Alternative Growth Promoters Modulate Broiler Gut Microbiome and Enhance Body Weight Gain

Abstract

Antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) are frequently used to enhance weight-gain in poultry production. However, there has been increasing concern over the impact of AGP on the emergence of antibiotic resistance in zoonotic bacterial pathogens in the microbial community of the poultry gut. In this study, we adopted mass-spectrophotometric, phylogenetic, and shotgun-metagenomic approaches to evaluate bioactive phenolic extracts (BPE) from blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) pomaces as AGP alternatives in broilers. We conducted two trials with 100 Cobb-500 broiler chicks (in each trial) in four equal groups that were provided water with no supplementation, supplemented with AGP (tylosin, neomycin sulfate, bacitracin, erythromycin, and oxytetracycline), or supplemented with 0.1 g Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/L or 1.0 g GAE/L (during the last 72 h before euthanasia) of BPE for 6 weeks. When compared with the control group (water only), the chickens supplemented with AGP and 0.1 g GAE/L of BPE gained 9.5 and 5.8% more body weight, respectively. The microbiomes of both the AGP- and BPE-treated chickens had higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios. AGP supplementation appeared to be associated with higher relative abundance of bacteriophages and unique cecal resistomes compared with BPE supplementation or control. Functional characterization of cecal microbiomes revealed significant animal-to-animal variation in the relative abundance of genes involved in energy and carbohydrate metabolism. These findings established a baseline upon which mechanisms of plant-based performance enhancers in regulation of animal growth can be investigated. In addition, the data will aid in designing alternate strategies to improve animal growth performance and consequently production.

Gut Microbiota, Blood Metabolites, and Spleen Immunity in Broiler Chickens Fed Berry Pomaces and Phenolic-Enriched Extractives

“…Bioactive compounds from berry pomaces and their extracts exhibited a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, and antiviral ( 12 , 13 ). These products showed concentration-dependent effects by modulating gut microbiota ( 14 , 15 ). Therefore, it is appropriate to explore these berry by-products as resources for different value-added applications.…”

Utility of Feed Enzymes and Yeast Derivatives in Ameliorating Deleterious Effects of Coccidiosis on Intestinal Health and Function in Broiler Chickens

“…Interestingly, the impact of nucleotides and Eimeria were independent on microbiota community but interactive on microbial activity. Instructively, there was a trend for decreasing alpha diversity with nucleotide supplementation commensurate to that seen with provision of antimicrobials (139). These changes on alpha diversity and in microbiota populations may have long-term impacts or may be further amplified with time.…”

Biomarkers for monitoring intestinal health in poultry: present status and future perspectives

“…The Firmicutes, however, constitute a heterogeneous phylum containing bacterial groups with different metabolic activities, which makes a change at the phylum level a less powerful indicator. Nevertheless, several studies on beneficial prebiotics in broilers have shown expansion of Firmicutes [ 32 ] or higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios [ 52 ].…”