Nisin as a Novel Feed Additive: The Effects on Gut Microbial Modulation and Activity, Histological Parameters, and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Two independent experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of nisin alone or with monensin on gut microbiota, gut microbial activities, and histomorphology (exp 1) and the effect of nisin application in a dose‒response manner on the growth performance of broiler chickens (exp 2). A total of 900 one-day-old female Ross 308 chicks (400, exp 1; 500, exp 2) were randomly distributed to four groups (exp 1; 10 replicate pens per treatment with 10 birds each), i.e., NA, no additives; MON, monensin (100 ppm); NIS, nisin (2700 IU/kg diet); and MON + NIS, a mixture of monensin (100 ppm) and nisin (2700 IU/kg diet); or 5 treatments (exp 2), NA, no additives; NIS100, nisin (100 IU/kg diet); NIS200, nisin (200 IU/kg diet); NIS400, nisin (400 IU/kg diet); and NIS800, nisin (800 IU/kg diet). Nisin supplementation positively affected the microbiota of the gut by reducing potentially pathogenic bacterial populations in the jejunum and ceca. The bacterial fermentation in the jejunum was significantly lowered by nisin addition. The addition of nisin from 100 IU to 800 IU decreased the FCR value over the entire experimental period. According to the results, nisin can be considered a natural dietary supplement for broiler chickens.

Antimicrobial peptides as an additive in broiler chicken nutrition: a meta-analysis of bird performance, nutrient digestibility and serum metabolites

“…This study also provided evidence that AMPs can be used as an AGP replacer as comparable effectivity to improve broiler chickens performance was noted. This is in agreement with recent studies using Microcin J25 and nisin (Kierończyk et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020).…”

Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide Microcin J25 on Growth Performance, Immune Regulation, and Intestinal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens Challenged with Escherichia coli and Salmonella

“…Wang et al reported that lactoferrin isolated from milk could increase the average daily gain and the efficiency of gain of weaning piglets by 41.80% and 17.20%, respectively [15]. Dietary supplementation with nisin (E234) has the potential to improve growth performance and nutrient retention in broilers [16].…”

Bacteriocins from Lactic Acid Bacteria. A Powerful Alternative as Antimicrobials, Probiotics, and Immunomodulators in Veterinary Medicine

“…Nisin has antimicrobial action on microbiota related to the detriment of productivity in broiler chickens, similar to monensin ionophore. Nisin supplementation positively affected the gut microbiota by reducing potentially pathogenic bacterial populations in the jejunum and ceca, such as Enterobacteriaceae, C. perfringens , Clostridium coccoides – Eubacterium rectale cluster, Bacteroides – Prevotella cluster, Lactobacillus sp./ Enterococcus sp., and the Clostridium leptum subgroup [ 122 ]. The diminished load of bacteria associated with low productivity in the gastrointestinal tract decreases the competition of nutrients and improves energy use in chickens [ 123 ].…”