Caeca Microbial Variation in Broiler Chickens as a Result of Dietary Combinations Using Two Cereal Types, Supplementation of Crude Protein and Sodium Butyrate

Abstract

The intestinal microbiome can influence the efficiency and the health status of its host’s digestive system. Indigestible non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) serve as substrates for bacterial fermentation, resulting in short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. In broiler’s nutrition, dietary crude protein (CP) and butyrate’s presence is of particular interest for its impact on intestinal health and growth performance. In this study, we evaluated the effect on the microbial ecology of the ceca of dietary supplementations, varying the cereal type (maize and wheat), adequate levels of CP and supplementation of sodium butyrate on broiler chickens with 21 days. The overall structure of bacterial communities was statistically affected by cereal type, CP, and sodium butyrate (p = 0.001). Wheat in the diet promoted the presence of Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and Bacteroides xylanisolvens, which can degrade complex carbohydrates. Maize positively affected the abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus. The addition of CP promoted the family Rikenellaceae, while sodium butyrate as feed supplement was positively related to the family Lachnospiraceae. Functional predictions showed an effect of the cereal type and a statistical significance across all supplementations and their corresponding interactions. The composition of diets affected the overall structure of broilers’ intestinal microbiota. The source of NSP as a substrate for bacterial fermentation had a stronger stimulus on bacterial communities than CP content or supplementation of butyrate.

Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal Modulates Intestinal Morphology and Microbiota in Xuefeng Black-Bone Chickens

“…This was consistent with many previous studies suggesting that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes made up the majority of the microbial communities in chickens (accounting for >80%) at the phylum level, and these bacteria affected energy production and metabolism ( Shang et al, 2018 ; Herrero-Encinas et al, 2020 ). Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the common colonizers of the chicken intestinal, which were considered to be potentially beneficial autochthonous bacteria ( Borda-Molina et al, 2020 ). Cui et al (2021) found that these two kinds of a dominant phylum of the gut community played an important role in improving intestinal diseases, inhibiting the proliferation of harmful intestinal bacteria, and producing short-chain fatty acids, which reduced luminal pH and regulated the microbial composition (stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium ) ( Dong et al, 2017 ; Ratajczak et al, 2019 ).…”

Effects of drinking water supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri, and a mixture of reuterin and microcin J25 on the growth performance, caecal microbiota and selected metabolites of broiler chickens

“…The responses obtained in association with these families confirm the impact of the intestinal microbiota on feed digestion and assimilation. Species of the family Bacteroidaceae have a large genome, which favors their adaptation to different environmental factors [ 17 ]. In our study, this family was affected by 10RJ and bacitracin, indicating their responsiveness to gut environmental conditions.…”

“…An important section in the gastrointestinal tract is the cecum, in which most fermentation occurs, with a strong influence on intestinal health and animal nutrition. Intestinal fermentation products such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) represent an essential contribution of cecal microorganisms to host metabolism and have positive effects on gut health [ 17 ]. The activities of Ruminococcus, Streptococcus, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus and Clostridium clusters IV, XIVa and XIVb increase host assimilation of complex substrates by converting them partly to SCFA including butyrate [ 17 ].…”

“…Intestinal fermentation products such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) represent an essential contribution of cecal microorganisms to host metabolism and have positive effects on gut health [ 17 ]. The activities of Ruminococcus, Streptococcus, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus and Clostridium clusters IV, XIVa and XIVb increase host assimilation of complex substrates by converting them partly to SCFA including butyrate [ 17 ]. Metabolomics is essentially the comprehensive characterization of the metabolites of the biosystem.…”

The Impact of Hydrated Aluminosilicates Supplemented in Litter and Feed on Chicken Growth, Muscle Traits and Gene Expression in the Intestinal Mucosa

“…It is therefore of great metabolic importance. Microbiota of this part of intestine shows metabolic activity ensured by intestinal bacteria (including Ruminococcus , Streptococcus , Faecalibacterium , Lactobacillus , and Clostridium ), which support fermentation processes and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (e.g., butyrate) [ 44 ]. Chickens have paired cecals, which are habitat for similar bacterial communities.…”