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Effect of spray-dried bovine serum on intake, health, and growth of broilers housed in different environments

J. M. Campbell^*,1, J. D. Quigley, III^*, L. E. Russell^* and M. T. Kidd

^* APC, Inc., Ankeny, IA 50021 and and Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762-9665

	Abstract

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Three experiments utilizing broilers were conducted in different environments to evaluate the effects of Innavax (INX; spray-dried serum) administered in drinking water on broiler performance. In Exp. 1 (1 to 42 d), 252 Ross x Cobb male broilers were assigned randomly to one of six treatments consisting of tap water mixed with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, or 1.25% (wt/wt) INX. Broilers (six broilers per pen; seven pens per treatment) were housed in Petersime battery cages (raised wire flooring) in temperature-controlled rooms. Average daily gain, and feed and water intake (as-fed) were not affected (P > 0.05) by experimental treatments. Feed efficiency tended to improve linearly (P = 0.076) from d 0 to 7 with increasing levels of INX, but was unaffected (P > 0.05) during the remaining periods. In Exp. 2 and 3, 800 Ross x Ross 308 male broilers (400 broilers in each trial; 10 broilers per pen; 10 pens per treatment) in two 21-d experiments were assigned randomly to one of four treatments consisting of tap water mixed with 0, 0.45, 0.90, or 1.35% (wt/wt) INX. Broilers were housed in floor pens containing clean (Exp. 2) or used (Exp. 3) litter. In Exp. 2, intake, ADG, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) during the first week with increasing levels of INX. During the second week (d 8 to 14), ADG, water intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of INX. In the third week (d 15 to 21), ADG and feed and water intake were not affected (P > 0.10) by level of INX. Overall (d 0 to 21), ADG, intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) with INX. In Exp. 3, ADG, water intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) during each period. Feed intake was not affected (P > 0.05) by experimental treatment during d 0 to 7, but was linearly increased (P < 0.05) from d 8 to 14 and 15 to 21. The greatest growth response of broilers to INX was observed when broilers were housed in floor pens with used litter, followed by floor pens with clean litter and battery pens. Further research on the relationship between the response to INX and housing conditions seems warranted.

Key Words: Broilers • Environment • Growth • Serum • Spray Drying

	Introduction

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Spray-dried plasma (SDP) proteins are widely used in pig diets to improve ADG, feed intake, and feed efficiency (Hansen et al., 1993; Kats et al., 1994; Coffey and Cromwell, 1995). Spray-dried plasma contains functional proteins including immunoglobulins, albumin, and biologically active peptides (Borg et al., 2002). Removal of fibrin from plasma improves solubility in water and concentrates functional proteins.

The environment in which animals are reared can influence ADG and feed efficiency. Broilers reared in germ-free conditions were heavier than broilers reared in conventional conditions (Coates et al., 1963). The response to dietary SDP (improved ADG and feed efficiency) was greater in pigs reared in a conventional environment compared to the response to dietary SDP by pigs reared in a clean environment (Stahly et al., 1994; Coffey and Cromwell, 1995).

The addition of SDP to drinking water, especially hard water (>180 ppm CaCO₃), results in clot formation that blocks water flow especially in typical automatic water systems. Removal of fibrin from plasma (resulting in serum) increases solubility. Administering spray-dried serum through automatic drinking systems adds flexibility and increases consumption of functional proteins during stress periods when feed intake is typically reduced. Therefore, the objective of these experiments was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried serum on broiler performance and carcass quality when administered in drinking water and when provided to broilers housed in three different environments (battery pens, floor pens with new litter, or floor pens with used litter).

	Materials and Methods

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Innavax (INX; APC, Inc., Ames, IA) is a product containing bovine serum and was utilized in all experiments. Innavax is manufactured from bovine blood collected in USDA-inspected abattoirs. The bovine blood was collected into a stainless steel container and centrifuged to separate the plasma from the blood cells. The chilled (5°C) plasma was then transported to a processing facility. Fibrin was separated from the plasma by adding excess Ca to initiate clot formation followed by centrifugation to produce serum. Serum was concentrated by membrane filtration and spray-dried to produce a light tan powder. Spray-dried bovine serum was mixed with other ingredients (lactose, citric acid, lecithin, propylene glycol, and mineral oil) used as processing and mixing aids to produce INX. Broilers used in the three experiments were handled in accordance with accepted guidelines (FASS, 1999). Levels of INX used within the three experiments were selected based upon data from previous unpublished trials.

Experiment 1.
Two hundred fifty-two Ross x Cobb male broilers provided by Wayne Farms LLC (Laurel, MS; 1 d of age) were randomly assigned to receive one of six experimental treatments. Treatments were tap water (25°C) mixed with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, or 1.25% (wt/wt) INX. Water was mixed daily and provided ad libitum in trough waterers. The troughs were washed daily and refilled with fresh product. A common broiler starter and grower diet in meal and pellet form, respectively, was manufactured at the Mississippi State University USDA feed mill (Table 1). Feed was offered ad libitum. Broilers were housed in 42 battery cages (33 x 99 cm) as six broilers per pen and seven pens per treatment. Both starter and grower battery cages were Petersime units with raised wire floors, trough waterers, and trough feeders. The broilers were housed on the Mississippi State University Poultry Research Farm in the Battery House maintained on 23 h of light and 1 h of darkness and constant environmental control. Vaccinations consisted of Marek’s given in ovo and Newcastle and infectious bronchitis given by coarse spray at hatch. Pen weights and feed and water intake were measured on d 0, 7, 14, 21, and 42.

Experiments 2 and 3.
Two 21-d experiments were conducted utilizing 400 broilers per experiment (10 broilers per pen, 10 pens per treatment). Ross x Ross 308 male broilers (Welp Hatchery, Bancroft, IA; 1 d of age) were randomly assigned to receive one of four experimental treatments. Treatments were tap water (25°C) mixed with 0, 0.45, 0.90, or 1.35% (wt/wt) INX (Table 2). Water was mixed daily and delivered via free-standing 3.8-L poultry founts (CT Farm and Country, Ames, IA). The founts were washed daily and refilled with fresh product. Commercially available broiler starter feed (Coop Broiler Starter Complete, Farmland Industries, Inc., Kansas City, MO) was used for all treatments throughout the study (Table 2). Feed was offered ad libitum in trays (729 cm²) from d 0 to 3 followed by hanging gravity flow feeders (Brower, Houghton, IA). Broilers (10 per pen) were housed in floor pens (56 x 122 cm) and contained clean (Exp. 2) or used (Exp. 3) softwood shavings as litter (10-cm depth). Shavings from Exp. 2 were used in Exp. 3. Heat lamps maintained temperatures (at bird level) of 32 to 35°C, 29 to 32°C, and 27 to 29°C for wk 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Broilers were maintained on 23 h of light and 1 h of darkness. Feed and INX samples were collected weekly and stored at -20°C prior to analysis (AOAC, 1990) for moisture, CP, ash, pH (INX only), ether extract (feed only; Mojonnier assay), and selected minerals (feed only) by a commercial laboratory (Silliker Laboratories of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, IA). Pen weights, feed and water intake, and mortality, were measured daily. Feed efficiency was adjusted to account for dry matter intake from both feed and water.

	Results

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Experiment 1.
During wk 1, 2, 3, and 4 through 6 (Table 3), ADG was unaffected (P > 0.10) by water treatment. There was a tendency for INX to improve feed efficiency during wk 1 (P = 0.076), feed intake during wk 3 (P = 0.095), and water intake during wk 4 through 6 (P = 0.065). Carcass measurements (Table 4) were unaffected (P > 0.10) by INX. Total d-42 mortality for broilers reared in batteries was low (2% average) and was not affected by (P > 0.10) INX.

A quadratic effect was noted for ADG (P = 0.06), ADFI (P = 0.05), and water intake (P = 0.03) during the first week of the study (Table 5). The greatest incremental increase in ADG occurred when broilers were fed 0.45% INX compared to 0% INX (18.4 vs. 17.3 g/d, respectively). Broilers consumed an average of 0.3, 0.6, and 0.8 g of INX DM/d from the water when mixed at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. Feed efficiency response to INX was linear (P < 0.001) and was improved 14.7% by 1.35% INX.

Overall (d 0 to 21) ADG, ADFI, and water intake of broilers were improved linearly (P < 0.05) when birds consumed increasing levels INX in the water. The greatest incremental increase in ADG occurred when broilers were fed 0.45% INX compared to 0% INX (42.2 vs. 40.5 g/d, respectively). Daily consumption of INX from the water for three weeks was 0.6, 1.1, and 1.7 g of INX DM/d when mixed at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. Feed efficiency improved linearly (P < 0.05) with INX, resulting in a 5.4% improvement at 1.35% INX. Mortality (d 0 to 21) was 1.0, 1.0, 7.0, and 5.0% for 0, 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. The 0.90% INX treatment had the highest mortality, which was greater (P < 0.05) than 0 or 0.45% INX.

Experiment 3.
Nutrient analyses of commercial feed (Table 2) were within acceptable analytical variation and either met or exceeded tag guarantee.

Water intake, ADG, and feed efficiency of broilers were improved linearly (P < 0.001) during the first week of the study (Table 6). An average increase of 1.0 g/d in ADG occurred with each 0.45% increment of INX, resulting in an 18.5% improvement from 0% to 1.35% INX. Feed intake was unaffected (P > 0.10) by INX. Broilers consumed an average of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 g of INX DM/d from the water when mixed at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. Feed efficiency response to INX was improved 12.2% by 1.35% INX.

Linear improvements (P < 0.01) in ADG, ADFI, water intake, and feed efficiency continued during the third week of the study. Broilers consumed an average 0.9, 1.8, and 2.8 g of INX DM/d from the water when mixed at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. Feed efficiency was improved 4.3% by 1.35% INX.

Overall (d 0 to 21) intake, ADG, and feed efficiency of broilers were improved linearly (P < 0.01) with INX. Broilers consumed on average 0.5, 1.1, and 1.7 g of INX DM/d from the water when mixed at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively. Feed efficiency for the entire study was improved by 5.4% with 1.35% INX. Mortality (d 0 to 21) was not affected (P > 0.10) by INX (3.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 2.0% for 0, 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% INX, respectively).

	Discussion

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Spray-dried plasma has been effective in improving ADG, feed intake, and feed efficiency in early-weaned pigs (Hansen et al., 1993; Kats et al., 1994), calves (Quigley and Drew, 2000), and shrimp (Russell and Campbell, 2000). In a review of results from multiple studies (n = 48) involving 8,448 pigs, Coffey and Cromwell (2001) reported that the addition of SDP to the diet during the initial 2 wk postweaning resulted in an increase in ADG, feed intake, and feed efficiency of 25, 21, and 4%, respectively. In contrast, only two experiments have been reported in which SDP was fed to poultry (Pierce et al., 1996; Yi et al., 2001). The response to SDP is impacted by the environment (Stahly et al., 1994; Coffey and Cromwell, 1995). The present experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of spray-dried serum administered in the drinking water on growth and carcass composition of broilers in different environments.

Three experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, broilers were housed in Petersime batteries in an environmentally controlled room. Experiment 2 was conducted in floor pens with clean litter, whereas Exp. 3 was conducted in the same pens as Exp. 2 but using soiled litter from Exp. 2. These experiments were designed to simulate a clean, low-stress environment (Exp. 1), a moderately clean environment (Exp. 2), and a high-stress, challenging environment (Exp. 3). Hill et al. (1952) reported that broilers housed in clean, disinfected environments grew faster than broilers housed in unsanitized environments. This was confirmed by Coates et al. (1963), in which growth rate of broilers housed in germ-free environments was greater than broilers housed in conventional environments. These differences have been attributed to stimulation of the immune system resulting from pathogen load and nutrient repartitioning, even when no apparent diseases are present (Johnson, 1997; Klasing and Korver, 1997).

The present study demonstrates that INX added to the drinking water can improve growth performance of broilers. Furthermore, the environment influences the response to INX. In the current experiments, growth rate of broilers in the clean environment (Exp. 1) during wk 4 through 6 exceeded NRC (1994) standards (68.5 vs. 66.8 g/d) and was not affected by INX. In Exp. 2 (floor pens, clean litter), INX resulted in a quadratic improvement in ADG during wk 1. Administering INX did not affect growth performance during wk 2 or 3 of the experiment. In Exp. 3 (floor pens, soiled litter), the INX resulted in linear increases in ADG during each weekly period of the experiment.

In Exp. 1 and 3, INX did not affect mortality. In Exp. 2, mortality was greatest with 0.90% INX; however, the reason is unclear. Because 0.90% INX was the intermediate concentration used in the study, higher mortality would not be expected to be caused by INX. Furthermore, Coffey and Cromwell (1995) demonstrated no differences in mortality related to plasma consumption in pigs housed in different environments. In addition, challenge trials utilizing pigs (Bosi et al., 2001) and calves (Quigley and Drew, 2000) have reported improvements in mortality due to consumption of SDP.

Typically, ad libitum feed intake is reduced when the immune system is stimulated (Johnson, 1997). When INX is added to the water, water disappearance is increased. Addition of INX to the drinking water will result in increased nutrient intake especially if feed intake is depressed because of immune stimulation. It has been suggested that reduced feed intake may result in inadequate energy consumption. The growth response when INX is added to the drinking water may be partially explained by nutrients derived from INX. However, Klasing and Barnes (1988) showed that nutrient requirements are actually decreased when the immune system is stimulated due in part to reduced tissue accretion. Growth of broilers is improved when they are fed a nutrient-deficient diet supplemented with the limiting nutrient (NRC, 1994). In these experiments, feed consumption of the control treatment was consistent with NRC (1994) and industry standards (Ross Tech Manual, 1999). Furthermore, relative to total dry matter intake, INX represented between 1% and 3% of the total dry matter consumption and would represent only a marginal increase in energy or protein consumption. Although it cannot be ruled out, it is unlikely that the response to INX was due to an underlying nutrient deficiency resulting from lower nutrient intake of control broilers.

A more likely explanation for the improvement in the growth response between different environments may be the result of INX reducing overstimulation of the immune system of the broilers. The proposed mechanism agrees with Coffey and Cromwell (1995), who reported that pigs consuming SDP and housed in high-antigen environment respond greater than pigs housed in a low-antigen environment. Evidence that SDP or serum reduces the effects of antigenic stimulation (i.e., enteric challenges) are demonstrated by improved ADG (Borg et al., 1999) and reduced severity of clinical symptoms, such as diarrhea (Borg et al, 1999; Quigley and Drew, 2000; Bosi et al., 2001) and intestinal permeability (Hunt et al., 2002), when SDP is included in the feed or water. Furthermore, as indicated in these studies, high-antigen environments (floor pens, soiled litter) result in a greater response to INX compared to low- (batteries) or moderate-antigen loads (floor pens, clean litter).

	Implications

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The results of these studies support previous research that the environment animals are reared in influences the growth response to spray-dried plasma and/or Innavax. The results imply that the response to Innavax will be greater when broilers are reared in commercial environments (floor pens, soiled litter), but direct comparisons with different environments are needed.

¹ Correspondence: 2425 SE Oak Tree Court (phone: 515-289-7602; fax: 515-268-2453; E-mail: joy.campbell{at}amerprotcorp.com).

Received for publication December 23, 2002. Accepted for publication July 14, 2003.

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