AGA2Tech aims to embrace the “One Health” initiative and address the global challenges of antibacterial resistance (AMR) while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
In today’s fast-paced livestock agriculture world, one of the greatest and often overlooked threats is antibacterial resistance (AMR). It’s not just a health problem. It is business risks, sustainability challenges and an upcoming global crisis.
Antibiotics have been the backbone of animal health, but they are overused in everything from disease prevention to growth promotion, but have caused dangerous side effects. Bacteria are evolving, adapting, and becoming resistant to the very treatments that protect livestock.
This can lead to high costs, and resistant infections are more difficult to treat, meaning longer recovery times and increased mortality, not just for animals but also for humans. These resistant organisms don’t last on farms. They can spread to people through food, water and the environment, threaten public health and increase regulations scrutiny.
To tackle the ever-growing threat of AMR, advanced companies are desperately needed to invest in innovative and disruptive technologies.
AGA2TECH: I tried and tested it
Aga2Tech leads a new era of livestock care with cutting-edge oxidative, non-antibiotic solutions targeting a wide range of harmful bacteria and viruses without risking resistance. The company is working on nuclear resistance to antibacterial resistance to protect animal health, human well-being, and support a more sustainable future in agriculture.
Innovate-UK Support’s research project conducted two comprehensive studies at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) to assess the potential of new technologies developed by AGA2Tech as a sustainable alternative to Broiler’s antibiotic treatment.
Two studies included in vivo use of peracetic acid (PAA) administered to birds via two different delivery mechanisms. The first study involving 96 Ross birds focused on water peracetic acid from precursors, and the second study in 375 Ross birds examined encapsulated peracetic acid delivered through feed.
Both studies aim to assess the safety of the intervention, the effects on bacterial load and gut microbiome at various points across the avian gastrointestinal tract, and the effects on performance parameters.
Two trials suggest that PAA may be a potentially effective and safe alternative to a wide range of antibiotics in poultry. The first trials that fed PAA treatment to birds at age 7-14 days showed significant reductions in bacterial concentrations in crops, correlated with performance outcomes.
In particular, PAAs increased body weight and increased feed intake, particularly at 20, 30, and 40 parts (ppm) compared to the control group. There was also a significant reduction in the lactobacillus and flectobacillus populations in crops, suggesting effective regulation of the upper gut microbiota, laying the basis for interesting insights into the role of these genera in the upper gut.
The encapsulated PAA trial contained 375 Ross 308 broiler over 28 days. In this study, we tested two PAA concentrations (30 and 80 mg/kg) delivered via hydrolysis of the encapsulated precursors in the feed. Because birds were kept in recycled trash, we were able to assess other factors, along with measuring the effectiveness of PAA.
Birds receiving PAA of 30 mg/kg showed improved weight gain and significant changes in the gut microbial community. There was a decrease in iliac sclerosis and an increase in proteobacteria along with an increase in beneficial bacteria such as CAECA Bacillus and Flavonifitors. This study shows a significant reduction in tetracycline resistance genes in recycled garbage flocks compared to birds stored in clean trash, potentially lower risk of AMR development.
Further evidence of effectiveness
With the success of the first trial in poultry agriculture, a seed fund protected from the Centre for Livestock Innovation Excellence (CIEL), now known as UK agricultural technology, has evaluated the postweaning power generation technology of weaned pigs.
We evaluated the effectiveness of the PAA technique as an alternative to zinc oxide (ZNO) in controlling postweaning diarrhea in piglets. In the study, 48 piglets were divided into four groups: control (0 ppm PAA), ZNO group (3,100 mg/kg), 50 ppm PAA, and 150 ppm PAA were treated for 14 days. Piglets who received both 50 ppm and 150 ppm reduced their fecal scores by day 14 and reduced gastric pH reduction.
This trial shows that PAA, particularly at 150 ppm, is a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to ZNO for managing postweaning diarrhea. It can regulate the gut microbiota and reduce toxic factors without the environmental concerns associated with ZNO.
Research in both poultry and weaning pigs in the experimental rearing unit of the Rural University of Scotland (SRUC) has resulted in highly exciting findings, stimulating external interest and additional investment from the poultry industry, leading to commercial testing.
The commercial farm trial was crucial to demonstrate the real-world applicability and safety of interventions that produced positive outcomes in the SRUC experimental rearing unit. In the case of poultry, the farm efficacy of PAA treatments was tested via a series of four nine months of trials on two farms.
In the experimental SHED, PAA treatment was added to bird water supply using existing lines and followed the usual procedure in the second control SHED. The two sheds matched as closely as possible, and the same herd codes were compared as much as possible to improve the reliability of the results.
Despite seeing the challenges of Gunboro and coccidiosis requiring antibiotic treatment in the control shed over the course of the nine-month trial, the farm improved chick health in the experimental sheds receiving PAA treatment, resulting in no antibiotics needed.
As farm trials progressed, experimental shed broilers’ weight, feed conversion rate (FCR), and margin overfeed cost (MOFC) metrics also proved to be comparable or even better than those found in control sheds.
Post-commercial pig testing has a much longer life cycle than broiler farming, which means that excellent initial feedback from farmers continues.
A healthier, more resilient future for livestock agriculture
From broilers to piglets, AGA2TECH innovations already offer test and commercial farm results, including improved performance, reduced pathogens and reduced antibiotic use.
With ongoing research, industry partnerships and support from leading producers, AGA2Tech lays the foundation for a resilient, responsible future in animal agriculture.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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