In this part, part 5, of the series on Tummyrite™ I introduce the three-way mode of action of the Yeast Functional Fibres in Tummyrite™ products and their impact an on bird health and wellbeing. This is objective 3 as follows:
OBJECTIVE 3 - Provide some natural feed components, such as herb extracts and yeast functional fibres to help the birds cope with disease challenges.
The Yeast Functional Fibre (YFF) with prebiotic properties in TummyRite™ have 3 functions:
- Pathogen Agglutination (MOS)
- Immunity Booster (β-Glucans 1-3, 1-6)
- Mycotoxin Binder (β-Glucans 1-3, 1-6)
Mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) prevent the colonisation of the intestinal tract by pathogens such as Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli. This process is called PATHOGEN AGGLUTINATION.
The carbohydrate structure of the YFF is indigestible by the bird and it passes through the intestinal tract without being degraded, thus keeping its functional properties unaltered during the whole digestion cycle. The “trapped” pathogenic bacteria will be excreted together with the YFF. Evaluations on this Yeast Functional Fibre have shown an average of 95% agglutination for Salmonella sp. and 90% of agglutination of E. coli.
NUTRITIONAL HERBS - HERBS AND HERB EXTRACTS - WHAT ARE THEY?
Herbal remedies of old have become the new science of the future in the quest for natural compounds to assist us to enhance livestock performance and assist in the control of disease, but without the adverse side effects.
For centuries, plants were virtually the only source of medicines available to humans. Plants were also the basis on which medicines in the early nineteenth century were developed. Many herbs and spices are well known and are used every day to flavour our food. However, many are also powerful agents that have been used for hundreds of years to prevent or cure diseases. Most herbs have a wide range of low molecular weight secondary metabolites.
Generally, these compounds enable the plant to interact with the environment and may act in defence against physiological and environmental stress as well as pathogens.
Research has shown that many herbs and herb extracts benefit poultry and livestock by:
- Increasing feed intake.
Herbs are active initially in animal feeds as flavours and therefore can influence eating patterns, secretion of digestive fluids and total feed intake.
- Improve the immune response.
Herbs can stimulate the immune system.
- Anti-microbial activities.
Herbs can selectively influence the intestinal microflora by their anti-microbial activity (antibacterial, coccidiostatic (anti-protozoal), anthelmintic, anti-viral). Herbs and herbal extracts have been shown to have anti-microbial effects on E. coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Aspergillus flavus. All these organisms cause diseases in livestock.
- Anti-inflammatory properties.
- Antioxidant properties.
Nutrients with different potential for oxidation are ingested in feed. Activity of various antioxidants varies with the type of antioxidant, polarity, solubility and site of activity. Some antioxidants protect nutrients in the feed, others are primary active in the digestive tract where they may also aid adsorption of nutrients they protect. Antioxidants are responsible for many functions in intermediary metabolism including the protection of intact membranes.
- Contribute to nutrient requirements.
Herbs can selectively influence the intestinal microflora by favourably promoting eubiosis of the microflora resulting in better nutrient utilisation and absorption as well as excluding pathogenic microflora.
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Activity against some Mycotoxins.
TummyRite™ contains a range of nutritional herb feed supplements each of which is composed of a range of individual herbs combined with sulphur and salts in a special heated-treated process (ISO 9000 Certification) to enhance the effectiveness of the herbs. The heat treatment renders the products free from pathogens.
In New Zealand, India, Italy, Greece, Taiwan, Mexico and Bulgaria these herbs have been used for over 18 years in the Poultry and Livestock Industries and for 13 years in Australia. They are time-tested in all seasons and in various geographical regions.
The mode of action of many of these nutritional herbs are unknown and require further study, but field observations demonstrate they are effective in helping the well-being of birds and animals.
In the next part and final part, part 6, of the series on Tummyrite™ I introduce the components in Tummyrite to assist the birds to develop their own natural immunity against disease challenges (objective 4) and to enhance the bird’s natural gut microflora by providing the necessary substrates for these favourable microflora to flourish (objective5). In both these objectives Tummyrite™ products have a positive impact on the bird’s health and wellbeing.