Effects of probiotic supplements on growth performance and intestinal microbiota of partridge shank broiler chicks

Abstract

Background The benefits of probiotics being used in animals are well-documented via evidenced growth performance improvement and positive modulations of gut microbiota (GM). Thus, a combination of effective microorganisms (EM) has been frequently used in animal production, including broilers. However, there are only very limited reports of EM on the growth performance and the modulation in GM of partridge shank broiler chicks. Methods We attempted to evaluate the effects of a basal diet with the addition of an EM mixture on the growth performance and gut microbiome of the chicks. A total of 100 ten-day-old female partridge shank broiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups of 50 chicks each, of which, one group fed with EM supplementation in the basal diet (designated as EM-treated group), the other group just fed with a basal diet (referred as to non-EM treated group or control group). The body weight, daily feed intake, daily gain, feed conversion ratio and other growth parameters were observed and compared between EM-treated and non-EM-treated chicks, and the gut microbiota was profiled by 16S rRNA-based next generation sequencing (NGS). Results EM-treated chicks showed significantly increased performances in body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR). Histological observation indicated that dietary supplementation of EM significantly increased the villus heights (VH) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD), while decreased the CD of jejunum, ilea, and ceca. The results of 16S rRNA-based gut microbiota analyses showed that Firmicutes accounted for the most of the relative abundance (63.24%∼92.63%), followed by Proteobacteria (0.62%∼23.94%), Bacteroidetes (0.80%∼7.85%), Actinobacteria (0.06%∼13.69%) and others in both EM-treated and non-EM-treated broiler chicks. The addition of EM could not alter the alpha diversity of gut microbiota. Compared with the non-EM-treated chicks, the abundances of bad bacteria in the phyla of Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota, and Ruminococcus were dramatically decreased in that of EM-treated chicks, while the abundances of good bacteria in the phyla of Actinobacteria and WPS-2 were significantly increased. Conclusions The supplementation of EM in feed could improve the growth performance and positively influence the morphological characteristics of the intestine, and ameliorate the community and structure of the intestinal microbiota of partridge shank broiler chicks.

Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPJZ-658 Supplementation on the Production, Meat Quality, Intestinal Morphology, and Cecal Microbiota of Broilers Chickens

“…It is well-known that most of the members of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria are enteropathogenic, which has been correlated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile of the chicken [ 63 , 64 ]. Interestingly, in the current study, elevations in the phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were observed after LPJZ-658 supplementation, which was inconsistent with earlier findings [ 65 , 66 ]. We speculate that this may be attributed to the difference in breeding environment and the complex composition and diverse effects of LPJZ-658 on intestinal microbiota.…”

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus alleviates intestinal inflammation and promotes microbiota-mediated protection against Salmonella fatal infections

“…Hence, maintaining the necessary form of villi and the crypt depth may promote the chick's growth and body health. Similarly, a study performed by Ye et al showed that the administration of probiotic supplements had significantly increased the villus heights and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of chicks and then increased performances in body weight and average daily gain (57). Another study by Nii et al showed that oral administration of Limosilactobacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) reuteri increased ileal villus height and crypt depth of broiler chicks (58).…”

Bioactive compounds, antibiotics and heavy metals: Effects on the intestinal structure and microbiome of monogastric animals – a non-systematic review

“…In the microflora of the chickens' cecum the population size of Bacteroidetes is positively correlated with the content of propionate, butyrate and isobutyrate, while the increase in the content of acetate is positively correlated with the population size of Firmicutes bacteria (Wang et al, 2017b). A blend of probiotic microorganism added to broiler chicken feed had a beneficial effect on gut morphology and improved the status and composition of the gut microbiota: the population size of pathogenic bacteria from the Firmicutes, Euryarchaeota and Ruminococcus class significantly decreased, while the population size of bacteria from the Actinobacteria and WPS-2 increased (Ye et al, 2021).…”