Natural feed additive shows encouraging results on French poultry units

A novel, natural feed ingredient is becoming increasingly popular on French poultry units as it results in healthier birds with reduced mortality rates and lower veterinary costs.

Administered either through feed or in drinking water, BioAktiv is a natural chalk meal that is proving effective in improving the digestion and immune system of birds.

It comes in either a powdered formula, which is simply added to poultry feed, or a liquid solution added to the bird’s drinking water.

The concept was developed by Ramona Wolf, managing director of Bioaktiv, East Germany, together with mechanical engineer Adalbert Barth over a number of years.

As she explains, BioAktiv powder is a carrier of chalk, magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride and is made to resonate with the natural vibration of oxygen, which is produced by a patented process.

The process involves a large energy accumulator which generates a powerful vibrating field with the natural frequency of the oxygen atom. Highly purified chalk meal from Sohide in northern Germany is resonated for several hours, so it takes on the special homeopathic information permanently.

The liquid formula is processed in a similar manner and includes a natural common salt known to improve bird digestion and magnesium sulphate.

How does it work?

While the calcium itself is a valuable additive in poultry feed, it is used purely to introduce the oxygen vibration to the digestive tract of birds, says Emile Borsenberger of Sarl/Eurl BES who has carried out research on French units.

Once there, it stimulates the aerobic (beneficial) bacteria and reduces the level of anaerobic (harmful) bacteria in the bird’s gut, improving digestion and boosting the immune system.

Mr Borsenberger stresses that it is a fully natural product which is safe for people, animals and the environment.

What are the benefits?

The additive has been shown to improve feed conversion rates, reduce salmonella infection and reduce bird mortality. Consequently, its use means producer use less antibiotic treatments.

It can also decrease levels of ammonia in poultry buildings, because the carbon dioxide reduces the pH in droppings which immediately hampers ammonia development.

And as more of the nitrogen is retained in the litter, it is a better quality by-product for arable growers.

The additive is also known for its calming affects on poultry enabling them to feed and gain weight easily, added Mr Borsenberger.

Research

BioAktiv is the result of six years of extensive research, including various on-farm trials carried out by Mr Borsenberger. It is now being used widely on poultry farms across Europe and France since gaining registration.

One trial in France showed that feeding the additive led to a six-day reduction in the time birds took to reach their target weight, from 41 days to 35 days (see table). “And mortality rates were lower at 1.2% than 4% for untreated birds with an improved feed conversion of 1.7kg of feed/kg gain compared with 1.89.”

Case study: Regis Meignan, Sud Mayenne France, Laval

Regis Meignan farms about 3600 turkeys each year over three months for the Christmas period, but from February onwards, the unit switches to broiler rearing for the rest of the year, to suit the French market.

Currently running 19,500 le Gouloir broilers, Mr Meignan has been using BioAktiv since October 2007 in liquid formula. This is administered to the birds in their drinking water using a daily dose of 35g.

“It is easy to use, I just add it to the drinking water each morning and that is it,” says Mr Meignan.

Since he began using the liquid feed additive, he has seen a number of noticeable health improvements with his broilers. Results were first seen after just six weeks.

“The strong smell of ammonia in the poultry sheds often caused respiratory problems in both the chickens and turkeys, but now this has improved and the smell has reduced considerably,” he says.

The litter also seems to be much drier with the additive, he says.

“In France, farms are required to be 30ha (74 acres) away from local villages or towns because of the strong smell of ammonia, but now I think this rule should change, as since I started using the liquid feed additive, the smell has disappeared,” he explains.

“I have also seen a 66% reduction in mortality. During the peak turkey season, there were four or five losses everyday, but this number was reduced to one or two after I started using BioAktiv.”

His turkeys often sometimes suffered with illness and disease in their feet, but now they are healthy and are able to move about the shed freely.

Coccsidiosis was also previously a problem for Mr Meignan’s poultry, but in the last year he has no longer seen any signs of it among his flocks.

“I haven’t had to use any antibiotics in the last year and in the previous year, this cost me as much as €3.6/sq m.”

Mr Meignan had considered giving up poultry farming, as he was experiencing so many problems with bird health but since using the additive his flocks are healthy and he has seen a 10-15% increase in profit.

“Farming is now more like a hobby and I am looking forward to the future. I have never seen such lively poultry. I will continue to use the product and wait to see even better results.”

Case Study: Laurent and Nadine Guittet, Saint Aubin De Desert, Brittany.

The Guittet’s run a mixed farm in Brittany including up to 20,000 Le Gouloir chickens, except in the run up to the festive period when buildings switch to turkey production.

He has used BioAktiv for the past two years in his poultry. “I first began using it in the middle of the flock, normally you use it from the beginning but despite this, I started to see good results after just 15-20 days.

“On my next flock I used it from the start and found some excellent results.

“The birds were frequently suffering from runny and watery droppings. And the manure carried a strong odour. However, the additive quickly resolved these problems. I use 1kg of the liquid formula a day in 30,000 litres of water,” he says.

He also had problems with leg weakness, this made it difficult for them to walk to the feeders to feed properly. But BioAtkiv has resulted in birds with stronger leg and feeding is no longer a problem.

Spores from the straw bedding were causing respiratory problems due to dust. Mr Guittet had to use an antibiotic to treat this, as the turkeys were dying but now he longer has to use any antibiotics treatments and mortality has improved considerably.

“Since using BioAtkiv there has been a 20% overall reduction in mortality,” he says.

And Mr Guittet has now begun to reduce the amount of antibiotics he uses across all levels of poultry production.

Because of the health problems with his flock Mr Guittet was unable to sell his flock for meat production but now, 86% of his poultry are bought for the French market. In fact he is the best seller of poultry in the town.

Benefits

• Improves digestion
  
• Strengthens bird’s immune system
  
• Reduces ammonia
  
• Calms poultry allowing for increasing weight gain
  
• Less salmonella

Want to know more?

• Contact the UK distributor Ron Edmonds at EWI Associates on 01662 2592 590 or email ewibio@tiscali.co.uk
  
• Contact the manufacturer direct on (+49) 344 262 1013