Broiler growth rates have increased dramatically due to intense genetic selection and enhanced nutritional programs. Fast growth places great demands on birds’ musculoskeletal systems, which can result in impaired locomotion and lameness.
Lameness reduces animal well-being and has severe economic consequences from poor growth, increased culling and mortality carcasses condemnation and downgrading at slaughter.
Lameness is often a multifactorial condition. Understanding the various causes can help producers identify areas for improvement and develop effective strategies to reduce the incidence of lameness. Conditions responsible for lameness can be of infectious or non-infectious origin. It is important to identify and understand these risk factors in order to develop a prevention or mitigation strategy to reduce incidence of lameness in poultry flocks. This table focuses on lameness conditions and suggests solutions that can help mitigate the damage caused by these conditions.
| Potential cause | Checklist | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
Deoxynivalenol (DON) Histopathology; translocation of bacteria from the intestine due to disruption of the tight junctions to the femoral head, where ongoing pressure of growth results in micro fractures and eventually degeneration of the joint. Reduced growth; Increased culling at out loading of damaged birds; Increased further processing due to the poor quality of the femur head. |
|
|
| Potential cause | Checklist | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
RICKETS Vitamin D3 deficiency, Ca/P imbalance Enlargement of the ends of tibia and femur, with widened. |
Check the feed composition. | Feed vitamin D3 with balanced calcium and phosphorus. |
IONOPHORE TOXICITY Potential cause: Monensin Legs extended backward |
Mix feed properly. | Withdraw the ionophore. |
OSTEOPOROSIS/CAGE LAYER FATIGUE Impaired calcium flux in laying hens
|
Check the feed composition. |
|
PODODERMATITIS/FOOTPAD DERMATITIS/FOOT BURN/AMMONIA BURN Biotin deficiency, poor quality litter
|
Check the feed composition |
|
TIBIAL DYSCHONDROPLASIA/ Ca/P ratio, excess chloride in feed metabolic acidosis, acid/base balance, mycotoxins.
|
Check the feed composition. |
|
PEROSIS/CHONDRODYSTROPHY Manganese deficiency
|
Check the feed composition. |
|
| Potential cause | Checklist | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) Enterococcus cecorum, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp, E. coli
|
|
|
Vertebral Osteomyelitis / Spondylitis / Enterococcus cecorum, Staphylococcus spp., E. Coli.
|
|
|
Bumble Foot - Staphylococcus spp.
|
|
|
Fowl Cholera - Pasteurella multocida
|
|
|
Bacterial arthritis/Airsacculitis (MS) Enterococcus faecalis, Mycoplasma synoviae
|
|
|
Osteomyelitis Complex Bacterial, but no specific pathogen has been identified. Green discoloration of liver, inflammatory lesions in bones and joints. |
Only identified at slaughter. | Improve gut integrity by feeding multi-strain poultry-specific live probiotic. |
| Potential cause | Corrective action |
|---|---|
Tenosynovitis/Viral arthritis Avian reovirus
|
|
Amyloidosis - Corona virus
|
|
Infectious bronchitis (IB)/Infectious laryngo tracheitis (ILT)
|
|
Marek’s disease
|
|
Avian encephalomyelitis (AE)
|
|
Newcastle disease
|
|
| Potential cause | Checklist | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
Tibial dyschondroplasia
|
|
|
Twisted leg
|
|
|
Pododermatitis
|
Check biotin in the feed. |
|
Degenerative joint disease
|
|
ROVIMIX® A1000, your reliable vitamin A source We all know vitamins are essential for the health of our farm animals, but do you also know that of all vitamins, vitamin A may well be the most challenging to produce?
Hy-D® is the fast track vitamin D3 source, for a strong skeleton and better performance.
ROVIMIX® E50 is a superior formulation of vitamin E, which strengthens the immune system and increases performance in poultry, swine and dairy cows.
OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® is about feeding animals high quality vitamins, produced with the lowest environmental footprint, in the right amounts, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions, to optimize: • Animal Health and Welfare ▶ good for animals • Animal Performance ▶ good for farmers • Food Quality & Food Waste ▶ good for consumers and the planet
Together DSM and Novozymes have created Balancius® the first and only feed ingredient designed to unlock the hidden potential in gastrointestinal functionality.
PoultryStar® is a well-defined, multi-species poultry probiotic plus prebiotic (synbiotic) that promotes a beneficial gut microflora and improves the results of broilers, layers and breeders.
Our specific blends of essential oil components have shown to help deliver a better balance of gut microflora.
Increase the proportion of ‘good’ bacteria, and you have a better performing gut.
With DHAgold™ we bring you a sustainable source of DHA to enrich poultry, swine and aqua.
The Biotronic® line of state-of-the-art enhanced acidifiers support modern farm animals against Gram-negative bacteria.
Biomin® CleanGrain Plus is a unique blend of organic acids and salts designed to protect against spoilage of grains and by-products caused by molds, yeast and bacteria.
Digestarom® line of phytogenics contain unique blends of herbs and spices, essential oils and other plant extracts to improve palatability and acceptance of feed, support digestion and overall performance of farm animals.
Symphiome™ is a complex glycan mixture technically defined as a Precision Biotic*. A first-of-its-kind microbiome metabolic modulator precisely designed to harness the power of the microbiome by modulating specific and highly conserved functional pathways to enhance the nutritional health and performance of the birds.
Stress is unavoidable in animal husbandry. Even normal handling and factors beyond the control of farmers may act as stressors. It is well known that stress leads to impaired productivity of animals.
The Mycotoxin Prediction Service delivers assessments of expected mycotoxin levels in the upcoming harvest of corn (maize) and wheat around the world.
We offer a range of analytical services to customers to assess the mycotoxin contamination of feed materials.
Absolute protection against the broadest range of mycotoxins. With ZENzyme® Faster and Better
Absolute protection against the broadest range of mycotoxins.
The risk management solution against aflatoxins and/or ergot alkaloids in animal feed.
Targeted protection against adsorbable mycotoxins plus fumonisins.
The Mycofix® portfolio of feed additives represents the most state-of-the-art solution for protecting animal health by deactivating mycotoxins that contaminate farm animal feed. Its safety and efficacy are proven by 7 EU authorizations for substances that deactivate mycotoxins.
FUMzyme®, the only enzyme that effectively detoxifies fumonisins safely and irreversibly, is available for post-pellet and liquid application in animal feed. From the creators of Mycofix®. Naturally Ahead.
Our portfolio of tools helps to understand the potential risks of mycotoxins for animal species and location.
Track feed crop contamination levels anywhere in the world on your device
The DSM Mycotoxin Survey constitutes the longest running and most comprehensive data set on mycotoxin occurrence. The survey results provide insights on the incidence of the six major mycotoxins in the agricultural commodities used for livestock feed in order to identify the potential risk posed to livestock animal production.
Welfare standards are essential for modern dairy farms. They can have a significant impact because healthy animals deliver improved performance.
Our products help to create diets that allow animals to fulfill their economic potential while at the same time supporting their welfare.
Animal welfare can be improved by enhanced dietary management. Micronutrients play a key role in the nutrition of dairy cows. We have great expertise in developing feed additives that improve animal welfare and productivity.
Improving hoof health is a priority for us. Lameness causes cows to suffer. They make fewer visits to the feed trough, eat less, and are less productive. Farm incomes consequently suffer too. Lameness is also a major reason why cows are culled too early in life.
Certain vitamins are essential for hoof strength. Feeding the nutritional vitamin supplement ROVIMIX® Biotin has been proven to reduce the incidence of many hoof disorders, including white line disease, sole ulcers and sand cracks. ROVIMIX® Biotin strengthens the hoof horn. This results in greater hoof hardness, which directly reduces lameness and the suffering that lameness brings with it.
ROVIMIX® Biotin can be used as an individual additive or as part of our extensively researched and proven Optimum Vitamin Nutrition (OVN™) feed additive strategy. Feeding a blend of vitamins can deliver significant benefits. ROVIMIX® Biotin can be combined with ROVIMIX® E50 (Vitamin E) and ROVIMIX® ß-Carotene, for example, in a blend tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Mastitis is a painful condition and a major welfare issue. Udder infections lead to reduced milk yields, discarded milk, increased treatment costs and higher early culling rates.
The feed additive ROVIMIX® E50 (Vitamin E) is a powerful tool for reducing the incidence of mastitis by helping build a strong immune system. It has been shown to reduce intramammary infection rate at calving, to cut the duration of mastitis cases in infected cows, and to lower herd somatic cell counts.
Calves are a valuable source of income. Dairy farmers therefore aim to produce vigorous and fast-growing calves. However, calves are vulnerable to growth-rate checks in early life. They therefore benefit from a supportive diet at this crucial stage in their development.
CYLACTIN® is a probiotic supplement which increases the antibodies in the colostrum and helps stabilize calf gut flora. This gives calves a better start in life.
Diarrhea and digestive disorders are major causes of calf mortality. Increasing levels of ß-carotene in the dam’s colostrum makes calves less prone to diarrhea. Adding ROVIMIX® ß-Carotene to the diet of dairy cows helps to gives calves the start in life they need.
ROVIMIX® A1000, your reliable vitamin A source We all know vitamins are essential for the health of our farm animals, but do you also know that of all vitamins, vitamin A may well be the most challenging to produce?
OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® is about feeding animals high quality vitamins, produced with the lowest environmental footprint, in the right amounts, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions, to optimize: • Animal Health and Welfare ▶ good for animals • Animal Performance ▶ good for farmers • Food Quality & Food Waste ▶ good for consumers and the planet
Hy-D® is the fast track vitamin D3 source, for a strong skeleton and better performance.
β-Carotene is an essential nutrient for all farmed stock. As it is only found in plants and cannot be synthesized by livestock, animals’ requirements of this nutrient must be fulfilled by their diet.
ROVIMIX® Biotin delivers improved hoof strength and milk production in dairy cows.
ROVIMIX® E50 is a superior formulation of vitamin E, which strengthens the immune system and increases performance in poultry, swine and dairy cows.
Levabon® Rumen E is an innovative brewers yeast cattle feed supplement for dairy and beef animals including calves. It delivers an enhanced prebiotic effect compared to conventional yeasts for better productivity.
Biomin® BioStabil is a formulation of strategically selected Lactic Acid Bacteria for optimal haylage, silage and forage preservation. Biomin® BioStabil preserves the energy in your silage.
Our specific blends of essential oil components have shown to help deliver a better balance of gut microflora.
Increase the proportion of ‘good’ bacteria, and you have a better performing gut.
The Biotronic® line of state-of-the-art enhanced acidifiers support modern farm animals against Gram-negative bacteria.
Digestarom® line of phytogenics contain unique blends of herbs and spices, essential oils and other plant extracts to improve palatability and acceptance of feed, support digestion and overall performance of farm animals.
The Mycotoxin Prediction Service delivers assessments of expected mycotoxin levels in the upcoming harvest of corn (maize) and wheat around the world.
We offer a range of analytical services to customers to assess the mycotoxin contamination of feed materials.
Absolute protection against the broadest range of mycotoxins. With ZENzyme® Faster and Better
Absolute protection against the broadest range of mycotoxins.
The risk management solution against aflatoxins and/or ergot alkaloids in animal feed.
Targeted protection against adsorbable mycotoxins plus fumonisins.
FUMzyme® Silage is a unique additive sprayed onto corn (maize) at harvest that targets and detoxifies harmful fumonisins, so that the resulting silage is safe and fumonisin-free for livestock nutrition.
The Mycofix® portfolio of feed additives represents the most state-of-the-art solution for protecting animal health by deactivating mycotoxins that contaminate farm animal feed. Its safety and efficacy are proven by 7 EU authorizations for substances that deactivate mycotoxins.
FUMzyme®, the only enzyme that effectively detoxifies fumonisins safely and irreversibly, is available for post-pellet and liquid application in animal feed. From the creators of Mycofix®. Naturally Ahead.
Our portfolio of tools helps to understand the potential risks of mycotoxins for animal species and location.
Track feed crop contamination levels anywhere in the world on your device
The DSM Mycotoxin Survey constitutes the longest running and most comprehensive data set on mycotoxin occurrence. The survey results provide insights on the incidence of the six major mycotoxins in the agricultural commodities used for livestock feed in order to identify the potential risk posed to livestock animal production.
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