Galacto-Oligosaccharides Modulate the Juvenile Gut Microbiome and Innate Immunity To Improve Broiler Chicken Performance

Abstract

Improvements in growth performance and health are key goals in broiler chicken production. Inclusion of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in broiler feed enhanced the growth rate and feed conversion of chickens relative to those obtained with a calorie-matched control diet. Comparison of the cecal microbiota identified key differences in abundances of Lactobacillus spp. Increased levels of Lactobacillus johnsonii in GOS-fed juvenile birds at the expense of Lactobacillus crispatus were linked to improved performance (growth rate and market weight). Investigation of the innate immune responses highlighted increases of ileal and cecal interleukin-17A (IL-17A) gene expression counterposed to a decrease in IL-10. Quantification of the autochthonous Lactobacillus spp. revealed a correlation between bird performance and L. johnsonii abundance. Shifts in the cecal populations of key Lactobacillus spp. of juvenile birds primed intestinal innate immunity without harmful pathogen challenge. IMPORTANCE Improvements in the growth rate of broiler chickens can be achieved through dietary manipulation of the naturally occurring bacterial populations while mitigating the withdrawal of antibiotic growth promoters. Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are manufactured as a by-product of dairy cheese production and can be incorporated into the diets of juvenile chickens to improve their health and performance. This study investigated the key mechanisms behind this progression and pinpointed L. johnsonii as a key species that facilitates the enhancements in growth rate and gut health. The study identified the relationships between the GOS diet, L. johnsonii intestinal populations, and cytokine immune effectors to improve growth.

Dietary Phytogenic Combination with Hops and a Mixture of a Free Butyrate Acidifier and Gluconic Acid Maintaining the Health Status of the Gut and Performance in Chickens

“…The authors speculated that this could have been due to an increase in passage through the gastrointestinal tract, which might contribute to lower nutrient utilization. Our findings are in accordance with those presented by Midilli et al [18], who reported that prebiotic supplementation did not significantly affect chicken BW, whereas other reports have demonstrated that different prebiotics may improve growth performance [19,20]. The possible disparities among the reports of bird responses could be due to differences in the bird strain, age, or sex, the nutrient composition of the diet, the gut microbiome activity response, the level of additive inclusion, the duration of supplementation and/or other environmental and management conditions between the studies.…”

Effect of a Synbiotic Supplement on Fear Response and Memory Assessment of Broiler Chickens Subjected to Heat Stress

“…Synbiotics may be more efficient than prebiotics and probiotics, as synbiotics are a synergistic mixture of probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that improve the survival and implantation of live beneficial microbes in the gut, either by metabolically activating or by the stimulation of beneficial bacteria [30], and prebiotics are nondigestible fiber compounds that have a useful influence on the host by selectively enhancing the survival and growth of healthy microbial species in the gut [31,32]. Several synbiotics [33][34][35] have been used as growth promoters and immune enhancers to increase production and health in broilers under both thermoneutral and hot ambient temperatures [36], while other synbiotics [37,38] had no effect on stress reactions.…”

Impact of industrial production system parameters on chicken microbiomes: mechanisms to improve performance and reduce Campylobacter

“…Examples include use of natural plant-derived products such as carvacrol [38], addition of dietary prebiotics [39] and administration of live probiotic bacteria [40]. More recently, prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) have been added to broiler feed and enhanced the growth rate and feed conversion of chickens relative to those obtained with a calorie-matched control diet [41]. Recent developments have observed chicken diets enriched with Omega-3 PUFA's for benefits to human health [5].…”