IDEA concept

Good intestinal health is essential to the success of poultry operations. Traditionally, intestinal health has been dependent on medications, but current practices are leaning toward vaccinating birds against coccidiosis and then raising them with no or fewer in-feed drugs.

The IDEA concept can help maximize nutrition and performance in broilers that are vaccinated for coccidiosis. It is based on the physiology of the bird and the development of immunity to intestinal pathogens.

IDEA stands for:

I – Impulse

During the first 2 weeks of life, the goals are to prepare birds for immunity development, optimize development of the intestinal tract and immunity, provide nutrition that guarantees good development of bones and muscles, and take advantage of the high growth potential.

D — Digestibility

During the third and fourth weeks of life, the goals are to maintain intestinal mucosa integrity, reduce exposure to harmful bacteria and guarantee good immune system function.

E – Economic

This part of the IDEA concept is intended to capitalize on compensatory gain and reap the economic advantages that are possible as a result of strong immunity and maximum growth potential.

A — Advance

The implementation of the IDEA concept represents an advancement in the traditional thinking with respect to manipulation of immunization, management and nutrition to help improve overall flock performance.

IDEA can help poultry businesses operate more efficiently at a time when there is a growing resistance to traditional anticoccidials and limitations or bans on the use of in-feed growth-promoting antibiotics.

IDEA: Growth curve, relative growth and timing to maximize efficiency of the immunity process.