On Sun, 1 Jan 2012 17:44:21 +0100,  a gentleman who had already purchased my popular Livestock Feed Formulation Handbook as well as the accompanying Excel-VB Driven Feed Formulation Spreadsheet Software sent in this question:

Hi! Tayo,

I recently transferred my layers to cages and they are doing well but they have gained a little weight. I have read about “fatty liver syndrome” for layers on cages due to lack of physical activity.

The formula I used is maize 500 kg, SBC 75kg, GNC 115kg, BDG 50 kg, PKC 50 kg, whe(a)t offal 70 kg, plus other fixed ingredients in one tone.

Are my birds likely to experience this condition?

Thanks

B.

Below are excerpts from my response to him that I’ve made into a post. If you find the answers I’ve provided useful, please use the social share buttons to tell others you know may find this post of interest. 

Hi B…

Now, your question is interesting because it requires the application of KNOWLEGDE about a principle which has been scientifically established. Feeding of excessively high energy and/or high fat content feeds often causes problems in MOST animals – man included.

In Commercial Poultry Farming however, such inappropriate feeding of in-production birds, as well as a combination of a number of other factors has been shown to pre-dispose them to Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome, which you mentioned. I have personally never seen a bird afflicted with it, but I’d read enough and learnt what measures to take via MAINLY feed formulation, to reduce chances of causing it via wrong feeding regimes.

The key is for the farmer to check energy content of EACH feed formula s/he uses and ensure it matches the needs of the bird group to be fed with it. My handbook supplies recommended values you can start with. As always, I encourage finding out via practical checks, what works best for you. So, subject the formula you sent me, to the check and see if you’re within the acceptable limits.

Note that THIS alone, especially in our hotter and more humid tropical environment, tends to be the major cause of FLS. As you rightly noted, battery caged birds naturally get to enjoy LESS exercise, making it difficult to burn off ANY excess fat that may accumulate from consuming high energy foods. THAT is the reason why, target kcal of energy per unit of food is lower for caged birds than those on litter etc.

Some sites have provided more literature on various causes of this ailment. I am however a believer in focussing on what I can put to use for myself in practical terms. What I can CONTROL by myself – considering that I operate in a limiting environment. With that in mind, it is my opinion that the other implicated factors (mentioned on sites I’ve supplied links to below) such as “deficiency of nutrients that mobilise fat from the liver (lipotropic agents), endocrine imbalances and genetic components” may not readily offer themselves to YOU, as a farm owner, to control.

In summary therefore, I am saying I agree with the following recommendation, if you wish to protect your birds/investment:

Whatever I (or any websites) may have to say on this however, B…, as the farm owner, YOU must take appropriate due diligence measures to ensure you arrive at solution(s) that give(s) you the best results. The decision is ultimately yours to make. Information supplied can only HELP YOU arrive at that decision.

Suggested Further Reading:

1. Diseases: Fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS)

http://www.worldpoultry.net/diseases/fatty-liver-haemorrhagic-syndrome-flhs-d24.html

2. Fatty Liver Syndrome: Introduction

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/202400.htm

3. Important Nutritional Diseases that Affect Laying Hens

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1600/important-nutritional-diseases-that-affect-laying-hens

GOT ANY QUESTION(S) – OR COMMENT(S)?

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Why not post it(or them) in the comments section below, and I’ll either do a direct response or if I find it worthwhile, I’ll research and publish a separate post on it!