Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Kilsharion]

it will not change this group that is about fermented feed for chickens.

Very well stated.

 

[yinepu]

Fermented liquid feed reduces susceptibility of broilers for Salmonella enteritidis.
L Heres, B Engel, F van Knapen, M C M de Jong, J A Wagenaar, H A P Urlings Institute for Animal Science and Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Food Chain Quality, Lelystad, The Netherlands. [email protected]-ur.nl

The presence of Salmonella in chickens is a problem because poultry meat is recognized as a source of human salmonellosis. Fermented feed has characteristics like a high number of lactobacilli and high concentration of lactic acid, which could make chickens less susceptible for infection with Salmonella. Fermented feed might therefore prevent the colonization of chickens with Salmonella. Two studies were performed to quantify the effect of fermented liquid feed on the susceptibility of broilers for Salmonella. The fermented feed was prepared by fermenting a dry broiler feed supplemented with 1.4 parts of water. Lactobacillus plantarum was used for fermentation. The fermented liquid feed (FLF) contained 10(9) to 10(10) cfu lactobacilli per gram, and the pH was 4. Individually housed control chickens and FLF-fed chickens were inoculated with 10(2) to 10(7) cfu Salmonella enteritidis (SE). Colonization was estimated by cloacal swabs and quantitative caecal culture. The proportion of SE-shedding chickens was decreased in FLF-fed chickens. FLF-fed chickens required a longer time after inoculation or a higher inoculation dose to get the same proportion of infected chickens in comparison with dry feed-fed chickens. The level of cecal colonization with Salmonella in the ceca was not different at the end of the experimental period. The results indicate that FLF can hamper the introduction of Salmonella in broiler flocks because the chickens are less susceptible for infection. Fermented liquid feed might therefore be a new hurdle in the strategy to control Salmonella in chicken flocks.


Effects of Bacillus subtilis var. natto and Saccharomyces cerevisiae mixed fermented feed on the enhanced growth performance of broilers.
K-L Chen, W-L Kho, S-H You, R-H Yeh, S-W Tang, C-W Hsieh Department of Animal Science, National Chiayi University, Taiwan.

Bacillus subtilis var. natto N21 (Bac; for greater proteolytic capacity) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y10 (Sac; for greater acidic capacity) were applied to produce a 2-stage combined fermentation feed. This study investigated whether the enhancement of Bac+Sac fermented feed on broiler growth performance was due to the probiotics per se or due to the fermentation process. Trial 1 included 1-d-old broiler chicks (n=144) randomly assigned to control, water added (same as in the fermentation feed, 23%), and Bac+Sac fermented feed (FBac+Sac) treatments with 4 replicates. Trial 2 included 21-d-old broiler chickens (n=12) assigned into control and FBac+Sac groups for a metabolic trial for nutrient availability. Trial 3 included 1-d-old male broiler chicks (n=216) randomly assigned into 6 treatments with 3 replicates. Treatments included a control, Sac fermented feed (FSac), FBac+Sac, Bac powder (PBac), Sac powder (PSac), and Bac+Sac powder (PBac+Sac). The results from trial 1 showed that FBac+Sac increased BW and feed intake (P<0.05) in 21- and 39-d-old chickens. The water-added group showed decreased BW, weight gain, and feed intake (P<0.05). Trial 2 showed that FBac+ Sac increased gross energy availability (P<0.05). Trial 3 showed that FBac+Sac increased 21- and 39-d-old BW and weight gain (P<0.05). Diets supplemented with probiotic powder or fermented with Sac did not improve broiler growth performance (P>0.05). The growth performance improvement of the FBac+Sac treatment was probably not due to the added water, probiotic powder inclusion, or through single-strain fermentation, but due to the 2-stage fermentation process using Bac and Sac strains.


[Campylobacter and Salmonella control in chickens and the role of fermented food].
Lourens Heres Centraal Instituut voor DierziekteControle (CIDC-Lelystad), Postbus 2004, 8203 AA Lelystad. [email protected]

Salmonella and Campylobacter are undesirable pathogens on poultry. Therefore the effect of fermented feed on the colonization in the gastro-intestinal tract of the chicken, the introduction of both bacteria in a chicken flocks, and the transmission between chickens was studied. Broilers that were fed with fermented feed were significantly less susceptible for Salmonella and Campylobacter than chickens on a standard chicken feed. The spread of Salmonella between broiler chickens was reduced. However, the results also showed, like for other known control measures, that this feed can not absolutely guarantee the absence of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Therefore fermented feed must be seen as one of the hurdles in a so called multiple hurdle strategy. The combination of different hurdles should prevent the introduction and transmission. The effect of fermented feed on Campylobacter and Salmonella is partially caused by the presence of high concentrations of organic acids. In chickens fed with liquid feed the acidic barrier in the first part of the GI-tract was clearly improved. Besides organic acids there are other changes in the GI-tract. Changes in colonization levels of indicator organisms, changes in levels of organic acids and an increased pH in ileum and ceacum. These changes indicate a stabilised GI-flora in fermented feed fed poultry. The research confirmed that by changes in the composition of the feed (carbohydrates, acids, or micro-organisms) the GI-health can be promoted and therewith can contribute to the control of food pathogens in farmed animals.



Effect of feeding silages or carrots as supplements to laying hens on production performance, nutrient digestibility, gut structure, gut microflora and feather pecking behaviour.
S Steenfeldt, J B Kjaer, R M Engberg
Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, Tjele, Denmark. [email protected]
1. An experiment was carried out to examine the suitability of using maize silage, barley-pea silage and carrots as foraging materials for egg-laying hens. Production performance, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal characteristics, including the composition of the intestinal microflora as well as feather pecking behaviour were the outcome variables. 2. The protein content of the foraging material (g/kg DM) was on average 69 g in carrots, 94 g in maize silage and 125 g in barley-pea silage. The starch content was highest in the maize silage (312 g/kg DM), and the content of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) varied from 196 to 390 g/kg, being lowest in carrots. Sugars were just traceable in the silages, whereas carrots contained on average 496 g/kg DM. 3. Egg production was highest in hens fed either carrots or maize silage, whereas hens fed barley-pea silage produced less (219 vs. 208). Although the consumption of foraging material was high (33, 35 and 48% of the total feed intake on 'as fed' basis for maize silage, barley-pea silage and carrots, respectively) only a minor effect on nitrogen corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME(n)) and apparent digestibility was seen. At 53 weeks of age, hens fed maize silage had AME(n) and apparent digestibility values close to the control group (12.61 and 12.82, respectively), whereas access to barley-pea silage and carrots resulted in slightly lower values (12.36 and 12.42, respectively). Mortality was reduced dramatically in the three groups given supplements (0.5 to 2.5%) compared to the control group (15.2%). 4. Hens receiving silage had greater relative gizzard weights than the control or carrot-fed groups. At 53 weeks of age, the gizzard-content pH of hens receiving silage was about 0.7 to 0.9 units lower than that of the control or carrot-fed hens. Hens fed both types of silage had higher concentrations of lactic acid (15.6 vs. 3.2 micromoles/g) and acetic acid (3.6 vs. 6.1 micromoles/g) in the gizzard contents than the other two groups. The dietary supplements had a minor effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora of the hens. 5. Access to all three types of supplements decreased damaging pecking in general (to feathers as well as skin/cloaca), reduced severe feather pecking behaviour and improved the quality of the plumage at 54 weeks of age. 6. In conclusion, access to different types of foraging material such as silages and carrots improved animal welfare.

There are many more...

thank you!

 

[stone_family3]

So I did a small batch first. 64 oz of unmedicated chick starter and 64 oz of 7 grain scratch. It's in the bucket and is soaking. If it works well for the chicks then I'll keep out it.

How many times a day do you all feed your birds?

 

[SunnysMama]

then explain these results away
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672135/meatie-experiment-ff-vs-crumbles

I bet enither of you even looked at this post

but you are forgetting the time I reffer to as I fill my feeder twice a week VS with FF daily and to me that is worth a few bags difference per year

You've made your point and it is well taken. This thread is in support of feeding fermented feed so why not start your own thread on why you should not feed fermented feed based on your research of studies that you don't have all the variables of either. You seem to be enjoying causing hate and discontent on this thread of people that are passionate about feeding FF.

I did read and follow her experiment but there are also lots of variables there that were not taken into consideration. I know that not everyone pays the same amount for feed nor does everyone feed the same thing thus skewing cost per pound from one person to the next.

Fermenting is not for everyone but your main concern seems to be time. Okay, I understand that but don't say that people who see results in their own flock are not worth an opinion because it wasn't a scientific study. Maybe some day when you have more time you will give it a try and see for yourself. The difference in the broilers health and activity level, smell and waste in the FF vs. Crumble is something you have to witness for yourself.

 

[Bleenie]

Mikedero is basing their decision on only 2 'studies' while there are hundreds of people here on BYC that have had nothing but positive results after switching to FF, starting chicks on it or growing out broilers... THAT seems like nonsense to me. I value the opinions of people that keep their birds in a healthy environment over those that practice poor animal husbandry and try to put the effects of their poor practices off on "the feed". No animal would thrive in the set up they had for their "study".

But again, this is Mikedero's own opinion. do what you want and we will keep doing what we feel is better for our birds.


I really think this back and forth about this needs to stop. this thread is meant for people that are interested in learning about feeding their birds FF. Any smart person would research before changing their animals food, I just think the thread doesn't need to be all clogged up with you arguing about how "bad" FF is and leave this thread for the people that are actually interested in it and the potential benefits for thier flock.

 

[countrygirl74]

So I did a small batch first. 64 oz of unmedicated chick starter and 64 oz of 7 grain scratch. It's in the bucket and is soaking. If it works well for the chicks then I'll keep out it.

How many times a day do you all feed your birds?

How old are your chicks? Just curious as I thought scratch had to wait until they were older?

As for feeding, I have a post just a page or 2 back with some details about how I feed, what I feed, and how often. Hope that helps!

 

[SunnysMama]

So I did a small batch first. 64 oz of unmedicated chick starter and 64 oz of 7 grain scratch. It's in the bucket and is soaking. If it works well for the chicks then I'll keep out it.

How many times a day do you all feed your birds?

I fed my broilers once a day in the mornings. It lasted them all day and they finished it off before going to bed. Mine were allowed to free range and during the day they would rather eat bugs, dandelions and grass than their feed. Just my experience.

 

[stone_family3]

How old are your chicks? Just curious as I thought scratch had to wait until they were older?

As for feeding, I have a post just a page or 2 back with some details about how I feed, what I feed, and how often. Hope that helps!

Okay thanks, I'll go back and search for it. By the time it's done fermenting they'll be six weeks.

I fed my broilers once a day in the mornings. It lasted them all day and they finished it off before going to bed. Mine were allowed to free range and during the day they would rather eat bugs, dandelions and grass than their feed. Just my experience.

Did you have CX birds or another breed. These are production reds. I didn't like CX birds so I vowed not to raise them this year.

 

[countrygirl74]

It's on page 486... found it farther back than I realized.

 

[Mikedero]

Incorrect all above

Facts I wanted facts figures numbers that is what i wanted. I was going to do FF until I heard and saw Numbers. You see I am a accounant just by someone telling me the numbers add up and not showing me the numbers well in my world that does not add up.

I am not spreading hate in fact up unitl this past saturday I was going to do it...

I asked a simple question and it went way off course. I asked for PROOF and like stated before JUST someone telling me so does not ring my bell. I want to see numbers.

I was NOT trying to be negative but only asking for facts.Not trying to stir the pot or anything. It did sound like a great idea. I mean comeon who would not want to feed their chickens half the food and get better results. I was hoping for that.

After asking for PROOF like someone who took the time and did a study like the other link (the post on this board) that is all.

Now let me respond to a few of the people posting

Sunnysmama and Costa Rica Art

I never wnated to change anyone from doing what they wanted in fact if you go back it was Yinepu that tried to do that to me. I was ready to drop it and hinted at that a few times.