Drs. Mathis, Schrader, Broussard and Gobbi listen to Dr. Scott's presentation.

During a lively interchange between panel members and the audience, session chairman Dr. Peter Scott said he has been surprised at the higher prevalence of NE in North America compared to Australia, where the diet for broilers is wheat-based. Wheat-based diets have been linked to a higher prevalence of NE.

“Since 1989 I can count the farms where I’ve seen necrotic enteritis,” said Scott, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne and managing director of avian and animal health consultancy, Scolexia. This was despite the infrequent use of growth-promoting antibiotics, which can be effective against NE, as well as deep litter, which can harbor clostridial organisms. “I really believe it comes down to how the feeds are formulated.”

Scott called for more attention on nutrition and gut health, such as fiber levels in feed. “It’s there in black and white: If you maintain adequate fiber levels in your feed, you’ll achieve better coccidiosis control and, by default, better necrotic enteritis control,” he argued.

With the drought in Australia, oats and barley have been less available and more sorghum and soy is used, which has led to a deterioration of gut health. “I think nutrition needs to be looked at a lot more,” Scott added.

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s Dr. Charlie Broussard said that, in the US, he has observed a reduction in the use of ionophores and growth promoters and a move toward non-medicated, less costly feed as soon as possible in the production cycle. This change has occurred for economic reasons but is probably one reason why NE has become an emerging problem in that country.

Reusing litter is not necessarily a negative, he commented. “It can assist with coccidial cycling, and you can achieve a better balance than you do with a total cleanout,” he added.

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