Mannan Oligosaccharides as a Core Strategy in Modern Poultry Nutrition

  1. Home
  2. Blogs
  3. Mannan Oligosaccharides as a Core Strategy in Modern Poultry Nutrition

Table of Content

Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS) represent a proven healthy gut fibre in modern poultry production, sourced from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae — commonly known as baker’s yeast or brewer’s yeast. MOS has evolved beyond its historical use to become a central strategic tool for manufacturers seeking alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP), focusing instead on improving gut function, boosting immunity, and enhancing poultry feed profitability.
This analysis outlines the effective ways MOS works, the measurable results it delivers, and the best applications to maximise your daily weight gain and production stability.

The Dual Action of MOS: Blocking Germs and Feeding Good Bacteria

The effectiveness of MOS stems from a powerful dual action that simultaneously protects the gut lining and promotes a balanced gut microbiome.

  1. Structure and Function

  • MOS is a natural, sustainable, and reliable feed ingredient. At a basic level, its structure is complex, featuring a long main chain with shorter branches. This complex shape creates a special sticky surface that allows MOS to pass through digestion untouched, reaching the lower gut where it performs its main protective function.

  1. Blocking Harmful Germs (Competitive Exclusion)

  • MOS works like a decoy. Harmful germs, such as Salmonella and E. coli, use tiny sticky structures (like hooks) to attach to the chicken’s gut wall and cause problems.
  • MOS has a surface that is even stickier than the gut wall. When MOS is present, these germs stick to the MOS instead. This process, called blocking harmful germs, prevents the germs from settling in the gut. The germs are then harmlessly carried out of the body, which reduces the need for the bird to waste energy fighting infection.

  1. Targeted Food for Good Bacteria

  • As a special type of carbohydrate, MOS reaches the lower gut and provides targeted food for beneficial bacteria, particularly good bacteria.
  • This feeding process helps the good bacteria produce healthy acids that lower the gut’s acidity. This acidic environment stops harmful germs from growing. This action, combined with blocking harmful germs, enables MOS to replace antibiotics without reducing FCR improvement.

Measurable Impact on Growth and Gut Health

The benefits of MOS are clearly seen in production metrics and the physical health of the bird.

  1. Improving Feed Efficiency (FCR) and Growth

MOS consistently leads to superior performance, often matching or exceeding antibiotic programs.

  • FCR Improvement: Studies confirm MOS significantly improves the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), meaning less feed is needed to produce the same weight gain. This directly leads to a better cost per kilogram of live weight gain.
  • Weight Gain and Feed Intake: MOS-fed birds show better feed intake and daily weight gain, supporting faster growth by helping the body use energy more effectively.

  1. Optimising Nutrient Absorption Area

Better performance starts with better gut structure. MOS improves the gut structure across the small intestine.

  • Nutrient Absorption Area: MOS promotes an optimised Nutrient absorption area. This means the finger-like projections in the gut, which absorb nutrients, are taller and healthier, allowing the bird to pull more energy and protein from the feed.
  • Mucus-Producing Cells: MOS increases the number of Mucus-producing cells. These cells are vital because the mucus they create reinforces the protective layer of the gut, blocking harmful substances from getting through.

MOS as a System Protector and Heat Stress Fighter

Beyond digestion, MOS acts as an Immune system boost, which is crucial for flock stability, especially during challenging weather.

  1. Strengthening the Immune System

MOS strengthens the body’s defence mechanisms. It raises the levels of important antibodies, specifically Key antibodies, which improve the bird’s ability to fight off diseases like NDV.

  1. Advanced Stress Mitigation: Stable Production in Hot Climates

In hot regions, Fighting heat stress is non-negotiable. MOS helps maintain stable production in hot climates.

  • Stress Hormone Control: MOS significantly reduces stress hormone levels, such as corticosterone, which normally skyrocket during heat waves, stabilising the animal’s well-being.
  • Reducing Stress Proteins: The most advanced effect is reducing stress proteins. When birds get too hot, their cells waste massive amounts of energy producing these survival proteins. MOS reduces this waste, effectively sparing energy and redirecting it towards growth, which explains why FCR improves even in high heat.

Optimal Dosage, Economic Analysis, and Complete Solutions

For maximum profit, MOS should be used at the right level and combined with other high-value ingredients.

  1. Maximising Poultry Feed Profitability

The consensus for broilers indicates that using MOS beyond the required quantity does not always yield additional benefits and only adds to the cost. Economic analysis proves MOS is a profitable solution, yielding a better cost per kilogram of live weight gain and achieving higher margins compared to standard diets.

  1. Advanced Integrated Solutions

The protective effect of MOS is amplified when it is integrated into complete nutritional packages.

  • Prebiotic/Probiotic Mix: Combining MOS with beneficial bacteria forms a powerful Prebiotic/Probiotic mix. The MOS ensures the added good bacteria survive and thrive, leading to better nutrient retention and superior egg quality in layers.
  • Fat Digestion Aids: MOS is complemented by added fat digesters (like Ox Bile Extract). This synergy ensures the bird not only has a healthy gut lining (from MOS) but also maximises the digestion and absorption of energy and essential fat-soluble vitamins. This combination leads to faster, more efficient growth.
  • Highly Available Minerals: Combining MOS with highly available minerals (chelated minerals) strengthens the bird’s systemic defences. These high-quality minerals boost immunity and help the MOS block pathogens like Salmonella.
Conclusion

Mannan Oligosaccharides are essential for stable and profitable poultry farming. They provide comprehensive benefits, from physically blocking harmful germs to molecularly supporting stable production in hot climates by reducing stress proteins. The strategic use of MOS, particularly in optimised amounts and with synergistic aids like added fat digesters, is the definitive path to achieving superior FCR improvement and maximising poultry feed profitability in today’s demanding market.

About Titan Biotech Limited

TITAN BIOTECH LTD is a globally recognised manufacturer and exporter of premium raw materials, with its corporate base situated in Delhi, India. We specialise in manufacturing a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality ingredients across essential sectors, including Animal Nutrition, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and the food & beverage industry. Our prominent offerings include protein hydrolysate, collagen peptides, yeast extract, MOS (Mannan Oligosaccharides, bone and joint & skincare components, and our proprietary ox bile extract (Oxibil®), all designed for diverse critical applications.

Final Call to Action

By collaborating with TITAN BIOTECH LTD and its subsidiary companies, you secure a long-term, verifiable ROI solution supported by uncompromising manufacturing quality.
To understand how our MOS product can transform your feed efficiency and profits, we invite you to take the following steps:

Meet Us at the Exhibition: You can locate TITAN BIOTECH LTD at the Poultry India 2025 event:

  • Detail: Information
  • Dates: 26th – 28th November 2025
  • Hall: 4
  • Booth: Z9-Z10
  • Location: HITEX EXHIBITION COMPLEX, HYDERABAD, TELANGANA, INDIA

References

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827142/
  • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320322444_Use_of_Mannan-Oligosaccharides_MOS_As_a_Feed_Additive_in_Poultry_Nutrition
  • https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/world-s-poultry-science-journal/article/abs/use-of-mannan-oligosaccharide-in-broiler-diets-an-overview-of-underlying-mechanisms/11E87A5B63AEC35B3FB97F6A9C92C756