Broiler producers could be missing out on performance improvements by not addressing the anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) caused by beta-mannans in their diets.
According to Steve Pritchard, independent nutritionist from The Nut Team, beta-mannans – commonly found in vegetable-based feed ingredients like soyabean meal, sunflower meal, and rapeseed – can cause inflammation and lead to a Feed-Induced Immune Response (FIIR), adversely affecting gut health and bird performance.
What are beta-mannans and what is their impact on broilers?
Beta-mannans are non-starch polysaccharide fibres naturally found in many vegetable feed ingredients. The structure of these polysaccharides is similar to that found in some pathogens which means a bird’s immune system often recognises beta-mannans as a threat, triggering an immune response and causing inflammation in the gut. This can reduce nutrient absorption and disrupt the bird’s gut barrier[1].
Mr Pritchard explains: “When there’s inflammation, the barrier becomes more permeable, which can let bacteria and other pathogenic material from the gut into the bloodstream, and therefore into the bird.”
Why is it important for producers to address beta-mannans in poultry diets?
The inclusion of beta-mannans in poultry diets can lead to poor feed conversion ratios (FCR), increased feed costs, and compromised bird health[1].
“You don’t need to lose many points of feed conversion to suddenly be costing yourself a lot of money,” says Mr Pritchard.
“If you lose some feed efficiency because the birds have inflamed guts from beta-mannans, it can suddenly get expensive very quickly as the energy gets diverted towards the immune response, rather than converting feed into growth.”
What are the benefits of incorporating beta-mannanase into poultry diets?
Using Hemicell™, a beta-mannanase, can significantly reduce the impact of beta-mannans[1]. It works by breaking down the beta-mannans in the feed, helping prevent an unnecessary immune response and improving gut health.
“Anything we can do to improve gut health – including using beta-mannanase to counter the negative effects of beta-mannans – is going to improve bird health, welfare and performance,” adds Mr Pritchard.
Hemicell offers multiple benefits for poultry producers[1], including:
- Improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) – by reducing an unnecessary immune response, more nutrients are available for growth, improving feed efficiency
- Better health and welfare – supports Intestinal Integrity, helping maintain gut function and reducing issues such as poorer litter quality and fewer footpad lesions
- Cost savings – improves utilisation of energy and nutrients, helping to reduce feed costs and production efficiencies
Incorporating beta-mannanase to reduce the carbon footprint of broiler diets
In addition to improving poultry health and performance, Hemicell, which is known as an energy sparing enzyme, also offers environmental benefits.
A trial showed that by including Hemicell into broiler rations, producers could reduce the carbon footprint of compound feed by 3% [2]. This reduction in feed emissions led to a 2%[1] decrease in the overall carbon footprint of the final meat product.
With the carbon footprint of 1kg of chicken approximately 3.3kg CO2eq – and around 70% of these emissions generated by feed[1] – reducing the carbon footprint of the ration is key to decreasing the overall environmental impact of poultry meat production.
This is particularly important as many producers are required to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030 to meet retailer-set targets.
How do you know the level of beta-mannans in your rations?
If you’re a broiler producer or nutritionist looking to optimise your feed strategy, this beta-mannan calculator can be a helpful tool.
The feed calculator helps assess the level of beta-mannans in your poultry feed and calculate the necessary inclusion rate of Hemicell. By understanding the exact needs of your flock, feeding programmes can be tailored to maximise FCR and improve overall flock performance.
Can Hemicell be fed throughout the production cycle?
Hemicell is recommended for use in diets with at least 0.2% soluble beta-mannan content and can be fed to broilers from day one through to slaughter.
The ingredients in many commercial broiler diets contain beta-mannans and are therefore likely to meet the threshold where use is justified. Even low levels can trigger a feed-induced immune response, making this a relevant consideration across the full production cycle.
[1] Hemicell XT FAQ document.2021
[2] Blonk consultants. (2023) A lifecycle assessment (LCA) of both Hemicell production and the comparative performance of feeds containing it. Data available upon request. Int ref no. 23491