Intestinal microbiota of broilers submitted to feeding restriction and its relationship to hepatic metabolism and fat mass: Fast‐growing strain

Abstract

The present study was conducted to verify how feed restriction affects gut microbiota and gene hepatic expression in broiler chickens and how these variables are related to body weight gain. For the experiment, 21‐d‐old Cobb500TM birds were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with three treatments: T1. Control (ad libitum—3.176 Mcal/kg ME—metabolizable energy—and 19% CP—crude protein); T2. Energetic restriction (2.224 Mcal/kg ME and 19% CP) from 22 to 42 days with consumption equivalent to control; T3. Quantitative restriction (70% restriction, i.e., restricted broilers ingested only 30% of the quantity consumed by the control group—3.176 Mcal/kg ME and 19% CP) for 7 days, followed by refeeding ad libitum from 28 to 42 days. Ileum and caecum microbiota collections were made at 21, 28 and 42 days of age. Hepatic tissue was collected at 28 and 42 days old for relative gene expression analyses. At 43‐d‐old, body composition was quantified by DXA (Dual‐energy X‐ray Absorptiometry). Both feed restriction programmes decreased Lactobacillus and increased Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae counts. No differences were found in the refeeding period. Energetic restriction induced the expression of CPT1‐A (Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A) gene, and decreased body fat mass. Quantitative feed restriction increased lipogenic and decreased lipolytic gene expression. In the refeeding period, CPT1‐A gene expression was induced, without changing the broilers body composition. Positive associations were found between BWG (Body Weight Gain) and Lactobacillus and Clostridium cluster IV groups, and negatively associations with Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus bacterial groups. In conclusion, differences found in microbiota were similar between the two feed restriction programmes, however, hepatic gene expression differences were only found in quantitative restriction. Higher counts of Lactobacillus and Clostridium cluster IV groups in ileum are likely to be related to better broiler performance and low expression of lipogenic genes.

Effect of Feed Withdrawal and Progut on Broiler Performance, Carcasses Traits and Blood Parameters

“…Interaction between feed withdrawal and feed additive Progut® were not significantly difference in total micro flora counts and some enzymes of broiler chicks. Our results agree partially with Lunedo, et al [46] who found that used feed restriction on broiler chicks reduced Enterococcus and Enter bacteriaceae enhanced Lactobacillus counts. Shafiei, et al [26] found that used feed withdrawal time at 8, 10 hours/day had not effected on E. coli count however, Lactobacilli count was enhanced by exposed broiler chicks 12 h feed withdrawal.…”

Dietary supplementation of coated sodium butyrate improves growth performance of laying ducks by regulating intestinal health and immunological performance

“…The cecum contains majority of the intestinal flora and plays a key role in the digestion and absorption process of poultry ( 57 ). Some studies have shown that changes in the intestinal flora can affect intestinal health ( 58 ), and the cecal microbiota composition significantly impacts the growth and health of poultry ( 59 , 60 ). A study found that the addition of Clostridium butyricum to the feeds of early Muscovy ducks improved the cecal microflora richness ( 61 ).…”

A comparative study on the effect of quantitative feed restriction in males and females of broiler chickens, rabbits and nutrias. I. Performance and carcass composition

“…However, inconsistent data have been published on growth parameters. Previous studies confirmed compensatory growth following FR in chickens (Tumova et al 2002;van der Klein et al 2017;Lunedo et al 2019), rabbits (Tumova et al 2002;Gidenne et al 2012;Crespo et al 2020), and nutrias (Tumova et al 2021a). However, other studies reported growth retardation due to FR in chickens (Tumova and Chodova 2018;Gratta et al 2019), rabbits , turkeys (Tumova et al 2002), lambs (Santos et al 2018), and pigs (Carco et al 2018).…”

“…https://doi.org/10.17221/185/2021-CJAS broiler chickens (Mohammadalipour et al 2017;Tumova et al 2019), rabbits (Gidenne et al 2012;Birolo et al 2016), andpigs (Le Floc'h et al 2014). It was reported that FR resulted in a similar or better feed conversion ratio in several species, including broiler chickens (van der Klein et al 2017;Tumova and Chodova 2018;Lunedo et al 2019), rabbits (Gidenne et al 2012;Chodova et al 2019;Crespo et al 2020), and turkeys (Tumova et al 2002). However, inconsistent data have been published on growth parameters.…”