Effects of Small Peptide Supplementation on Growth Performance, Intestinal Barrier of Laying Hens During the Brooding and Growing Periods

Abstract

The growing period is a critical period for growth and development in laying hens. During this period, chicks grow rapidly, but are accompanied by unstable digestive function, incomplete organ development, and high mortality. Small peptide, a feed additive, which has been proved to promote intestinal development and immunity in poultry. In order to elucidate the effects of small peptides on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of growing laying hens, a total of 900 Tianfu green shell laying hens (1-day-old) were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 6 replicates of 30 birds each in this 18-week trial. Dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, 3.0 g/kg, 4.5 g/kg and 6.0 g/kg small peptide, respectively. The results showed that the supplementation of small peptides significantly increased growth rate (P<0.05) in laying hens, as well as elevated the serum immunoglobulins (P<0.05) and antioxidant indices (P<0.05), however, it decreased inflammation parameters (P<0.05). The supplementation of small peptides enhanced the intestinal function by promoting gut development (P<0.05) and improving gut integrity (P<0.05), barrier function (P<0.05) and the diversity of gut microbiota (P<0.05) in the growing hens. The best performance was recorded among the hens fed 4.5 g/kg level of small peptide. Taken together, these results showed that small peptide supplementation could improve the economic value of growing hens by promoting growth rate, disease resistance, and the optimal amount of addition for Tianfu green shell laying hens was 4.5 g/kg.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Soybean Bioactive Peptides and Vitamin E on Productive Performance and Some Carcass Characteristics in Broiler Chickens

“…As for the economic efficiency, it improved when peptides and vitamin E treatments were added. These results agree with, Zhao et al, [34] who found that by boosting growth rate and illness resistance, the economic value of growing hens was boosted by adding 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 (g/kg) tiny peptides to their diet. As well, the authors indicating that best performance were recorded among the hens fed 4.5 (g/kg) level of small peptide.…”

Probiotic mediated intestinal microbiota and improved performance, egg quality and ovarian immune function of laying hens at different laying stage

“…Furthermore, some studies have shown that probiotics or their cellular components can improve immune function in animals ( Chen et al, 2022 ). For example, Zhao et al (2022) revealed that dietary supplementation with the small peptides can reduce the proinflammatory factors including IL-6, IL-8 and IL-12 expression, thereby protecting the body from inflammatory damage. Also, Wang et al (2021) showed that dietary addition of Clostridium butyricum and butyric acid glycerides decreased IL-6 content in jejunum of yellow-feathered breeder hens, while those of IL-4, IL-6, IL-1β and IgY were decreased by sodium butyrate.…”

Promotion of improved intestinal barrier health by soybean-derived bioactive peptides in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) fed a low fishmeal diet

“…A decrease in fold height was observed with the LF diet, which was partially alleviated by the addition of SBP. The increasing addition level of SBP also cubically increased the thickness of the intestinal muscularis; this was a rare occurrence among multiple indicators where SBP demonstrated favourable outcomes even at a 6 % addition level, presumably because SBP is short peptides, which can be directly absorbed and utilised by the intestine and promote intestinal development (43) .…”