Dr. Morgan Thayer, monogastric additive technical support with Land O'Lakes joins Feed Strategy Chat to discuss Fortiva® Remify™, a phytogenic feed additive designed to support gut health in broiler production. Thayer explains how Remify™ targets a host-mediated, anti-inflammatory response using a blend of whole plant compounds rather than a single isolated extract, and shares performance data from cage trials, floor pen studies and an Eimeria challenge showing improvements in mortality-adjusted feed conversion and weight gain. She also discusses how these gains translate into economic benefits for broiler operations, where feed remains the largest input cost.
Interview with Dr. Morgan Thayer, monogastric additive technical support, Land O’Lakes
Jackie Roembke, editor-in-chief of WATT Feed Brands and Feed Strategy: Hi everyone, welcome to Feed Strategy Chat. I'm your host, Jackie Roembke, editor-in-chief of WATT’s Feed Brands and Feed Strategy.
Fortiva is advancing the future of animal nutrition through science-backed, non-medicated feed additives that help livestock perform at their full potential. Serving large integrators, producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, feed manufacturers, cooperatives, and dealers across the United States, Fortiva develops functional ingredients that work with an animal's natural physiology to support health, performance, and production challenges.
Built on expertise in gut health, microbiome management, phytogenics, rumen modulation, and other specialty nutrition technologies, Fortiva delivers practical solutions that help support customers with productivity, efficiency, and profitability across poultry, swine, dairy, and beef production systems.
For more information, visit www.fortivaimpact.com.
Today we’re joined by Dr. Morgan Thayer, monogastric additive technical support with Land O’Lakes. She's here to talk about how Fortiva's Remify™ phytogenic feed additive improves gut health, feed conversion, and weight gain in broiler production. Hi Dr. Thayer, how are you today?
Dr. Morgan Thayer, monogastric additive technical support, Land O’Lakes: I’m doing well. Thanks for having me.
Roembke: Thanks for being here. Well, let’s get right into it. Please describe what makes the phytogenic solution Fortiva® Remify™ different from other feed additives currently available to broiler operations.
Thayer: Remify™ is truly a next generation phytogenic. And what do I mean by that? Historically, some phytogenics have been targeting pathogen inhibition solely. And with Remify™, the R&D team at Fortiva® did a great job of screening plants that have compounds in them that target a receptor within the bird for an anti-inflammatory response. So that's what I mean by next generation is just rethinking that host-mediated response that we're targeting.
And then also, Remify™ uses whole plant parts rather than a single isolated extract. So you're really using a complex blend of naturally occurring bioactive compounds that make up the Remify™ solution.
Roembke: Why is supporting inflammation important in modern broiler production?
Thayer: Yeah, good question. Gut health and gut inflammation specifically are key when producers are looking to maximize their production performance. And we know that inflammation is natural, right? But we also know that excessive or prolonged inflammation also can negatively impact performance. If we have more energy going toward gut repair, or more energy going toward that immune response, that means less energy is going toward growth of the bird. And so, reducing that unnecessary inflammation can improve nutrient utilization and production efficiency.
Roembke: What performance benefits have you observed with this feed additive?
Thayer: We've done quite a few studies with Remify™. The first three studies were kind of a preliminary set of studies, if you will, that were cage trials. And each of those studies showed improvements mortality-adjusted feed conversion going in the right direction numerically.
We did then four floor pin studies together in a pooled in ova analysis that showed from Day 0 to Day 42, again, an improvement in mortality adjusted feed conversion by three points in healthy birds.
And then finally, we did a study with a mixed Eimeria challenge where those birds fed Remify™ had a statistically improved weight gain as well.
Roembke: How does improved feed conversion and weight gain impact a broiler operation?
Thayer: I think many of us know that feed is the largest input cost in broiler production today, right? If we can decrease the amount of feed that that bird consumes to gain the same amount of body weight, then we're saving that farmer money, with improved weight gain and improved feed utilization and feed conversion can have meaningful economic benefits to the broiler operation.
Roembke: Great. Now, where can production managers or nutritionists go to find more information about the solution?
Thayer: Yeah, if you're interested in learning more about ways that feed additives like Remify™ can support commercial broiler operations, you can visit FortivaImpact.com.
Roembke: Excellent. Well, thank you so much for your time today, and we look forward to learning more about this product.
Thayer: Yep, thanks for having me.
References
Metz, M., Erb, L., Mishra, P., Crowder, S., Thayer, M., and Davis, E. 2026. Effect of feeding a novel phytogenic feed additive on growth performance of broilers: a pooled ANOVA analysis. Proc. Int. Poult. Sci. For. (Abstr. T183).
Metz, M., Davis, E., Mishra, P., & Crowder, S. 2025. Effect of feeding a novel phytogenic feed additive on growth performance and clinical outcomes of broilers administered a mixed Eimeria spp. challenge [Poster presentation]. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting (Abstr. 504P).