Necrotic enteritis (NE) is more than a health concern. It's a significant performance and profitability threat. Affecting up to 40% of broiler flocks globally, this disease can quietly erode growth, gut health, and margins through its subclinical form or cause devastating losses in clinical outbreaks.
Often underestimated, necrotic enteritis is caused by Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that exists naturally in the poultry gut. When conditions change—like diet shifts, coccidial stress, or mycotoxin contamination—this benign resident turns dangerous, releasing toxins that damage intestinal tissue and reduce nutrient absorption.
The results? Poor feed conversion, growth delays, and in clinical cases, mortality as high as 50%.
Did you know?
The cost per bird due to NE can reach $0.063, amounting to billions in global losses annually.
Necrotic enteritis doesn’t always announce itself. In many cases, performance declines are the only signal that something’s wrong. Birds may eat less, grow slower, or develop runny droppings. In more acute outbreaks, sudden deaths may occur without clear warning signs.
Post-mortem findings often include:
Concerned about flock performance?
The overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens is triggered by a combination of nutritional, microbial, and environmental factors:
️ Check the mycotoxin risk level indicator
In an age where consumer pressure and regulations demand reduced antibiotic use, forward-thinking producers are turning to multi-factorial necrotic enteritis prevention strategies:
Switching to highly digestible, low-viscosity feed and limiting protein fermentation in the hind-gut helps starve C. perfringens of fuel. Tools like Balancius® and Digestarom® DC Power enhance digestion and reduce intestinal stress.
With the world’s largest mycotoxin survey and products like Mycofix® and FUMzyme® sol, dsm-firmenich provides a robust line of defense against fungal toxins.
The early application of PoultryStar®, a synbiotic blend, helps beneficial bacteria colonize the gut and fortify defenses against necrotic enteritis from day one.
Is your current program working hard enough?
Recent research has identified NetB toxin as a key player in necrotic enteritis pathology. This pore-forming protein damages cell membranes and allows bacteria to breach the gut lining. When combined with quorum sensing—bacteria communicating to trigger mass toxin release—the impact on flock health can be severe.
Solutions like Symphiome™, a precision biotic, can modulate microbiome function and curb harmful protein fermentation in the gut.
Explore the latest research on necrotic enteritis toxins and microbiome control.
