Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

This study was a degree in Master of Science in agriculture with specialization in animal science for the Department of animal nutrition and management at SLU. The subject was created by AS-Faktor, a small company for science and development within the company Lantmännen AB. It was a test of the effect of SPC (Special Processed Cereals) on induction of the endogenous protein AF (an antisecretory factor) in plasma and intestinal lumen in broilers. Previous results have shown positive effects on different intestinal diseases in pigs, horses, dogs as well as in humans. Beside the induction we also studied the effects on results in a conventional slaughter chicken production, including the ability of SPC to compete with or be affected by the coccidiostat, Salinomax.

When diarrhoea occurs, it's because there is an imbalance between the secretion and the absorption and it can be caused by for example toxins. The toxins stimulate the production of an antisecretory factor (protein AF), which then can inhibit hypersecretion. The endogenous production of the protein AF can also be induced by a certain composition of the diet, like the one in SPC. Previous results from studies with SPC or other similar products show an increasing effect on the secretion of protein AF and that the increasing levels also give a god protection of the intestinal mucosa. Other studies in slaughter chicken production have showed firmer faeces, higher slaughtered weights, a lower FCR and it has also been discussed that SPC may have an effect against coccidiosis.

The present study was performed as a two-factorial study with three reiterations. Four different feeds were tested, 0% SPC with and without coccidiostatics and 4% SPC with and without coccidiostatics. The feeds were analysed for dm, rp, rf, ashes, Ca, Ph, Na, Cl, starch, sugar, lysine, methionine and threonine. All four feeds from the growth period (stage two) were also tested for its amount of coccidiostatics. Registrations of the growth were performed by an automatic scale for live weight and the total amount of feed was weighed to be able to calculate the FCR. Bloodtests were taken at two different occasions to measure the amount of induced AF, which was analysed with AF-ELISA. At the same time biopsies were taken from jejunum for a histological analysis of the intestine status. Other parameters were mortality, foot scores and litter bed quality.

SPC had no noticeable effect on the results in broiler production or on the induction of the protein AF in plasma. However, the histological biopsies clearly showed signs that indicated that SPC affected the intestine status in a positive way.