Broiler Chickens Fed Chromium Propionate Supplemented Diets in a Tropical Environment: Serum Biochemical and Intestinal Morphology

We evaluated the influence of enzymatic supplementation on the growth performance and cecal microbiota of broilers. A total of 2160 1-day-old male chicks were used in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (three corn hybrids, two drying temperatures −80 and 110 °C, with or without the inclusion of an enzymatic blend (amylase, xylanase, and protease) (20 birds/pen, n = 9). For all performance and digestibility parameters, we observed, in general, isolated effects of the corn hybrids and drying temperature. Birds that received the enzymatic blend in the diet showed better weight gain from 1 to 21 days (d) and better digestibility coefficients of nutrients at 42 d. Birds fed diets with corn dried at 80 °C showed a better feed conversion ratio from 1 to 42 d. At 21 d of age, enzymatic supplementation had positive effects on jejunum morphology. Enzyme supplementation increased the abundance of the phylum Tenericutes, class Bacilli and Mollicutes, reduced Clostridia, and increased the abundances of the families Lactobacillaceae, Anaeroplasmataceae, and O_RF39;F. In conclusion, the addition of amylase, xylanase, and protease led to a better nutrient digestibility, performance, and intestinal morphology. In addition, enzyme supplementation changed the diversity, composition, and predicted function of the cecal microbiota at d 21.

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Effects of Clostridium butyricum- and Bacillus spp.-Based Potential Probiotics on the Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, Immune Responses, and Caecal Microbiota in Broilers

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10060624 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 624

Author(s):

Xinfu Zeng ◽

Qing Li ◽

Caimei Yang ◽

Yang Yu ◽

Zixian Fu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Clostridium Butyricum ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Body Weights ◽

Bacillus Spp

We aimed to investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum-, Bacillus subtilis-, and Bacillus licheniformis-based potential probiotics on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, immune responses, and caecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial structure in broiler chickens. Three treatment groups containing a total of 1200 one-day-old AA broilers were included: birds fed with a basal diet only (Con), birds fed with added 1010 probiotics cfu/kg (ProL), and birds fed with added 1011 probiotics cfu/kg (ProH). The dietary probiotics significantly improved the final and average body weights and serum immunoglobulins A, M, and Y. The probiotics also enhanced the ileal morphology and improved the caecal acetate, butyrate, and propionate contents. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary compound probiotics modulated the caecal microflora composition as follows: (1) all birds shared 2794 observed taxonomic units; (2) treatment groups were well separated in the PCA and PCoA analysis; (3) the relative abundance of Parabacteroides, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Barnesiella, Odoribacter, [Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group], [Ruminococcus]_torques_group, and Butyricimonas significantly varied between treatments. The compound probiotics improved the growth performance, serum immune responses, the ratio of ileal villus height to crypt depth, and major caecal SCFAs in broiler chickens. The dietary C. butyricum-, B. subtilis-, and B. licheniformis-based probiotics improved overall broiler health and would benefit the poultry industry.

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