Enterococcus cecorum is a Gram-positive bacterium which is a normal intestinal flora in mammals and birds. To date, only clinical cases of infection have been shown in broilers. The age at which the first clinical symptoms become noticeable varies widely. For example, one strain of broiler shows clinical symptoms at very young age (only 7 to 14 days old), while other strain detect no symptoms until by day 48.

Clinical symptoms

Affected birds can display a variety of symptoms, ranging from swollen, inflamed hocks to partial or even complete paralysis of the legs. Mostly the birds are observed sitting with their back arched stretching their legs outward. Therefore, these ultimately die due to lack of food and water. Mortality rate due to these leg problems is approximately 5 to 7 %.

Another typical feature of this disease is that it affects male broilers to a much greater extent than hens. This is probably due to faster growth in them, which makes them more susceptible to stress on their bone structure and hence to infection in the bone tissue.

The bacteria predispose site because the 6^th thoracic vertebra freely than the 5^th and 7^th vertebrae. This makes th^e 6^th thoracic vertebra more susceptible to mechanical stress during growth. The bacteria gain entry for growth due to stress that causes microfractures in these locations.

Prevention and treatment

·  Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the water pipes plus drinking water testing.

· It is possible to treat this disease with antibiotics.

However, due to problems associated with antibiotic resistance, it is important to start the control of these harmful bacteria at the early stages of the poultry production cycle by maintaining a balance of good bacteria over bad bacteria in the poultry gut.  To help the industry in combating this problem we at Vinayak Ingredients
(India) Private Limited introduces one of our niche products with a brand name; “HERBOFLOXIN”- a blend of essential oils effective as natural non-antibiotic growth promoter. It is a non-antibiotic growth promoter because when birds are subjected to traditionally used antibiotics for a long time they tend to develop resistance for particular antibiotics and their effect is no longer seen in the control of bacterial infection in the birds. Also, these antibiotics produce certain resistance in humans who are consuming these poultry species. Wherewith our ‘non-antibiotic growth promoter- HERBOFLOXIN’ there are no chances of resistance development and also withdrawal period which is necessary with the use of traditional antibiotic.

MOA: Herbofloxin contains phytoconstituents of antibacterial nature which target the pathogenic gut bacteria and maintain a slightly acidic pH. This slight decrease in the pH helps in colonization by gut commensals and resists pathogenic attachment to the gut wall. Thus improved gastrointestinal microclimate favors better digestibility and uptake of nutrients increasing the weight of the birds.

Various other advantages of Herbofloxin are as follows;

• Complete gut acidification and antibacterial action.
• Improved egg quality and size.
• Uniformity in weight of eggs in a particular batch of flogs
• Ease in the transportation of eggs of uniform weight, size, and quality.
• Improved FCR

It is a complete growth promoter for poultry!