GALLIPRO FIT for Game Birds
Hopes are high that probiotic bacteria could prove a game changing ingredient in the fight against disease and supporting gut health.
Scottish game feed company, Spratt’s Game Foods, has been working with vets and nutritionists in pioneering trials adding a unique triple strain probiotic into its diets.
The company’s Sales Manager Louise Fotheringham says improving gut health - one of the key benefits of probiotics - is a “real breakthrough” for the game industry.
He explains: “On the site using the probiotic, we were seeing particularly good intestinal health early season and having to treat for coccidiosis less frequently than usual. It will be interesting to follow more results as this probiotic is rolled out into Spratt's feed.”
“Our trials have shown birds fed the probiotics grow better and are generally healthier,” explains Louise. “Just as found with humans and other animals, good gut-health can play a key role in general health and wellbeing.
“Once the flock is growing well, helped by the improved gut health, our trials found their ability to fight off infections improved and that can only be a good thing in the ongoing battle against diseases. It stands to reason that the healthier the birds are, the better chance they have of growing well and reaching maturity.”
Matthew Balfour of Specialist Poultry veterinary practice St David’s headed up monitoring the birds in Spratt’s Game Foods probiotic trial. He has a dedicated interest in game birds and trying to find innovative solutions to disease challenges.
Denmark-based bioscience company Chr Hansen is providing the triple strain poultry probiotic being added into the game feed at Spratt's’ own mill in Drumlithie, Aberdeenshire. Elanco has taken over the sole distribution of GALLIPRO® FIT in Europe.
Alex Sly, Elanco's Nutritional Technical Consultant, explains that the three bacillus strains present in the probiotic – called GALLIPRO® FIT - have been selected for their individual properties which work against potentially harmful pathogens such as Salmonellas, E. coli and Clostridia, as well as their unique way of working together.
“They colonize the gut epithelium and form a protective layer to shield the intestinal lining from harmful bacteria,” explains Alex. “Whilst doing so, they create a beneficial environment. Not only for themselves, but also for other beneficial bacteria which ensures a robust and healthy microbiome that is able to minimise negative effects of infection resulting in a healthier flock, more uniform birds, improved feed conversion and lower mortality. Finally, happy and healthy birds mean happy gamekeepers!”
Spratt’s Game Foods, who are owned by East Coast Viners, provide pheasant, partridge and duck feed for shoots across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They also produce grouse grit and cereals.
“Our Spratt’s Game Foods mineral already contains a gut health package, and we believe that a probiotic is the missing piece to our puzzle”, concludes Louise Fotheringham. “So we are really proud with all the work we have put into researching and developing this exciting new addition to our game feed range.”
GALLIPRO® FIT, a product of Chr Hansen, distributed by Elanco Animal Health. Elanco™ and the diagonal bar are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
