Plasma metabolomic profiling reveals potential onset of lay biomarkers in broiler breeders

Abstract

Changes in the metabolic fingerprint of plasma during the onset of lay in broiler breeders were investigated. We used metabolomics to identify biomarkers of sexual maturity and to provide a comprehensive understanding of breeder metabolome during the pullet to hen transition period. A total of 36 pullets were used, in which 30 pullets were randomly assigned to one of 10 unique growth trajectories and 6 birds were assigned to an unrestricted group. The growth trajectories were designed using a 3-phase Gompertz growth model with 10 levels of BW gain in the prepubertal and pubertal growth phases ranging from the breeder-recommended target BW to 22.5% higher, in 2.5% increments. The BW trajectories were applied to each individual bird using a precision feeding ( PF ) system, which collected BW and feed intake data for each individual bird. The birds were classified based on age at first egg ( AFE ), and 12 pullets were chosen from the lower and upper AFE extremes (early and late onset of lay) at 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 wk of age to run repeated blood plasma metabolomic assays. The metabolomic profile data were collected using a direct-injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and steroid assays. Univariate analysis identified 87 differential metabolites between the early- and late-onset of lay groups at 24 wk of age and 104 differential metabolites between the pullet and hen groups. Further investigation of differential metabolites showed 15 potential biomarkers for pullet to hen transition by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve, mainly consisting of carnitine and choline metabolites. Differential metabolites during the pullet to hen transition were mainly associated with lipid, energy, and amino acid metabolism pathways, which gave clues to the physiological and metabolic shifts resulting from sexual maturation. At 24 wk of age, the main pathways involved in differentiation of the early- and late-onset of lay groups were related to lipid and amino acid metabolism. These metabolites could be involved in biosynthesis of egg yolk precursors in the liver.

Evolution of maternal feed restriction practices over 60 years of selection for broiler productivity

“…Age at sexual maturity in broiler breeder pullets can be advanced either by earlier photostimulation or by growing pullets at a faster rate to reach 2,100 g at 15 wk of age ( Ciacciariello and Gous, 2005 ). Increasing prepubertal and pubertal BW gains by more than 15% of the breeder-recommended target BW triggered fat metabolism and yolk precursors synthesis in precision-fed breeders, which consequently advanced sexual maturity ( Afrouziyeh et al., 2022a ). As described previously, leading up to the onset of lay, breeders should not only reach a threshold BW, but should also deposit a minimum threshold amount of body fat to attain sexual maturity ( Bornstein et al., 1984 ; Sun et al., 2006 ).…”

How to employ metabolomic analysis to research on functions of prebiotics and probiotics in poultry gut health?

“… Słowińska et al (2018) first applied metabolomics to identify metabolites that differentiate white and yellow turkey seminal plasma, differentially expressed metabolites involved in molecules and cells important for sperm physiology Function. Researchers can analyze the changes of related metabolic pathways from differences in metabolic profiles, such as those related to lipid, energy, and amino acid metabolic pathways, providing a line for the host’s physiological and metabolic transitions ( Afrouziyeh et al, 2022 ). Therefore, analysis of metabolites in body fluids (e.g., urine, serum), feces and intestinal tissues after taking probiotics can improve the understanding as to how the gut microbiota and gut metabolome change.…”