RESPONSES ATTRIBUTED TO DR. ANJAN MONDAL, TRANSFORM INDIA TECHNICAL LEAD AND POULTRY SPECIALIST

What was the main driving factor behind Cargill’s focus on developing new nutrition strategies for broilers?

Cargill’s focus on new nutrition strategies for broilers is driven by a USAID-funded project aimed at strengthening global health security. Through TRANSFORM, Cargill is researching how animal nutrition can help address pathogens impacting human health, while promoting animal immunity and performance. The project involves partners in Kenya, India, and Vietnam to test commercially available products for better animal health.

What do these findings signify for the larger poultry industry and health management?

These findings signify that there is value in continuing to research and explore tools that may help the poultry industry to support nutritional and immune healthand reduce reliance on antimicrobials as growth promoters.

How do you anticipate these nutritional interventions will impact farmer practices in the field?

We anticipate that the industry will begin to embrace the concept of using proven immunity supporting feed additives to sustainthe health of their animals. By testing commercially available products, we designed these trials to generate actionable results for farmers in key geographies like India.

What key benefits were observed when using the probiotic and postbiotic supplements in the broiler trial?

In general, the post biotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product(SCFP) was equivalent or better than the probiotic in supporting growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), gut morphology, gut health, and immune health. For more information, refer to the fact sheet.

Could you elaborate on how these supplements contributed to improving growth performance and reducing pathogen levels?

SCFP has previously been shown to support gut morphology in chickens, specifically villi height and villi height to crypt depth ratio. These changes should improve nutrient absorptive capacity of the intestines resulting in improved FCR. Please note that although SCFP improved FCR compared to the control,
the FCR of the Bacillus was not statistically different to that of SCFP with the FCR of SCFP group numerically better than that of the Bacillus product. For more information, refer to the fact sheet.

Were there any surprising results from the trial that particularly stood out to you?

One interesting finding was the increase in infectious bursal disease virus (IBCV) antibody titers in SCFP-fed birds following administration of the IBDV vaccine. To our knowledge, this is the first time a dietary
supplement was shown to affect a marker for IBDV vaccine efficacy in poultry. For more information, refer to the fact sheet.

What are the next steps for Cargill in applying these findings to future research and development?

This was a controlled trial on a sector 2 university farm. Our immediate next steps are to perform a similar trial on a commercial sector 3 broiler operation and on a commercial sector 2 layer farm. Through TRANSFORM, Cargill is also continuing to test commercially available products to
support immunity in other species like swine, shrimp, and dairy cattle. By taking a localized
approach to gathering global insights, we hope to get a clearer understanding of the role animal nutrition can play in helping solve some of our greatest global health security challenges.

How do these interventions align with Cargill’s overall commitment to sustainable and safe food production?

Cargill’s interventions align with its commitment to sustainable and safe food production by improving farmer livelihoods and creating a more resilient food system. By promoting animal health, optimizing feed efficiency, and reducing disease and mortality, these efforts enhance productivity. The USAID-Cargill partnership exemplifies the needed collaboration across public and private sectors to address global challenges like preventing zoonotic diseases and supporting food security through safe,
affordable animal-sourced nutrition.

Can you tell us a bit about the partnership with TRANSFORM?

TRANSFORM, a five-year, USAID-funded project led by Cargill, involves partnerships with Heifer International and the International Poultry Council. The project focuses on four key areas:

1. On-Farm Practices: Promoting biosecurity and farm management practices with farmers, veterinarians, and private companies to improve animal health and reduce antimicrobial use.

2. Holistic Animal Nutrition Research: Advancing research to support animals’ immune systems.

3. Access to Finance: Collaborating with local banks and financial institutions to provide farmers with loans for better farm management and biosecurity.

4. Antimicrobial Use Stewardship: Working with industry groups to ensure responsible antimicrobial use, minimizing resistance. This partnership aims to boost productivity, strengthen global health security, and build a more resilient and sustainable food system.