Evaluation of a Precision Biotic on the Growth Performance, Welfare Indicators, Ammonia Output, and Litter Quality of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

A dietary glycan-based precision biotic (Glycan PB) was evaluated on the performance, welfare indicators, and litter characteristics of broiler chickens. In Trial 1, the main effects of Glycan PB dose (0, 250 and 500 g/metric ton (MT)) and xylanase supplementation (0 or 100 g/MT) were tested, as was their interaction. In Trial 2, pens located inside a commercial house were used to test the effect of Glycan PB supplementation (500 g/MT) versus a control diet. In Trial 1, Glycan PB supplementation at 250 and 500 g/MT improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 7 and 11 points when compared to diets without Glycan PB (p < 0.001). At 35 d, Glycan PB reduced the pH and ammonia concentration in diets with xylanase. In Trial 1, the supplementation with 500 g of Glycan PB/MT of feed reduced litter scores (p < 0.05). In both trials, 500 g of Glycan PB/MT of feed increased the proportions of birds without footpad lesions (Trial 1: 72.2% vs. 82.7%; p < 0.001; Trial 2: 14 to 27.3% (p = 0.05) or gait defects (Trial 1: 96.1% vs. 98.4%; p < 0.001) and decreased the proportion of birds with footpad lesions (Trial 2: 86% vs. 72.7%; p = 0.05).

Evaluation of a Novel Precision Biotic on Enterohepatic Health Markers and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens under Enteric Challenge

“…It was clearly demonstrated the beneficial effect of PB on the growth performance of the birds, which was statistically comparable to Avilamycin, and on the intestinal health as measured by intestinal lesion score and ileal morphology. These results agree with those of Walsh et al [ 4 ] and Jacquier et al [ 5 ], who reported the consistent effect of this PB in improving the growth performance of broiler chickens mainly through the modulation of microbial metabolic pathways.…”

“…These advances have led to the development of precision biotics (PB), a new class of microbiome metabolic modulators that influence targeted metagenomic functions of the microbiome [ 4 ]. Precision biotics control the output of metabolites by the gut microbiome to deliver beneficial outcomes to the animal and the environment [ 5 ].…”

Microbiome modulation, microbiome protein metabolism index, and growth performance of broilers supplemented with a precision biotic

“… Walsh et al (2021) and Jacquier et al (2022) have reported the effects of the supplementation of this PB in broiler chickens. Walsh et al (2021) showed, through a meta-analysis of 19 floor pen studies carried out under different conditions, the effect of 2 PB, referred as microbiome metabolic modulators 1 and 2 ( MMM1 and MMM2 ).…”

“…Diets were based on corn-soybean meal, with inclusion of DDGS and wheat middling, formulated to meet or exceed the breeders’ recommendations, except for metabolizable energy (100 kcal lower); all the diets had inclusion of phytase (1,000 FYT/kg; RONOZYME HiPhos GT, DSM Nutritional Products; Table 1 ). The PB used in these trials has been previously described by Walsh et al (2021) , and Jacquier et al (2022) .…”

“…A novel precision biotic ( PB ) that modulates core microbiome metabolic pathways related to nitrogen metabolism and short-chain fatty acid ( SCFA ) production, beyond the microbial profile, regardless of the geographic region, dietary composition, season, bird genetic, among others, has recently been presented ( Walsh et al, 2021 ; Jacquier et al, 2022 ). The PB used herein is a mixture of chemically designed glycans that specifically modulate, or signal, the bacterial DNA to perform desirable functions mainly related to nitrogen metabolism and SCFA production ( Walsh et al, 2021 ; Jacquier et al, 2022 ). These aspects would positively impact health, welfare, growth performance, and environmental sustainability.…”