Influence of Whole Wheat and Xylanase on Broiler Performance and Microbial Composition and Activity in the Digestive Tract

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of different forms of wheat (airtight silo stored whole wheat, conventionally stored whole wheat, and ground wheat included in pellets) and dietary xylanase addition on production results and gastrointestinal characteristics of broiler chickens. Ileal viscosity, pancreatic digestive enzyme activities, and the composition and activity of the intestinal microflora were considered as response parameters. Differences between the 2 types of whole wheat with respect to the various measured parameters were marginal, whereas distinct differences were found between pellet-fed birds and birds receiving whole wheat. Whole wheat feeding improved feed conversion ratio and reduced water consumption (P < 0.001). Compared with pellets, whole wheat increased the relative weight of pancreas and gizzard and the dry matter concentration of gizzard content (P < 0.001). Whole wheat feeding reduced the pH in the gizzard contents (P < 0.01) and increased ileal viscosity. The addition of xylanase reduced ileal viscosity in birds receiving whole wheat to the same level as in pellet-fed birds. Whole wheat feeding resulted in lower activities of amylase in pancreatic tissue (P = 0.054), whereas xylanase addition increased chymotrypsin (P = 0.030) and lipase activities (P = 0.052). Whole wheat feeding resulted in lower intestinal numbers of lactose-negative enterobacteria (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce the ileal and cecal numbers of Clostridium perfringens (P < or = 0.08). It is concluded that whole wheat feeding stimulates gizzard function, which in turn prevents potentially pathogenic bacteria from entering the intestinal tract.

Elective cesarean delivery affects gut maturation and delays microbial colonization but does not increase necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm pigs

“…Culture-based microbiology was performed to enumerate densities of selected bacterial groups associated with stomach contents, fresh mucosa obtained by scraping a segment of the distal SI, and colon contents. The samples were cultured for total anaerobes, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli, coliform bacteria, and enterococci (20), as well as for Clostridia (14). Briefly, total anaerobes were cultured on rumen fluid-glucose-cellobiose agar and incubated anaerobically at 38°C for 7 days.…”

Diferentes estratégias do uso de sorgo para frangos de corte: desempenho e saúde intestinal

“…De maneira semelhante, o uso de 50% e 100% de sorgo inteiro a partir do oitavo dia resultou em aumento na moela, mas sem alterar o peso e tamanho do intestino delgado e cecos aos 42 dias de idade (FERNANDES et al, 2013 RAVINDRAN, 2008;ENGBERG et al, 2004;ERENER et al, 2003;GABRIEL et al, 2008;HETLAND et al, 2002). Porém, o uso de 30% de trigo inteiro não foi suficiente para influenciar no peso da moela (AMERAH et al, 2009(AMERAH et al, , 2011 FERKET, 2004).…”

“…O número de bactérias anaeróbias aumenta a partir da parte proximal para a parte distal dos intestinos, com os maiores valores observados nos cecos (ENGBERG et al, 2004;GABRIEL et al, 2006). A microbiota típica de aves adultas se estabelece por volta de 14 dias no intestino delgado e de 30 dias nos cecos (BARNES et al, 1972 O perfil da microbiota também pode ser influenciado pela forma do grão, sendo que a substituição parcial de grão moído por grão inteiro altera a microbiota de modo que estas tendem a estar separadas em clusters em lados opostos do dendrograma, mas sem alterar a riqueza da microbiota (AMERAH et al, 2011).…”

“…Observa-se um aumento na quantidade de algumas espécies de Lactobacillus e redução no número de Clostridium perfringens no trato gastrintestinal de aves alimentadas com grãos de trigo inteiro (AMERAH et al, 2011;ENGBERG et al, 2004 Francisco, v. 248, p. 2536Francisco, v. 248, p. -2541Francisco, v. 248, p. , 1973.…”

“…A utilização de trigo inteiro não foi capaz de influenciar o número de bactérias ácido láticas nem o número de Lactobacillus salivarius no intestino delgado de frangos de corte, mas levou a um aumento de outros lactobacilus no duodeno/jejuno na quinta semana de vida (ENGBERG, 2004).…”