Effect of 2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid and acidifier on the performance, chyme pH, and microbiota of broilers

Abstract

This study was aimed to explore the comparative acidifying properties of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBA) and a combination of DL-methionine (DLM) and acidifier in male broiler production. A total of 480 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatments: A (low HMTBA, 0.057% HMTBA); B (low acidifier, 0.05% DLM + 0.057% acidifier); C (high HMTBA, 0.284% HMTBA); and D (high acidifier, 0.25% DLM + 0.284% acidifier). At 21 d, growth performance, chyme pH, digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microflora were measured. The pH of crop, gizzard, and ileum contents was higher in the HMTBA treatment group than in DLM + acidifier treatment group. Furthermore, acidifier supplementation promoted growth of butyrate-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, whereas high HMTBA (0.284%) inhibited the proliferation of acid-producing bacteria including Roseburia and Collinsella. The chymotrypsin activity was lower in the HMTBA group than in the DLM + acidifier group. In contrast, high-level HMTBA group showed higher average daily gain and average daily feed intake than the DLM + acidifier group. These results suggested that HMTBA work through different pathways with DLM plus acidifier.

Effect of Insect Live Larvae as Environmental Enrichment on Poultry Gut Health: Gut Mucin Composition, Microbiota and Local Immune Response Evaluation

“…Moreover, Collinsella was more abundant in the TM group when compared to the other diets. Collinsella seems to be able to affect host lipid metabolism through altering intestinal cholesterol absorption, decreasing glycogenesis in the liver and increasing triglyceride synthesis [56]. In both the HI and the TM groups an increase in Eubacterium was also detected; the presence of this taxa can exert a beneficial effect on gut mucosa as it may contribute to the hydrolysis of starch and other macromolecules, with the subsequent formation of SCFAs [57].…”

Impact of drinking water supplemented 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid in combination with acidifier on performance, intestinal development, and microflora in broilers

“…As a one of important methionine sources, 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid ( HMTBa ) is characterized by efficient absorption along the entire gastrointestinal tract of birds ( Richards et al., 2005 ; Zou et al., 2015 ), and exhibited key functions in poultry, including protein synthesis, innate immune system regulation, oxidative stress defense, and modulating gut microflora ( Wang et al., 2019 ; Rasch et al., 2020 ; Wu et al., 2020 ). More important, HMTBa also shows excellent antibacterial effects ( Geraert et al., 2005 ) and the better performance than DL -methionine ( Wang et al., 2019 ).…”

“…More important, HMTBa also shows excellent antibacterial effects ( Geraert et al., 2005 ) and the better performance than DL -methionine ( Wang et al., 2019 ). This could be at least partly explained by the function of HMTBa as organic acid, in which an amine group is replaced by a hydroxyl group in the molecular structure of HMTBa ( Wu et al., 2020 ). Dietary supplemental HMTBa has been shown to decreased the pH in the feed ( Krutthai et al., 2015 ), which might be important in enhancing the protease activity, increasing protein hydrolysates, and stimulating protease secretion ( O'Donnell et al., 2001 ).…”

“…Furthermore, supplemental methionine via feed and drinking water has been shown to improve antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory response, growth performance, and wellbeing of broilers ( Chen et al., 2013 ; Liu et al., 2019 ). Diet with a combination of DL -methionine and acidifier in broiler was noticed to decrease chyme pH, enhance digestive enzyme activities, and promoted growth of butyrate-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium ( Wu et al., 2020 ), implying that the HMTBa or blend of HMTBa and other organic acids may exhibit synergetic role in antibacterial effects and growth performance of broilers. However, limited information is available for broilers.…”

Potential Effects of Acidifier and Amylase as Substitutes for Antibiotic on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestion and Gut Microbiota in Yellow-Feathered Broilers

“…Acidifiers, including organic acids such as formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, fumaric, citric and benzoic [ 4 ], lower the pH of feed and can protect against microbial contamination and spoilage [ 5 , 6 ]. They can also increase performance [ 7 , 8 ], improve structure of the gut microbiota [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], promote indices of nutrient digestibility [ 4 , 8 ] and regulate immune function [ 4 ] of broilers. Benzoic acid (BA) is superior to other acids as it has the beneficial effect of reducing coliforms in both the stomach and small intestine, as well as reducing Salmonella Typhimurium [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”