| DAY 1 - Topics - Wednesday 22nd April, 2026 | Speaker | Time |
| Registration | | 8:00 - 8:45 |
| Welcome and Introduction | Filip Van Immerseel (Ghent University, Belgium)
Maarten De Gussem (Vetworks, Belgium) | 9:00 |
| Keynote speaker: Importance of microbial development in the broiler intestine: about metabolites and competitive exclusion | Ivan Rychlik (Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic) | 9:15 |
| Coffee Break | | 10:00 |
| SESSION 1: INTESTINAL MICROBIOME IN POULTRY | CHAIR: IVAN RYCHLIK | |
| Keynote speaker: Modulating respiratory mucosal immunity by manipulating the intestinal microbiome: the gut-lung axis | Rodrigo Guabiraba (INRAE, Nouzilly, France) | 10:45 |
| Data-driven microbiome approaches improve health and productivity in poultry | Mick Watson (DSM-Firmenich, The Netherlands) | 11:30 |
| Early life caecal microbial colonization in broilers evolves in consecutive maturation stages and are accelerated by early feeding | Evy Goossens (Ghent University, Belgium) | 11:45 |
| Microencapsulated Botanical Feed Additive Modulates Cecal Microbiota and Mitigates Dysbiosis in Broiler Chickens During Coccidia Infection | Andrea Bonetti (Vetagro, Italy) | 12:00 |
| Dietary Fiber Modulates Cecal Microbiota Dysbiosis in Broiler Chickens Infected with Campylobacter jejuni | Bereket Dessalegn (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria) | 12:15 |
| Lunch | | 12:30 |
| SESSION 2: PATHOGENESIS AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES | CHAIR: FILIP VAN IMMERSEEL | |
| Keynote speaker: The emergence of Enterococcus cecorum as a cause of bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis: how and why | Arne Jung (Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany) | 14:00 |
| Coccidian 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing suggests new Eimeria species are widespread in European chickens | Damer Blake (Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom) | 14:45 |
| Degree of Acetylation of chito-oligosaccharides Shapes Intestinal Resilience During Coccidiosis in Broilers | Grant Chuan Hao Tan (Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health, Singapore) | 15:00 |
| Vaccination with a live Salmonella Infantis vaccine reduces early colonization of Salmonella Infantis in broilers | Monita Vereecken (Huvepharma, Belgium) | 15:15 |
| Early colonization mechanisms in Clostridium perfringens Type G-induced necrotic enteritis | Evy Goossens (Ghent University, Belgium) | 15:30 |
| Coffee Break | | 15:45 |
| SESSION 3. IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS TO STUDY GUT HEALTH | CHAIR: RICHARD DUCATELLE | |
| Keynote speaker: Chicken intestinal organoids as a tool to study host-bacterium-environment interactions | Lonneke Vervelde (Royal GD Animal Health, The Netherlands) | 16:30 |
| A Gut Organoid Model to Study Host Responses to Salmonella Infection in Poultry | Manuela Pillinger (DSM-Firmenich, Austria) | 17:15 |
| Development and validation of an Enterococcus cecorum infection model in broilers | Emanuele Goes (Trouw Nutrition, Spain) | 17:30 |
| Chicken Three-Dimensional Intestinal Organoids as an In Vitro Model of Environmental Stress and Disease Resilience | Taylor Hanford (University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom) | 17:45 |
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| DAY 2 - Topics - Thursday 23rd April, 2026 | Speaker | Time |
| Keynote speaker: What did we learn about dietary additives to promote gut health in the last 40 years? | Richard Ducatelle (Ghent University, Belgium) | 8:30 |
| 3-minute pitch presentations (SEE TABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE) | | 9:15 |
| Coffee break | | 10:15 |
| SESSION 4: GUT HEALTH MARKERS & DIAGNOSTICS | CHAIR: LONNEKE VERVELDE | |
| Keynote speaker: From Lesion Scoring to Functional Indices of Intestinal Health: A New Paradigm | Luis Romero (BioFractal, Portugal) | 11:00 |
| Assessing intestinal permeability in broilers using a necrotic enteritis model and sugar markers | Ali Kiani (Alimetrics Research Oy, Finland) | 11:45 |
| Evaluating ovotransferrin and calprotectin as minimally invasive biomarkers of Eimeria infections in commercial broilers | Iram Gladan (Utrecht University, The Netherlands) | 12:00 |
| Field-Based Identification of Early-Life Host–Microbiota Biomarkers of Gut Health Risk in Commercial Broilers | Matthias Corion (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium) | 12:15 |
| From Measurement to Meaning: A Statistical Framework for Interpreting Volatile Fatty Acid Data in Commercial Poultry Gut Health Trials | Claire Davis (ABVista, Singapore) | 12:30 |
| Lunch | | 12:45 |
| POSTER SESSION | | 14:00 |
| SESSION 5: INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS | CHAIR: ARNE JUNG | |
| Keynote speaker: On-farm hatching and early feeding and how this contributes to intestinal health | Nadia Everaert (Nutrition and Animal-Microbiota Ecosystems Laboratory, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium) | 14:45 |
| On-farm cleaning and disinfection as valid biosecurity measures to increase gut health and performance in commercial broiler chickens | Giuditta Tilli (Vetworks, Belgium) | 15:15 |
| Early Detection of Subclinical Enteric and Metabolic Dysregulation in Commercial Broiler Production Using an Integrated Machine Learning–Based Animal Management System | Luis Valenzuela (DSM-Firmenich, Austria) | 15:30 |
| Computer vision and sound–based detections of coccidiosis in broiler chickens | Patricia Soster (Ghent University, Belgium) | 15:45 |
| Coccidiosis prevalence study using data generated in Aviapp | Ben Dehaeck (Huvepharma, Belgium) | 16:00 |
| Meta-Analysis of Four Controlled Studies Evaluating the Prophylactic Efficacy of EWN Natural Feed Additives Against Experimental Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens | Madalina Diaconu (University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania) | 16:15 |
| DAY 3 - Topics - Friday 24th April, 2026 | Speaker | Time |
| SESSION 6A. CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH (ROOM A) | CHAIR: NADIA EVERAERT | |
| Different mixtures of short- and medium-chain glycerides can reduce Enterococcus cecorum (EC)-translocation and improve performance of EC-infected birds | Yavuz Erten (Adisseo Yem, Türkiye) | 9:00 |
| Carry‑over levels of nicarbazin, monensin, and salinomycin do not impair oocyst excretion of European broiler coccidiosis vaccines | Monita Vereecken (Huvepharma, Belgium) | 09:15 |
| Ex Vivo characterization of physiological effects of natural tannin extracts on intestinal motility in poultry | Mojca Osredkar Mergole (Silvateam, Italy) | 09:30 |
| Xylanase as a tool to boost early gut function, immunity and growth in broilers | Almudena Huerta (Danisco Animal Nutrition and Health, IFF, The Netherlands) | 9:45 |
| Coffee break | | 10:00 |
| Comparative efficacy of antimicrobial gut health additives in broilers and assessing with microbiome imaging signals | Kowsigaraj Palanisamy (EW Nutrition, Germany) | 10:30 |
| Muramidase improves performance in poultry: a meta-analysis including mode of action and physiological outcomes | Antoine Meuter (Novonesis, The Netherlands) | 10:45 |
| National Assessment of Enteric Lesions and the Efficacy of Multi‑Strain Probiotics–Phytocompound Combination in the Bangladesh Broiler Industry | Md. Emdadul Haque (Kemin Industries South Asia, India) | 11:00 |
| Bacillus-based probiotic supplementation as a control strategy for improving intestinal health and growth efficiency in broilers | Natasja Smeets (Kemin, Belgium) | 11:15 |
| Molecular Characterization of Avian Ortho reovirus Associated with Malabsorption Syndrome and Tenosynovitis in Commercial Broilers in Asia: A Field Case Study | Swati Karki (Poulpharm, Belgium) | 11:30 |
| SESSION 6B. CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH (ROOM B) | CHAIR: FILIP VAN IMMERSEEL | |
| Effects of low crude protein diets supplemented with functional amino acids in broilers challenged with coccidiosis | Emanuele Goes (Trouw Nutrition, Spain) | 9:00 |
| Phytogenic Modulation of Gut Health, Metabolism, and Performance in Broilers Challenged with a High NSP Diet | Jutta Kesselring (DSM-Firmenich, Austria) | 9:15 |
| Use of activated diatoms, pronutrients and phenolic antimicrobial molecules for preventing intestinal challenges in broiler chickens | David Diez (Biovet, Spain) | 9:30 |
| Enhancing Turkey Health and Productivity: The Synergisitic benefits of Bacillus velezensis PB6 and encapsulated calcium butyrate | Eric N´Guetta (Kemin) | 9:45 |
| Coffee break | | 10:00 |
| Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis Dietary Supplementation Enhances Broiler Growth: Gut, Haematological, Histological, and NMR Quality Analysis | Muhammad Nauman Aftab (Government College University Lahore, Pakistan) | 10:30 |
| Early Dietary Supplementation with Metal-Amino Acid Complexes Reduces Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis (BCO) Lameness in Broilers | Raquel Burin (Zinpro, USA) | 10.45 |
| The use of a nutritional approach to support the control of Salmonella in poultry | Raquel Burin (Zinpro, USA) | 11.00 |
| Effects of Aflatoxin-Contaminated Corn on Liver Histology in Broilers | Alireza Khadem (Innovad Group, Belgium) | 11:15 |
| Impact of yeast-derived feed additives on growth performance and immune responses of broilers under necrotic enteritis challenge | Leandro S. Royo (Olmix, Spain) | 11:30 |
| Counteracting Endotoxin Challenges in Broiler Production: In vitro and in vivo validation of an endotoxin reducing feed additive | Valentine Van Hamme (Nutrex, Belgium) | 11:45 |
| SESSION 6C. CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH (ROOM C) | CHAIR: GUNTHER ANTONISSEN | |
| Enhancing nutrients use under diet reformulation: linking gut health and performance through a functional feed additive in broilers | Andrea Bonetti (Vetagro, Italy) | 9:00 |
| Using coccidiosis vaccination to improve performance in broilers under heat stress conditions | Swati Karki (Vetworks) | 9:15 |
| Vitamin D, epithelial integrity, and BCO – an unexpected link | Kathrin Bühler (Herbonis Animal Health, Switzerland) | 9:30 |
| Impact of Poulsil Supplementation on Broiler Health and Performance Under Reovirus Challenge | Maarten De Gussem (Poulpharm, Belgium) | 9:45 |
| Coffee break | | 10:00 |
| Evaluating the impact of an innovative isoacids blend supplemented to the diets of broiler chickens | Cristiano Bortoluzzi (Zinpro Corporation) | 10:30 |
| Effects of probiotic (bacillus sp. pb6) and encapsulated calcium butyrate supplementation on intestinal integrity, egg production and hatchability in aged laying and broiler breeder hens | Ghulam Mustafa (Kemin, Belgium) | 10.45 |
| Effect of a probiotic and an encapsulated calcium butyrate on egg production in older laying hens | Hafiz Muhammad Amar (Chaudhary Feeds Sahiwal, Pakistan) | 11.00 |
| Strategic use of Bacillus-Based Probiotics to Complement Antibiotic Programs for Pathogen Control in Poultry | Hector Leyva-Jimenez (United Animal Health, US) | 11:15 |
| Combining Phytogenic Feed Additives with AI-Based Health Monitoring in Broilers | Rafael Hermes (Phytobiotics, Germany) | 11:30 |
| Resetting Immune Equilibrium through Targeted Modulation | Kimberly Livingston (Optum Immunity, US) | 11:45 |
| SESSION 6D. CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO GUT HEALTH (ROOM D) | CHAIR: MIRIAM ALBERTO-TEMPRA | |
| Evaluation of Butyric Acid Product Release Kinetics in Poultry Using the Dynamic Avian Intestinal in-vitro System (DAISy): A Comparison of Tributyrin and Fat Coated Calcium Butyrate | Lukas Bauer (Evonik, Germany) | 9:00 |
| Modern strategies for gut health in poultry production | Zuzana Machovcová (Addicoo Group, Czech Republic) | 9:15 |
| The use of a phytogenic feed solution in broiler chickens challenged with Eimeria | Manu De Laet (Cargill, US) | 9:30 |
| A blend of phenolic compound, slow release C12, target-release butyrates, MCFAs and organic acids supports broiler chickens during a necrotic enteritis challenge | Sandra van Kuijk (Trouw Nutrition,The Netherlands) | 9:45 |
| Coffee break | | 10:00 |
| A blend of PhytoComplex and target-release butyrates support modern high performing broiler chickens | Sandra van Kuijk (Trouw Nutrition,The Netherlands) | 10:30 |
| Investigation of the effect of three commercial poultry water sanitizers on the performance and gut health parameters of broiler chicks under in field conditions | Tilemachos Mantzios (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece) | 10.45 |
| Positive Effects of a Synergistic Phytoactive and Postbiotic Concept on Intestinal Health and Performance of Broilers Under Controlled Challenge Conditions | Valentine Van Hamme (Nutrex, Belgium) | 11.00 |
| Influence of protease enzyme, organic acid and essential oils individually or in combination on growth, blood biochemistry, humoral immunity, gut pH, ileal micro flora and nutrient digestibility of broiler fed on poultry by product meal | Ziaul Islam (Department of Basic And Applied Zoology Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Pakistan) | 11:15 |
| Closure | | 11:30 |
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