If you missed the seventh annual Kemin Intestinal Health Symposium, or if you want to revisit any of the expert presentations, you're in the right place. Here you'll find a brief synopsis of each presentation with links to hear the latest firsthand from experts across industries: poultry, swine, dairy, beef, and equine.
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Insight into a Broiler Vet's Decision Making Process
"In just 10 years, the number of broilers went up 9%, while the amount of meat increased by over 20%."
- Dr. Carl Heeder: Senior Director of Avian Health and Nutrition, Mountaire Farms
In his presentation, Dr. Carl Heeder shares the drivers of progress in the broiler industry and the current trends that he's seeing in the market. Production and demand of broiler meat continues to increase in the U.S. and internationally, with the biggest growth in demand coming from middle-income countries who are becoming more interested in high-value protein.
Dr. Heeder also shares the history of Mountaire Farms, their growth in operations in the broiler industry, and the data behind their production and sales. When thinking about the key performance indicators for broilers, Dr. Heeder's focus is on adjusted feed conversion and how they can efficiently turn that feed into protein with the best return on investment. Watch Dr. Heeder's presentation to learn more about the broiler industry and what's behind its increased production.
Breaking Barriers: How Viral Infections Affect Mucosal Health
"There are a tremendous number of bacteria that live in the GI tract that play an important role, and the body has to maintain the important balance of keeping them there and keeping them happy."
- Dr. Michael Rahe: Assistant Professor in Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Michael Rahe discusses the importance of the mucosal barrier as it is the physical defense against pathogens, but also explains its selective filter role to allow good nutrients to enter while keeping harmful pathogens out. He emphasizes both the respiratory and enteric mucosa and how they prevent bacteria and viruses from infecting the respiratory and intestinal systems in the body.
Dr. Rahe explains different ways to preserve the mucosal barrier with prevention, metaphylaxis, and treatment, and how these are evolving to better combat pathogens. Watch as Dr. Rahe discusses the importance of and the research on mucosal barriers and their impact on overall health.
Harnessing State-of-the-Art Biotechnology to Transform Dairy Cattle Nutrition
"One of the critical ways to understand the mechanisms that go into feed efficiencies for dairy cows is to think of them like living refineries."
- Dr. Hugo Monteiro: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medicine
During his presentation, Dr. Hugo Monteiro discusses his research on how to improve feed efficiency for dairy cows. He explores how cattle rely on fermentation to break down complex nutrients and talks about their daily dietary energy and protein requirements.
Dr. Monteiro also outlines his research into different microbes in the microbiome, plus the impact of amino acids on feed efficiency. Watch Dr. Monteiro's presentation and dive into the research.
Equine Leaky Gut Syndrome: Fact, Fiction, or Feed Fad?
"Is there a way for us to manipulate the diet so we can have an influence on the effect of stressors on gastrointestinal hyperpermeability?"
- Dr. Wendy Pearson: Associate Professor, University of Guelph, Animal Biosciences
Dr. Wendy Pearson's presentation emphasizes the importance of the gut in horses and how its management can interfere with their performance. The gut is the largest interface of the body that encounters the external environment, making it incredibly important to host defense and determining what should not be tolerated within the body. The GI tract cannot respond to every single antigen that it comes across and must be selective when reacting to these substances.
Pearson highlights the critical role of the microbiome in the horse not only to digestion, but to the function of the nervous system and production of metabolites. She also discusses the leakage of toxic molecules that trigger systemic inflammatory responses and previous leaky gut research in horses. Learn more about leaky gut syndrome from Dr. Pearson's presentation.
Amino Acids and Intestinal Health in Dairy Cattle: Beyond Protein Supply
"If there is too much protein in a cow, the chances of pregnancy are much lower."
- Dr. Phil Cardoso: Professor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Animal Sciences
Dr. Phil Cardoso focuses his presentation on linking amino acid balancing with intestinal integrity, immunity, and reproductive health for dairy cows. He notes that precision amino acid nutrition — rather than crude protein percentage — is the key to improving milk production, reproduction, and overall health. He also emphasizes that overfeeding protein increases MUN/BUN, lowering uterine pH and fertility while overloading the liver.
Dr. Cardoso stresses the importance of supplementing with rumen-protected methionine and lysine. By formulating diets with these supplements, you can improve milk yield, milk protein content, nitrogen utilization, reproductive success, and intestinal integrity. Not only are rumen-protected amino acids tools for milk protein optimization, but they're also critical for maintaining health. Watch Dr. Cardoso's presentation to learn more.
Better Water, Better Health: Biofilm and Water System Management in Animal Production
"Water is an essential nutrient and is something we use every day in our systems."
- Dr. Gabi Doughan: Swine Veterinarian and Technical Project Specialist, Iowa State University, Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Gabi Doughan's presentation sheds light on the impact of water quality in animal production. With water being used for drinking, thermoregulation, biosecurity, medication administration, and more, waterline ecology matters. Dr. Doughan discusses recent research focused on challenging assumptions that the amount of water matters more than its quality.
She emphasizes that harmful pathogens in waterlines can quickly get out of hand when left untreated and can put biosecurity, water medicators, and production at risk. This research into effects of water quality on animal production showcases the importance of waterline treatments and consistent cleaning. Watch Dr. Doughan's presentation to get the details.