Optimize hatchability rates by reducing the risk of Enterococcus faecalis

The industry is experiencing a decline in hatchability due to factors such as breeder health, bacterial infections, nutrient imbalance, and poor egg storage and incubation. As a breeder aiming to hatch as many viable eggs as possible, you face significant challenges. The Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition team offers a solution with Bacillus-based HatchWell, designed to enhance breeder health and reduce bacterial infections to help improve hatchability rates.

According to a USDA weekly report, the average weekly hatchability in the US broiler industry during 2023 was approximately 80.7%, a reduction of greater than 4% since 2014.¹

With hatchability rates on the decline, scientists seek causes and solutions

Enterococcus faecalis has continued to trouble the poultry industry and published research studies have recently shown an increase in the presence of E. faecalis infection in nonviable chicken embryos and attributed early chick mortality to the infection. A 2017 study found that Enterococcus species were the dominant bacteria isolated from dead embryos, 79.6% of which was E. faecalis, suggesting that E. faecalis may play a role in embryonic mortality. E. coli was also frequently isolated, with the two bacteria frequently co-isolated.² In 2023, researchers reported that some strains of E. faecalis were highly virulent, causing 100% mortality in an embryo lethality assay, while others caused no mortality.³ Further work by this group showed that when yolks of fertile eggs were inoculated with E. faecalis to emulate transovarial transmission of E. faecalis, eggs appeared as infertile eggs and embryos failed to develop, further suggesting that E. faecalis infection may disrupt embryo development.

Although it may play a role in embryonic mortality, E. faecalis is a normal member of the intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens and is ubiquitous in the poultry production environment. To illustrate this, the team surveyed the intestinal microbiome of over 2,500 gastrointestinal samples collected between 2015-2019 and found that E. faecalis was the dominant species identified in the intestinal tract of day-of-hatch chick samples (>50% average relative abundance). E. coli was also highly abundant in these samples with an average relative abundance of 18%. While E. faecalis is also frequently recovered from the intestinal tracts of pullets and breeders, it is typically found at a much lower relative abundance (10% average relative abundance of the intestinal bacterial community). Despite the high abundance of E. faecalis in normal, healthy chicks, published research studies have recently shown an increase in the presence of E. faecalis infection in nonviable chicken embryos and attributed early chick mortality to the infection.

To evaluate the role of E. faecalis in decreased hatchability, the Arm & Hammer Animal team conducted a survey of nonviable broiler eggs to determine the prevalence of E. faecalis in these samples. These eggs were also tested for the presence of E. coli. The survey showed that E. faecalis was isolated from 52% (378/732) of dead embryonated eggs, E. coli was isolated from 39% (288/732) of those eggs, and 32% of the eggs were co-infected with both E. faecalis and E. coli.⁴

While the impact of E. faecalis on the industry is tremendous, so are the benefits of supplementing with HatchWell

Antibiotic treatments are typically the primary choice to control bacterial infection, which may not be an effective approach to these issues since Enterococcus species are intrinsically resistant to many antimicrobials. Bacillus-based probiotics can improve gut health when birds face a variety of stressful conditions. Using our library of over 30,000 Bacillus isolates, we conducted studies to identify Bacillus strains that would specifically inhibit the growth of different Enterococcus species in vitro. Unique Bacillus strains that were highly effective at inhibiting E. faecalis in in vitro testing were used to formulate HatchWell.

Commercial studies were conducted on four broiler breeder farms with hatchability rates below the Aviagen standard. Treatment flocks supplemented with HatchWell reported an improvement in hatchability rates versus the paired control-fed flock. Uniquely designed to reduce the incidence of E. faecalis infection in breeder chickens, only HatchWell delivers up to a 3% increase in hatchability to meet breed standards.

What’s next in scientific innovation on E. faecalis inhibition?

Ongoing studies are being conducted to establish an E. faecalis challenge model, which will be used to demonstrate how proprietary Bacillus strains can help improve gut health and promote a more resilient bird.

HATCHWELL SUPPLEMENTATION INCREASES HATCHABILITY RATES VS CONTROL

Interested in learning more about how HatchWell can improve hatchability rates and help impact your bottom line? Contact your Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition representative or visit ahanimalnutrition.com.

IMPROVING HATCHABILITY BY ONLY 3% CAN YIELD 7.11 MILLION MORE CHICKS WEEKLY⁵

References
1 USDA weekly hatchability rates, November 2023. https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/gm80hv35d/jw828z22n/1831f468r/brls4823.pdf.
2 Karunarathna, et al. Increased incidence of Enterococcal infection in nonviable broiler chicken embryos in Western Canada hatcheries as detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. Avian Diseases. 61:472-480. 2017.
3 Reynolds, DL, and Simpson EB. Investigating Decreased Hatchability Caused by Enterococcus faecalis. Proceedings 74th North Central Avian Disease Conference; 2023. April 10-11; Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 31.
4 ARM & HAMMER proprietary data.
5 Calculated from USDA Broiler Hatchery report, November 2023 and proprietary data.