Nutritional strategy to solve the problem of loose feces in laying hens

The type and cause of abnormal feces during production

Abnormal stool caused by feed factors

1. Types: Enterotoxic syndrome（Incomplete digestion of feed）,Red/bloody feces, Liquid feces

2. What may cause: Some factors in feed destroy the intestinal structure and function, reduce digestion and absorption capacity, cause abnormal feces

---

Protein, energy and minerals are key nutrients that affect the intestinal health of laying hens. How?? I will analyze it layer by layer for you!

(1) Protein nutrition (level, digestibility)

①. Both too low or too high dietary protein level can damage intestinal health

Studies have found that when the feed protein level is less than 95% or more than 110% of the required amount of laying hens,it is not conducive to intestinal development and functional construction, and reduces egg production performance (Liu et al., 2019; Dong et al., 2016; Laudadio et al., 2012).

②. Low dietary protein digestibility is detrimental to intestinal health

It was found that when the ileum apparent digestibility of feed protein was less than 80%, it was not beneficial to intestinal development and structural integrity (Abdollahi et al., 2020).

(2) Energy nutrition (mycotoxins, non-starch polysaccharides)

①.Cause damage to intestinal health when the content of Aflatoxin B1 is ≥150ppb

Take the 26 to 38 week old Roman layer hens as an example (Zhao et al., 2021):

Destruction of intestinal structure

②.Cause damage to intestinal health when the content of Vomitoxin ≥ 5ppm

Take Ross308 broilers from 1 to 42 days old as an example (Insaf et al., 2020):

Inhibit intestinal growth and development

③.Cause damage to intestinal health when the content of Ochratoxin ≥ 20ppb

Take broilers aged 1 to 21 days as an example (Zhai et al., 2021):

Destroy the structural integrity and barrier function of the intestinal tract

It’s bad for intestinal health when Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) >5%, and the ratio of Insoluble non-starch polysaccharides(INSP) and soluble non-starch polysaccharide (SNSP) < 7:1(Shakouri et al., 2006; Xa et al., 2020).

(3) Dietary electrolyte balance

Low dietary DEB value is not conducive to intestinal health (especially in summer).

Take the 29 to 32 weeks old Roman layer as an example (Rohollah et al., 2014).

The DEB value of layer feed is about 250mEq/kg, which is conducive to intestinal health and production performance.

(4) Trace element (zinc)

It’s not conducive to intestinal health when Zinc<40ppm

Take 21-day-old broilers challenged by Salmonella as an example (Zhang et al., 2012):

Reduce intestinal development and barrier function.

By clarifying the key nutrients in the feed that affect the intestinal health of laying hens, we can come up with solutions to solve the intestinal health and fecal abnormalities caused by feed nutrition!

---

A table presenting our solutions

【ENDING】

The problem of loose feces of laying hens is very prominent in summer, and feed nutrition is an important factor that causes loose feces. We recommend that you strictly control the protein level and digestibility, mycotoxins, non-starch polysaccharides, electrolytes, and the levels and supply structure of zinc in the feed. I believe it can help you effectively solve the problem of loose feces in laying hens, especially in summer.