scholarly journals Dietaryl-threonine supplementation attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of broiler chickens at an early age

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (11) ◽  
pp. 1254-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueping Chen ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Yefei Cheng ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
Chao Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Lps Challenge ◽  
Cell Counts

AbstractThis study was conducted to investigate the protective effects ofl-threonine (l-Thr) supplementation on growth performance, inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier function of young broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 144 1-d-old male chicks were allocated to one of three treatments: non-challenged broilers fed a basal diet (control group), LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet withoutl-Thr supplementation and LPS-challenged broilers fed a basal diet supplemented with 3·0 g/kgl-Thr. LPS challenge was performed intraperitoneally at 17, 19 and 21 d of age, whereas the control group received physiological saline injection. Compared with the control group, LPS challenge impaired growth performance of broilers, andl-Thr administration reversed LPS-induced increase in feed/gain ratio. LPS challenge elevated blood cell counts related to inflammation, and pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in serum (IL-1βand TNF-α), spleen (IL-1βand TNF-α) and intestinal mucosa (jejunal interferon-γ(IFN-γ) and ileal IL-1β). The concentrations of intestinal cytokines in LPS-challenged broilers were reduced byl-Thr supplementation. LPS administration increased circulatingd-lactic acid concentration, whereas it reduced villus height, the ratio between villus height and crypt depth and goblet density in both jejunum and ileum. LPS-induced decreases in jejunal villus height, intestinal villus height:crypt depth ratio and ileal goblet cell density were reversed withl-Thr supplementation. Similarly, LPS-induced alterations in the intestinal mRNA abundances of genes related to intestinal inflammation and barrier function (jejunal toll-like receptor 4,IFN-γand claudin-3, and ilealIL-1βand zonula occludens-1) were normalised withl-Thr administration. It can be concluded thatl-Thr supplementation could attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory responses and intestinal barrier damage of young broilers.

scholarly journals Bacteriophage as an Alternative to Antibiotics Promotes Growth Performance by Regulating Intestinal Inflammation, Intestinal Barrier Function and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongdi Zeng ◽  
Zirui Wang ◽  
Tiande Zou ◽  
Jun Chen ◽  
Guanhong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Weaned Piglets

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary bacteriophage supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, and intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets fed antibiotic-free diet. A total of 120 weaned piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments with five pens/treatment and six piglets/pen in a 21-d feeding trial. The control diet was supplemented with 25 mg/kg quinocetone and 11.25 mg/kg aureomycin in the basal diet, while the three treatment diets were supplemented with 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg bacteriophage in the basal diet, respectively. There was no difference for growth performance and all measured indices of serum and intestinal tissues between 200 mg/kg bacteriophage group and the control group with antibiotics (P > 0.05). More importantly, compared with the control diet, dietary 400 mg/kg bacteriophage inclusion increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake, and decreased feed/gain ratio and diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets (P < 0.05). Also, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had elevated villi height (VH) in jejunum and ileum, reduced crypt depth (CD) in jejunum and ileum, and elevated VH/CD ratio in duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, piglets fed 400 mg/kg bacteriophage had lower interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and higher interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration in serum, and higher secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), and tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) content in the ileal mucosa (P < 0.05). Besides, dietary addition with 400 mg/kg bacteriophage decreased the D-lactate concentration and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum, and increased the relative mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9, as well as the relative protein expression of Occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). However, the growth performance and all analyzed parameters in serum and intestinal tissues were not further improved when piglets fed 600 vs. 400 mg/kg bacteriophage (P > 0.05). MiSeq sequencing analysis showed that bacteriophage regulated the microbial composition in caecum digesta, as indicated by higher observed_species, Chao1, and ACE richness indices, as well as changes in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Tenericutes (P < 0.05). Collectively, 400 mg/kg bacteriophage can be used as an antibiotics alternative for promoting the growth of weaned piglets. The underlying mechanism is associated with a positive effect of bacteriophage on intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

scholarly journals BAFF Blockade Attenuates Inflammatory Responses and Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in a Murine Endotoxemia Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runze Quan ◽  
Chaoyue Chen ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Xi Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Barrier Dysfunction ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Lps Challenge ◽  
Endotoxemia Model

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) production is increased in septic patients. However, the specific role of BAFF in sepsis remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the expression and function of BAFF in an experimental endotoxemia model and to identify the potential mechanisms. We established an endotoxemia mouse (6–8 weeks, 20–22 g) model by administering 30 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). BAFF levels in the circulating system and organ tissues were measured 4 and 8 h after LPS injection. Survival rates in the endotoxemia mice were monitored for 72 h after BAFF blockade. The effects of BAFF blockade on systemic and local inflammation, organ injuries, and intestinal barrier function were also evaluated 4 h after LPS treatment. BAFF production was systemically and locally elevated after LPS challenge. BAFF blockade improved the survival rate, systemic inflammation, and multi-organ injuries. Moreover, BAFF blockade attenuated both intestinal inflammation and impaired intestinal permeability. BAFF blockade upregulated ZO-1 and occludin protein levels via the NF-κB/MLCK/MLC signaling pathway. These results suggested that BAFF blockade protects against lethal endotoxemia at least partially by alleviating inflammation, multi-organ injuries, and improving intestinal barrier function and provides a novel focus for further research on sepsis and experimental evidence for clinical therapy.

scholarly journals Macleaya cordataExtract Decreased Diarrhea Score and Enhanced Intestinal Barrier Function in Growing Piglets

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Guiping Guan ◽  
Jun Fang ◽  
Yordan Martínez ◽  
Shuai Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Barrier Function ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Supplement Group ◽  
Macleaya Cordata

Macleaya cordataextract is of great scientific and practical interest to researchers, due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory responses within experimental animals. This study was designed to determine the diarrhea score and innate immunity of growing piglets after they had receivedMacleaya cordataextract supplements. A total of 240 growing pigs were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments, with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 piglets per replicate. All pigs received a basal diet containing similar amounts of nutrients. The three treatments were a control (no additive), an antibiotic (200 mg/kg colistin), and theMacleaya cordataextract supplement group (40 mg/kgMacleaya cordataextract). The diarrhea score was calculated after D 28. The jejunal samples were obtained from five piglets selected randomly from each treatment on D 28. In comparison with the control group, the dietaryMacleaya cordataextract and colistin group demonstrated a substantially decreased diarrhea score. The introduction ofMacleaya cordataextract supplements to the diet significantly increased volumes of ZO-1 and claudin-1, particularly in comparison with the pigs in the control group (P<0.05). The findings indicate thatMacleaya cordataextract does enhance intestinal barrier function in growing piglets and that it could be used as a viable substitute for antibiotics.

scholarly journals Dietary Chitooligosaccharide Inclusion as an Alternative to Antibiotics Improves Intestinal Morphology, Barrier Function, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immunity of Broilers at Early Age

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Yefei Cheng ◽  
Yueping Chen ◽  
Hengman Qu ◽  
Yurui Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Antibiotic Group

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitooligosaccharide (COS) inclusion as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers. In total, 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned into 3 groups and fed a basal diet free from antibiotics (control group) or the same basal diet further supplemented with either chlortetracycline (antibiotic group) or COS, for 21 days. Compared with the control group, inclusion of COS reduced the feed to gain ratio, the jejunal crypt depth, the plasma diamine oxidase activity, and the endotoxin concentration, as well as jejunal and ileal malondialdehyde contents, whereas increased duodenal villus height, duodenal and jejunal ratio of villus height to crypt depth, intestinal immunoglobulin G, and jejunal immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents were observed, with the values of these parameters being similar or better to that of the antibiotic group. Additionally, supplementation with COS enhanced the superoxide dismutase activity and IgM content of the duodenum and up-regulated the mRNA level of claudin three in the jejunum and ileum, when compared with the control and antibiotic groups. In conclusion, dietary COS inclusion (30 mg/kg), as an alternative to antibiotics, exerts beneficial effects on growth performance, intestinal morphology, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and immunity in broilers.

scholarly journals Effects of Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Leaf Extract on Growth Performance and Metabolomics in Weaned Piglets Challenged by Escherichia Coli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dingfa Wang ◽  
Luli Zhou ◽  
Hanlin Zhou ◽  
Guanyu Hou
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antioxidant Ability ◽  
Weaned Piglets ◽  
Diarrhea Incidence

Abstract Background: The effects of dietary supplementation with guava leaf extracts (GE) on growth performance, diarrhea and intestinal barrier function, as well as associated with its modulation of serum and fecal metabolic changes in weaned piglets challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) were investigated.Method: Fifty weaned piglets (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace) from 5 pens (2 piglets per pen) were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group (BC), negative control group (NC), or those supplemented with 50 mg kg-1 (S50), 100 mg kg-1 (S100), or 200 (S200) mg kg-1 diet GE, respectively. On day 4, all piglets (except for BC) were orally challenged with about 1.0 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU) enterotoxigenic ETEC. After 28-day trial, growth performance, diarrhea incidence, intestinal barrier function and metabolomics of serum and fecal were investigated.Results: We demonstrated that dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) reduced diarrhea incidence of piglets and increased expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) (P < 0.05) and sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary supplementation with GE (50-200 mg kg-1) upregulated level of tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) and reversed higher level of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) caused by ETEC in serum compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets. In addition, dietary addition with GE (100 mg kg-1) reversed the lower level of L-pipecolic acid caused by ETEC in feces compared with NC group (P < 0.05), and decreased oxidative stress response of piglets. Further, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in the final weight, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and F/G among dietary groups during the overall period, and piglets in S50 group has the higher average daily gain (ADG). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with 50-200 mg kg-1 GE reduced diarrhea incidence of weaned piglets challenged by ETEC and exhibited positive effect on improving intestinal barrier function. Meanwhile, dietary addition with GE organized and redistributed energy resources through similar or dissimilar metabolic pathways, and finally enhanced antioxidant ability of piglets challenged by ETEC.

scholarly journals Dietary Enteromorpha Polysaccharide Enhances Intestinal Immune Response, Integrity, and Caecal Microbial Activity of Broiler Chickens

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teketay Wassie ◽  
Zhuang Lu ◽  
Xinyi Duan ◽  
Chunyan Xie ◽  
Kefyalew Gebeyew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Marine Algae ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Crypt Depth ◽  
Caecal Microbiota

Marine algae polysaccharides have been shown to regulate various biological activities, such as immune modulation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic. However, litter is known about the interaction of these polysaccharides with the gut microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of marine algae Enteromorpha (Ulva) prolifera polysaccharide (EP) supplementation on growth performance, immune response, and caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 200 1-day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into two treatment groups with ten replications of ten chickens in each replication. The dietary treatments consisted of the control group (fed basal diet), and EP group (received diet supplemented with 400 mg EP/kg diet). Results showed that chickens fed EP exhibited significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) body weight and average daily gain than the chicken-fed basal diet. In addition, significantly longer villus height, shorter crypt depth, and higher villus height to crypt depth ratio were observed in the jejunal and ileal tissues of chickens fed EP. EP supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of NF-κB, TLR4, MyD88, IL-2, IFN-α, and IL-1β in the ileal and jejunal tissues (P &lt; 0.05). Besides, we observed significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) short-chain volatile fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in the caecal contents of the EP group than in the control group. Furthermore, 16S-rRNA analysis revealed that EP supplementation altered gut microbiota and caused an abundance shift at the phylum and genus level in broiler chicken. Interestingly, we observed an association between microbiota and SCFAs production. Overall, this study demonstrated that supplementation of diet with EP promotes growth performance, improves intestinal immune response and integrity, and modulates the caecal microbiota of broiler chickens. This study highlighted the application of marine algae polysaccharides as an antibiotic alternative for chickens. Furthermore, it provides insight to develop marine algae polysaccharide-based functional food and therapeutic agent.

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Taurine Supplementation to Gilts during Late Gestation and Lactation on Offspring Growth and Oxidative Stress

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengmeng Xu ◽  
Long Che ◽  
Kaiguo Gao ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Xuefen Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Birth is one of the most important events of animal production agriculture, as newborns are abruptly forced to adapt to environmental and nutritional disruptions that can lead to oxidative damage and delay in growth. Taurine (Tau) is an important regulator of oxidative stress and possesses growth-enhancing properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dietary Tau supplementation in gilts during late gestation and lactation on the growth performance of piglets by assessing intestinal morphology and barrier function, and oxidative stress status. Sixteen gilts were randomly allocated to the Con (basal diet) and Tau (basal diet with 1% Tau) groups from 75 d of gestation to weaning. Maternal dietary Tau supplementation significantly increased weaning weight and average daily gain weight in piglets. Piglets in the Tau group had higher villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR), ZO-1 protein expression, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content in the jejunum. Meanwhile, Tau bebeficial affected the milk quality of gilts, as indicated by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity. Furthermore, Tau supplementation increased T-SOD activity in plasma and SOD2 protein expression in the jejunum in the piglets. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that dietary Tau supplementation to gilts improves growth performance in piglets, owing to improved intestinal morphology and barrier function, as well as inhibition of oxidative stress.

scholarly journals Administration of Saccharomyces boulardii mafic-1701 improves growth performance, promotes antioxidant capacity, alleviates intestinal inflammation and modulates gut microbiota in weaned piglets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxiu Zhang ◽  
Chengling Bao ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jianjun Zang ◽  
Yunhe Cao
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Saccharomyces Boulardii ◽  
Interleukin 4 ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Weaned Piglets

Abstract Background: Probiotics seem to be an alternative to antibiotics for improving animal's health and intestinal development. Saccharomyces boulardii ( S. boulardii ) is a well-known probiotic. However, only few studies have been performed examining the effects of S. boulardii on weaned piglets . Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary S. boulardii mafic-1701 on growth performance, antioxidant parameters, inflammation and intestinal microbiota in weaned piglets, using aureomycin as positive control. One hundred and eight piglets were randomly divided into three dietary treatment groups: (1) basal diet (CON); (2) basal diet supplemented with 75 mg/kg aureomycin (ANT); (3) basal diet supplemented with 1 × 10 8 CFU/kg S. boulardii mafic-1701 (SB). Results: Compared to CON, the supplementation with S. boulardii mafic-1701 improved feed efficiency over the entire 28 days ( P < 0.01) and decreased the rate of diarrhea during the first week ( P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase concentration was markedly increased in piglets with S. boulardii mafic-1701 ( P < 0.01). Moreover, compared with CON, SB increased the concentration of interleukin-4 in ileum ( P < 0.05), while the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 ( P < 0.01) and tumor necrosis factor ( P < 0.01) were decreased in jejunum. SB increased the abundance of Bacillus and Ruminococcaceae ( P < 0.05), whereas the population of Clostridiaceae were decreased ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, the analysis of microbiota metabolites showed that S. boulardii mafic-1701 administration increased the concentration of formate and isobutyrate in cecum to maintain a stable microbiota and gut health ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that S. boulardii mafic-1701 supplementation could improve growth performance, alleviate the severity of diarrhea in weaned piglets, which may be associated with S. boulardii mafic-1701 promoted antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory responses and microbi al ecology of piglets.

scholarly journals Dietary seaweed-derived polysaccharides improve growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining intestinal barrier function and modulating gut microbial populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiande Zou ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
Xiaobo Guo ◽  
Qin He ◽  
Zirui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Barrier Function ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Intestinal Health ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
G Ratio

Abstract Background: Seaweed-derived polysaccharides (SDP) represent an attractive source of prebiotic nutraceuticals for the food and animal husbandry industry. However, the mechanism by which SDP from Enteromorpha mediates pig growth are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate how SDP supplementation influences the growth performance and intestinal health in weaned pigs.Results: In Exp. 1, 240 weaned pigs were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet or a basal diet containing 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP, respectively, in a 21-d trial. Pigs on the 400 or 800 mg/kg SDP-supplemented group had greater ADG and lower F/G ratio than those on the control group (P＜0.05). In Exp. 2, 20 male weaned pigs were randomly assigned to two treatments and fed with a basal diet (CON group) or a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg SDP (the optimum does from Exp. 1), in a 21-d trial. Pigs fed the SDP diet had greater ADG, the concentrations of serum IL-6 and TNF-α and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase (P＜0.05), and lower F/G, diarrhea rate, as well as serum D-lactate concentrations and diamine oxidase activity (P＜0.05). Moreover, dietary SDP supplementation enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A content, villus height and villous height: crypt depth ratio in small intestine, as well as the lactase and maltase activities in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). SDP supplementation elevated the mRNA levels of inflammatory response-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, TLR4, TLR6 and MyD88), and the mRNA and protein levels of ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin in jejunum mucosa (P＜0.05). Importantly, SDP not only increased the Lactobacillus population but also reduced the Escherichia coli population in cecum (P＜0.05). Furthermore, SDP increased acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations in cecum (P＜0.05).Conclusions: These results not only suggest a beneficial effect of SDP on growth performance and intestinal barrier functions, but also offer potential mechanisms behind SDP-facilitated intestinal health in weaned pigs.

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Betaine on Growth Performance, Digestive Function, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality in Indigenous Yellow-Feathered Broilers under Long-Term Heat Stress

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu ◽  
Yuan ◽  
Sun ◽  
Balasubramanian ◽  
Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trypsin Activity ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Betaine Supplementation

Heat stress has a profound effect on poultry health and productivity. The present study evaluated whether feeding betaine could ameliorate long-term heat stress-induced impairment of productive performance in indigenous yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 five-week-old male broilers were randomly allocated to five treatments with six replicates of eight broilers each. The five treatments included a thermoneutral zone control group (TN, fed basal diet), a heat stress control group (HS, fed basal diet), and an HS control group supplemented 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg betaine, respectively. The TN group was raised at 26 ± 1 °C during the whole study, HS groups exposed to 32 ± 1 °C for 8 h/day from 9:00 am to 17:00 pm. The results showed that heat stress decreased the body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake of broilers during 1–5, 6–10, and 1–10 weeks (p < 0.05). Dietary betaine tended to improve the BWG and feed intake of broilers under 5 weeks of heat stress (linear, p < 0.10), and betaine supplementation linearly increased the BWG and feed intake during 6–10 and 1–10 weeks (p < 0.05). Additionally, nitrogen retention was reduced by 5 weeks and 10 weeks of heat stress (p < 0.05), whereas dietary betaine could improve nitrogen retention in heat stressed broilers after both 5 and 10 weeks of heat stress (linear, p < 0.05). Moreover, this study observed that the trypsin activity of jejunum was decreased by 5 weeks of heat stress (p < 0.05), whereas betaine supplementation had quadratic effects on trypsin activity of jejunum in heat stressed broilers (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 10 weeks of heat stress induced a reduction of villus height of the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05), and decreased the villus height to crypt depth ratio of the jejunum (p < 0.05). Supplementation with betaine ameliorated the adverse effects of heat stress on these parameters (p < 0.05). Compared with the TN group, 10 weeks of heat stress reduced carcass and breast yield (p < 0.05) and betaine supplementation improved carcass and breast yield of heat stressed broilers (linear, p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of betaine could reduce the detrimental effects of long-term heat stress on growth performance, digestive function, and carcass traits in indigenous yellow-feathered broilers.

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