Effect of Chestnut Tannins and Short Chain Fatty Acids as Anti-Microbials and as Feeding Supplements in Broilers Rearing and Meat Quality

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe poultry industry needs to replace antibiotics with natural or synthetic compounds able to overcome problems linked to the development of bacterial resistance. Tannins and short chain fatty acids are valid alternatives to contrast the growth of pathogens. However, tannins may induce detrimental effects on animal performances, especially in monogastrics, causing damage on gut villi. In contrast, short chain fatty acids are very efficient in influencing positively the morphology of small intestine wall. Hence, the aim of this trial was to develop a feeding strategy for broiler rearing, based on the use of chestnut tannins and short chain fatty acids administered as blends. No differences in animal performances or in meat quality were found among feeding groups. The results suggested that the mix of these supplements did not have negative effects on the productive performances, representing a promising alternative to antibiotics. However, further investigation is needed to better understand the effects of these supplements on animals in stress conditions.AbstractChestnut tannins (CT) and saturated short medium chain fatty acids (SMCFA) are valid alternatives to contrast the growth of pathogens in poultry rearing, representing a valid alternative to antibiotics. However, the effect of their blends has never been tested. Two blends of CT extract and Sn1-monoglycerides of SMCFA (SN1) were tested in vitro against the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella typhymurium, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni. The tested concentrations were: 3.0 g/kg of CT; 3.0 g/kg of SN1; 2.0 g/kg of CT and 1.0 g/kg of SN1; 1.0 g/kg of CT and 2.0 g/kg of SN1. Furthermore, their effect on broiler performances and meat quality was evaluated in vivo: one-hundred Ross 308 male birds were fed a basal diet with no supplement (control group) or supplemented with CT or SN1 or their blends at the same concentration used in the in vitro trial. The in vitro assay confirmed the effectiveness of the CT and SN1 mixtures in reducing the growth of the tested bacteria while the in vivo trial showed that broiler performances, animal welfare and meat quality were not negatively affected by the blends, which could be a promising alternative in replacing antibiotics in poultry production.

Tannins and gut health in broilers: Effects of a blend of chestnut and quebracho tannins on gut health and performance of broiler chickens

“…Among described alternatives, phytochemicals and tannins in particular, are probably some of the most promising candidates since many studies assessed animal responses to the dietary inclusion of these compounds [7, 27,28] and some of the reported biological activities are similar to those proposed for AGPs [5,6]. Although the beneficial effects of phytochemicals as feed additives in poultry have been previously described [8, [29][30][31], and different tannin-based products have been used in commercial operations for many years now [5,14], descriptions on their application as main component of an AGP free . CC-BY 4.0 International license available under a was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.…”

“…Among described alternatives, phytochemicals and tannins in particular, are probably some of the most promising candidates since many studies assessed animal responses to the dietary inclusion of these compounds [7,27,28] and some of the reported biological activities are similar to those proposed for AGPs [5,6]. Although the beneficial effects of phytochemicals as feed additives in poultry have been previously described [8,[29][30][31], and different tannin-based products have been used in commercial operations for many years now [5,14], descriptions on their application as main component of an AGP free program under commercial conditions are scarce [6]. In the present study, results from two different field trials show that dietary addition of a blend of chestnut and quebracho tannins at 0.1% (w/w) represents a promising alternative for AGPs, since broiler chickens raised under commercial conditions achieve similar productive results either in AGP or tannins-based programs.…”

“…In the past, tannins have been considered harmful to monogastric animals due to their negative effect on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention and productive qualities [32,33], but current research has led to an understanding of the chemical and biological activities of these complex compounds, transforming the conventional anti-nutritional concept of tannins [6][7][8][9][29][30][31]. In fact, their effects have been shown to differ among animal species and to depend on time and dose exposure as well as on variations in chemical structures [28].…”

Clostridium perfringens as Foodborne Pathogen in Broiler Production: Pathophysiology and Potential Strategies for Controlling Necrotic Enteritis

“…The nutritional content and feed presentation significantly affect the development of NE in broilers. Dietary management is a promising strategy for its control [ 151 ]. In this sense, different strategies are considered, among which are dietary restriction, modification of the content and source of macronutrients, [ 154 , 155 ] and the addition of enzymes to the diet [ 156 ].…”

Dietary Application of Tannins as a Potential Mitigation Strategy for Current Challenges in Poultry Production: A Review

“…In addition, many tannins are considered sustainable feed additives, as they derive from byproducts of plant-based agriculture and industry. For example, chestnut tannins, which are already sometimes supplemented to poultry, are obtained by the distillation of wood that is used in the building industry [ 22 ]. However, the effects of tannins on the growth performance and gut ecosystem of the chickens are still inconsistent and their mode of action is unclear.…”