Positive impact on foot pad health

Article byThikhamporn Charoenwai, Poultry Nutritionist

Foot pad lesions – or dermatitis – are most common in younger broilers as their skin is thinner and more sensitive. Once lesions develop, the affected birds are also at greater risk of infection.

Among the causes are wet bedding and foraging areas and high humidity, caused by poor ventilation. Another is diet.

When feed contains a high level of poorly digestible protein, then the level of nitrogen in broiler droppings will go up and the droppings will become looser and stickier, clinging more easily to the broilers’ feet. Due to the caustic nature of the droppings, the risk of foot pad lesions is increased.

Protein sources compared

In a recent feeding trial, performance was compared when broilers were fed starter diets containing a range of protein sources. The control diet contained 34.4% soybean meal, which is the most used protein source in broiler feed. Due to a typically high level of anti-nutritional factors, however, soybean meal can be hard for young broilers to digest.

In the trial starter diets, 5% of the soybean meal was replaced with potato protein, fish meal, corn gluten or HP AviStart. Developed by HAMLET PROTEIN, HP AviStartcomprises digestible proteins and a low level of anti-nutritional factors and is made by co-processing soy and yeast.

Foot pad lesions reduced

The trial was performed with five treatments, six replicates and 37 Ross 308 broilers per replication. Feeding was divided into three phases: starter (day 0-11), grower (day 12-28) and finisher (day 29-42). After the starter phase, all broilers received standard commercial grower and finisher feeds.

The trial results show a clear difference in the incidence of foot pad lesions between starter diets. While potato protein and fish meal perform well, the lowest incidence of lesions is evident in broilers fed the diet with HP AviStart.

Highest production index

Foot health was, of course, only one aspect of broiler performance under investigation. The trial also measured pen weights, feed intake and day-to-day mortality. Feed conversion rate (FCR) and weighing were finally calculated on day 42.

Once again, HP AviStart emerged as the top-performing protein source, demonstrating the lowest FCR and mortality and the highest production index (PI).

Overall, the feeding trial confirms that HP AviStart has a strong carry-over effect from the first ten days of starter diet to the final day of the broiler production cycle. Broilers performed better all round – also under their feet.

Poultry Events

We share our knowledge at conferences and seminars around the world. See where to find us next and who you can meet.

You can also find presentations, videos and other material from previous events.

Event overview



Product benefits

Right after hatching, chicks rely on their yolk sac while they learn to scratch for food. When their starter feed contains HP AviStart, they can digest essential nutrients from day 1.

LEARN MORE

Feed you brain

We often publish articles on young animal nutrition topics in international journals and magazines. Browse the Feed Your Brain article archive to read our own and other relevant articles from these publications.

GO EXPLORE

About HAMLET PROTEIN

Providing the right nutrition in the first life stage determines the overall lifetime performance of the animal. Our soy-based specialty ingredients improve health, welfare and performance of young animals. That is how we deliver a strong return on investment to producers around the world.