Insights into the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and metagenomic analysis of the broiler intestinal microbiota

Abstract

Background The use of newly harvested corn in feed causes wet droppings in broilers and increased feed cost which was termed as “new season grain problem”. The present study was conducted to evaluate the proteomic profile of newly harvested corn and the subsequent influence on intestinal microbiol community for broiler chickens. Methods Newly harvested corn stored for either half a month (HM) or two months (TM) was used, and the pasting properties, total soluble sugars, and proteomic analysis technology was used to explore the influence of storage on natural aging corn properties. Additionally, seventy-two 7-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicken were fed with different stored corn. Apparent metabolizable energy (AME), digesta viscosity, intestinal morphology and microbiota were examined to explore the influence of feed corn storage on broiler chickens. Results Pasting properties in the TM corn exhibited decreased viscoelastic properties. Proteomic studies found a total of 26 proteins that were differentially expressed between the two treatment groups. Proteins involved in starch and polysaccharides biosynthesis were upregulated in TM compared with HM. Chickens fed on TM diet had higher relative energy utilization compared to the HM birds. With increased corn storage, the relative digesta viscosity decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05). The total number of goblet cells and lymphocytes was lower in chickens fed the TM diet. The microbiota data showed that the TM chickens had decreased abundance of diarrheal bacteria such as Hungatella hathewayi and Bacteroides fragilis, and increased butyrate-producing bacteria such as Alistipes compared to the HM chickens. Conclusions Storage of newly harvested corn induced the synthetic reaction of large molecules and changed the solubility of starch and protein with increasing soluble sugars and decreasing pasting properties that may improve the fermentation of intestinal microbiota, improve the energy utilization and protect gut health without the risk of diarrhea.

Supplemental Enzyme and Probiotics on the Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Broilers Fed with a Newly Harvested Corn Diet

“…The results of this study showed that broiler chickens fed newly harvested corn diets significantly decreased their digesta emptying time and increased visual fecal water content. Furthermore, during the test, the undigested feed was observed, which proved that there are indigestible components in newly harvested corn and feeding the newly harvested corn diet would cause diarrhea in broilers, this is consistent with the findings of Yin et al (2022) [ 1 ]. However, this phenomenon was alleviated by the supplementation of protease individually or in combination with glucoamylase in newly harvested corn diets.…”

“…Newly harvested corn contains a variety of ANFs, such as phytic acid, NSP, and soybean antigenic protein, which may reduce the bioavailability of nutrients [ 26 ] and increase viscoelastic properties of corn and the relative digesta viscosity [ 1 ], resulting in intestinal disorders, which, in turn, may lead to the occurrence of diarrhea in poultry. In addition, corn contains approximately 0.56–1.87 mg/g (DM) [ 4 ] native trypsin inhibitors, which may limit the contact of digestive enzymes with substrates in the intestinal tract of broilers [ 12 ].…”

“…Newly harvested corn can cause diarrhea in livestock, including commercial poultry, and though the mechanism causing this diarrhea is not clear, it surely has an economic impact. Yin et al (2022) [ 1 ] found that starch and polysaccharide biosynthesis in newly harvested corn had not completely finished, and higher levels of soluble sugars, which increased viscoelastic properties of corn and the relative digesta viscosity in chicken, can cause harmful bacteria, such as Hungatella hathewayi and Bacteroides fragilis , in the gut of broiler chickens, leading to disturbance of intestinal microflora and impaired absorption and digestion.…”

Debranching enzymes decomposed corn arabinoxylan into xylooligosaccharides and achieved prebiotic regulation of gut microbiota in broiler chickens

“…The relatively complex gut microecosystem plays an indispensable role in maintaining intestinal health, and the diversifications in microbiota are inseparable from dietary factors [1]. The common nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs) in the diet, especially grain-derived arabinoxylan (AX), are inclined to increase the viscosity of chyme in the intestinal lumen and disturb the normal microflora [2].…”

“…Effects of specific arabinoxylan-degrading enzymes on growth performance of broiler chickens 11 Values are given as the means based on six birds for each treatment (n = 6). The abbreviations of the groups are consistent with those in Table2BWG Body weight gain, g; FI Feed intake, g; F/G Feed-to-gain ratio, g/g; EPI European comprehensive production index; MRT Mortality, %; SEM Standard error of the mean a,b Means in a column with superscripts without a common letter differ (P < 0.05)…”