Are your layers getting the right vitamins for optimal performance?

Why vitamins matter more than ever

While macronutrients like protein, energy, and minerals often dominate conversations about poultry nutrition, vitamins play a vital but understated role. These micronutrients account for only a small portion of feed costs but have a massive impact on bird health and productivity. Without adequate vitamin levels, metabolic functions can be disrupted, leading to reduced egg production, poor shell quality, and greater susceptibility to disease.

Modern laying hens have come a long way from their ancestors. Through genetic advancements, today’s birds can produce up to 500 eggs in a single cycle, compared to around 300 eggs two decades ago. This remarkable productivity comes with increased metabolic demands, requiring precise vitamin supplementation to ensure optimal health and performance.

Tackling heat stress, animal health and environmental challenges

Environmental factors, such as heat stress or growing incidence of animal diseases, can further complicate the nutritional needs of layers. Birds raised in tropical climates or subjected to sudden temperature spikes face oxidative stress, which disrupts cellular processes and compromises their immune systems. Vitamins like C, D and E are critical in mitigating these effects due to their powerful antioxidant properties.

Vitamin C, though synthesized by poultry, is not produced in sufficient quantities during periods of stress. Adding it to the diet helps counteract inflammation, reduce stress hormones, and improve overall resilience. Vitamin D plays a key role not only for proper homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus which is a pre-requisite for best bone calcification and eggshell formation but also, particularly its more active metabolite 25OHD3 (Hy-D®), to guarantee a more efficient absorption in the intestine and improved modulation of the immune system and less inflammation. Similarly, vitamin E works within cell membranes to combat oxidative damage. Together, these vitamins form a powerful defense mechanism to keep layers healthy and productive even under adverse conditions.

dsm-firmenich’s updated OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® (OVN™) guidelines

Recognizing the evolving needs of the poultry industry, dsm-firmenich has updated its OVN Optimum Vitamin Nutrition® (OVN™) guidelines. These recommendations are based on decades of research and co-operation with breeding companies and other industry stakeholders and provide a comprehensive framework for vitamin supplementation tailored to modern production systems.

Key updates include:

• More efficient vitamin D levels through the use of 25OHD3 to support bone health, prevent skeletal issues in hens laying hundreds of eggs during their lifecycle as well as to improve the immune system.
• Targeted supplementation of vitamins C and E for heat-stressed birds, helping to reduce the impact of oxidative stress and inflammation making birds more resilient to animal diseases and other environmental challenges.
• Enhanced product stability: Ensuring that vitamins remain effective even under high storage temperatures and feed processing conditions.

The guidelines also emphasize the importance of high-quality vitamin formulations. Vitamins are sensitive to heat, oxygen, and light, and poor-quality formulations can degrade before they even reach the birds. Stable, bioavailable forms of vitamins are essential to deliver consistent results and avoid deficiencies.

A holistic approach to better farming

Providing layers with the right levels of vitamins is not just a matter of optimizing bird health; it also impacts profitability and sustainability. Proper vitamin supplementation improves feed efficiency, enhances egg quality, and reduces food waste, contributing to a more sustainable poultry industry.

dsm-firmenich’s new guidelines are a vital resource for poultry producers looking to meet the growing global demand for eggs. By prioritizing vitamin nutrition, producers can protect their flocks, enhance productivity, and promote long-term sustainability in egg production.