak legs, egg shells)

- To remove scale out of the water pipes.

KEPROGAN

WHY DO YOU WANT TO ACIDIFY? WHY DO YOU WANT TO ACIDIFY?

KEPROFOSCALORAL

KEPROGAN PLUS

KEPROFIX ORAL

Table 3 - Dosage of Keprofoscal by different hardness of drinking water.Table 2 - Dosage of Keprofix Oral by different hardness of drinking water

KEPROFIX ORAL (organic, uncoated)

1 Measure hardness with drop test (image 4)

2 Add Keprofix Oral (table 2) or Keprofoscal Oral table 3)

4 Add more Keprofix Oral or Keprofoscal Oral if needed to reach a pH value of 3,8 - 4

3 Measure pH value with dip stick (image 5)

- During the first 7 days of life: by acidifying the crop and stomach, the chicks start producing more lactobacillus and have a healthy, disease free microflora.

- During Heat stress.

Treatment scheme Keprofix Oral- Use Keprofix Oral in broilers from day 1-7:

- Measure performance (weight, feed conversion ratio).

- Check gut health.- Use Keprofix to support broilers during

the change of diet from starter to grower and from grower to finisher 1 day before until 3 days after the feed change.

- Use Keprofix Oral in layers before and after vaccination, feed change and start of lay during 3-7 days.

- Keprofoscal’s acidic nature supportsdi-gestion, thus releasing more calcium, phosphorus and trace elements from feed and improving the uptake/absorption of these ingredients in the gut.

Calcium and phosphorus, as well as most trace elements, contribute to skeletal development while copper, selenium and zinc stimulate the development of a healthy immune system. The acidic formula prevents bacterial growth in the intestines and supports the growth and renewal of endothelial cells.

Indications:- To improve egg shell strength.- During cage layer fatigue.- During periods of a high egg yield in

laying hens.- To improve bone quality in fast-growing-

broilers.- During reduced feed consumption.- During rehydration.- During brooding to improve nutrient

digestibility.- During heat stress.- To reduce scale formation in drinking

water pipes.

KEPROFOSCAL ORAL (inorganic, uncoated)

normal tightjunction

leaky andinflamed

Harmful micro-organisms

IntestinalMucosal

Cells

Blood Stream

IntestinalMucosal

Cells

Blood Stream

6,0

5,0

4,0

3,0

2,0

1,0

0,020 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Num

ber

of

oo

cyst

s ex

cret

ed p

er g

ram

of

man

ure

No oregano or coccidiostatics administered15 ppm oregano extract

60 ppm salinomycineDays

Keprogan is a blend of uncoated organic acids and etheric oregano oils (oregano). It needs to be used in the feed.

Both products contain oregano extract (carvacrol an thymol), which are known to improve performance and gut health. Carvacrol and thymol also act as quorum inhibitors (as explained above at ‘Essential oils’). Both products also prevent and decrease the adverse effects of coccidiosis in poultry.

Keprogan is a uncoated product and Keprogan Plus is a coated product. This means that Keprogan works only in the upper digestive system, while Keprogan Plus works in the entire digestive system.

Another difference is that Keprogan Plus contains butyric acid. Butyric acid stimulates growth and renewal of intestinal cells. These effects are especially useful in young broilers, piglets and calves, often suffering from compromised villi architecture. In laying hens, butyrate in the diet improves laying performance.

Butyrate has antibacterial properties that are useful to prevent adhesion and invasion of Salmonella. Butyric acid acidifies the feed, and is the only acid that passes the stomach barrier, thus acidifying the content

Image 6 - This shows the effect of Keprogan in preventing coccidiosis, compared to the effect of chemical coccidiostatics. Keprogan shows good results without the harmful residues and possible resistance of coccidiostatics.

normal tightjunction

leaky andinflamed

Harmful micro-organisms

IntestinalMucosal

Cells

Blood Stream

IntestinalMucosal

Cells

Blood Stream

of the gut. Butyric acid, therefore, decreases the pH in the intestines, stimulates enzyme activity and activates the immune system. A low pH in the intestines improves nutrient

digestion and mineral absorption. Butyric acid decreases the risk of a Salmonella infection by preventing the attachment of Salmonella to the intestinal wall (image 7).

Sources from literature2014 Poultry Science 93 :448–455Evaluation of a commercially available organic acid product on body weight loss, carcass yield, and meat quality during preslaughter feed withdrawal in broiler chickens: A poultry welfare and economic perspective, Menconi et all Tropentag 2013, Stuttgart, Germany September 17-19, 2013 Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development Use of drinking water acidification to enhance poultry performance in rural Thailand Christian Lückstädt and Kai-Jens Kühlmann

International Journal of Avian & Wildlife Biology, Volume 3 Issue 4 – 2018 Application of organic acids in poultry nutrition Hosna Hajati, Payame Noor University of Sari, Iran2004 Poultry Science 83:330–334 Effect of Organic Acids in Drinking Water for Young Broilers on Campylobacter Infection, Volatile Fatty Acid Production, Gut Microflora and Histological Cell Changes P. Chaveerach,* D. A Keuzenkamp,† L. J. A. Lipman,† and F. Van Knapen†Journal of Applied Animal Research, 44:1, 359-369, DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2015.1079527 Recent advances in the role of organic acids in poultry nutrition Sohail Hassan Khan & Javid Iqbal (2016)EFSA Journal 2013;11(1):3043 Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of orthophosphoric acid for all animal species EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP)

Image 7 - With butyric acid Butyric acid prevents salmonella from attachment to epithelial cells.

Without butyric acid

Be aware:When using drinking water medicines, always make sure you clean your lines before and after use. This is extra important when using acids and/or essential oils, because they can have an effect on the biofilm in the drinking water lines, causing clogging of the water line.

More about acidifying (hard) water:The acidity of a solution is expressed by the pH value (image 8). When the hardness of water (the total concentration of calcium and magnesium ions) is 0 and the pH value is neutral, you will not need much uncoated acidifier to acidify. If the hardness of the water is high, you will need more uncoated acidifier to acidify the water. The calcium ions in hard water adsorb the acids. When all the calcium ions are accompanied with an acid (H+ ion), the water starts to acidify.

How to select your method of acidifying?Acidifying feed is only possible when you mix your own feed, or when you ask your feed producer (feed mill) to add it. If this is not possible at your farm, for instance when you are using a commercial pelleted feed, you can acidify the drinking water.

Acidifying feedThe advantage of acidifying trough feed is that you only have to think of it when preparing the feed. More advantages of acidifying through feed are: - Both coated and uncoated acidifiers can be

used in feed.- Increase of digestibility and availability of

nutrients like protein and minerals. - Prevent intake and spread of pathogenic

bacteria (like salmonella) by poultry feed - Improves microbial balance:

- By acidifying the crop and stomach, the birds starts to produce more lactobacillus and will develop a healthy and stable microflora.

Acidifying drinking water In order to acidify drinking water, only uncoated acidifiers should be used. As explained above, acidifying drinking water can support the digestion of the animal. It can also help to reduce the organic contamination of the drinking water. Acidifiers through the drinking water should be added every day. When the drinking water is acidified, it is no longer possible to administer other medicines via the drinking water.

When acidifying drinking water for poultry, the best results are obtained at a pH of the drinking water between 3.8 and 4.Advantages of acidifying drinking water: - Reduces the pH of the drinking water:

- Reduces spread of pathogenic bacteria via the drinking water. Drinking water is an important source of spread of pathogenic bacteria (like salmonella) on a poultry farm.

- Bird’s water intake is 1.5-2 times more than feed intake, so a lower dosage of acid in the drinking water can be used compared to feed in order to achieve the same dosage within the bird.

- Supports digestion: - Low pH in upper digestive or entire

digestive system may improve protein digestibility.

- Improved digestibility of minerals and trace elements like Ca, P, Zn and Mg.

- Improves microbial balance: - By acidifying the crop and stomach,

the birds start to produce more lactobacillus and will develop a healthy and stable microflora.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Battery Stomach Lemon Vinegar Tomato Coffee Milk Water Blood Baking Stomach Ammonia Soap Bleach Drain Acid Soda tablets solution Cleaner

NeutralAcidic Alkaline

Image 8 - The pH scale with examples

KEPROGAN (organic, uncoated) AND KEPROGAN PLUS (organic, coated) IN-DEPTH INFORMATIONABOUT ACIDIFYING FEED OR WATER

IMPROVE LIFESHARE KNOWLEDGEWORK EFFICIENTLYACT SUSTAINABLE

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T +31 (0) 570 66 29 00E info@kepro.nl I www.kepro.nl