Integrated Analysis of the Effects of Cecal Microbiota and Serum Metabolome on Market Weights of Chinese Native Chickens

Abstract

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the physiological activities of the host and affects the formation of important economic traits in livestock farming. The effects of cecal microbiota on chicken weights were investigated using the Guizhou yellow chicken as a model. Experimental cohorts from chickens with high- (HC, n = 16) and low-market-weights (LC, n = 16) were collected. Microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted serum metabolome data were integrated to explore the effect and metabolic mechanism of cecal microbiota on market weight. The genera Lachnoclostridium, Alistipes, Negativibacillus, Sellimonas, and Ruminococcus torques were enriched in the HC group, while Phascolarctobacterium was enriched in the LC group (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis determined that pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), luvangetin (2H-1-benzopyran-6-acrylic acid), and menadione (vitamin K3) were significantly higher in HC serum, while beclomethasone dipropionate (a glucocorticoid) and chlorophene (2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol) were present at higher levels in the LC group. The microbes enriched in HC were significantly positively correlated with metabolites, including pantothenic acid and menadione, and negatively correlated with beclomethasone dipropionate and chlorophene. These results indicated that specific cecal bacteria in Guizhou yellow chickens alter the host metabolism and growth performance. This study provides a reference for revealing the mechanism of cecal microbe actions that affect chicken body weight.

Inclusion of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ15 in broiler diets induces changes in jejunal immune cell population and cecal microbiota

“…Further investigation is warranted to verify the interactions between SCFA concentrations and genera Mediterraneibacter, Blautia, and Sellimonas. On the other hand, the greater relative abundance of genera Sellimonas and Coprococcus has a beneficial effect on chicken growth by regulating metabolites such as pantothenic acid and menadione, and plays major roles in protecting against Salmonella Enteritidis inoculation at the early stage (before 7 days post-inoculation), respectively [29,30].…”

Isolation and in vitro assessment of chicken gut microbes for probiotic potential

“…boosted chicken feed protein and crude protein retention ( Wu et al, 2019 ). E. faecium NCIMB 11181 supplementation increased FCR ( Wu et al, 2019 ; Yang et al, 2023 ). Limosilactobacillus fermentum PC-76 and PC-10 were found to be anti- Salmonella gallinarum ( Mehmood et al, 2023 ).…”