Reducing protein and supplementing crystalline amino acids, to alter dietary amino acid profiles in birds challenged for subclinical necrotic enteritis

Abstract

Necrotic enteritis ( NE ) is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract and is estimated to cost the global poultry industry billions of dollars annually. A study was conducted to examine whether reducing the crude protein might offset the severity of NE in broilers experimentally challenged with Eimeria spp. on day 9 and Clostridium perfringens on days 14 and 15. Furthermore, increasing the dietary amino acid ( AA ) density of the diet was also examined owing to identified benefits of improving performance compromised from low protein ( LP ) diets or NE. A 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments at 6 replicates per treatment was used with 972 Ross 308 cockerels fed wheat-sorghum-soy-based diets to 35 D. Factors were NE challenge: no or yes; protein: standard ( SP ) or LP; and AA density: 100% AA, 115% with only essential AA ( 115% EAA ) increased, and 115% AA with both essential and nonessential AA ( 115% AA ) increased. The performance was measured in grower (days 7–21), finisher (days 21–35), and overall (day 7–35) periods. In addition, on day 16, intestinal lesion score and cecal short-chain fatty acids were measured. Only in nonchallenged birds fed LP diets, 115% AA increased grower feed intake ( P < 0.01) and body weight gain ( P < 0.05) compared to 115% EAA treatments. Challenge increased jejunal lesions ( P < 0.001) with no difference between dietary treatments. Finisher body weight gain was greater in nonchallenged birds fed the 115% AA diets than in challenged birds ( P < 0.05). Feeding diets with higher nonessential AA encouraged faster recovery from NE challenge. When fed the SP diets, NE challenge increased cecal butyric acid ( P < 0.01) and total short-chain fatty acids ( P < 0.05). The nutrient matrix used in LP diets does not favor beneficial butyric acid–producing bacteria. Using LP diets to mitigate NE severity does not offset the predisposing effect of E. spp. when attacking the gastrointestinal tract, and NE recovery is favored when feeding SP diets or additional AA.

Nutritional significance of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as nutraceuticals in poultry production and health – a comprehensive review

“…This observation indicates that amino acid chelated trace minerals in the diet can improve gut health by lowering the effect of heat stress (Baxter et al 2020). There are evidences that amino acid metabolism is affected by health status of birds as shown in some recent studies on challenge vs. non challenge conditions (Chrystal et al 2020;Hilliar et al 2020). Diseases like necrotic enteritis affect digestion, absorption and metabolism of amino acids.…”

“…Diseases like necrotic enteritis affect digestion, absorption and metabolism of amino acids. Low protein diet did not affect predisposition to necrotic enteritis but feeding a standard diet or diet with additional amino acid content can mitigate this disease (Hilliar et al 2020). Amino acid supplementation favor cecal butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids production and support growth, development, feed conversion efficiency and improve immunity (Chrystal et al 2020;Hilliar et al 2020).…”

“…Low protein diet did not affect predisposition to necrotic enteritis but feeding a standard diet or diet with additional amino acid content can mitigate this disease (Hilliar et al 2020). Amino acid supplementation favor cecal butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids production and support growth, development, feed conversion efficiency and improve immunity (Chrystal et al 2020;Hilliar et al 2020). Digestibility of amino acids is also affected in health and disease and by alteration of nutrient composition of diet (Keerqin et al Chrystal et al 2020).…”

“…Their deficiency can predispose and their supplementation can prevent or mitigate disease(Hilliar et al 2020). Suppplementation of amino acids has resulted in production of cecal butyric acid and total shortchain fatty acids production and support growth, development, feed conversion efficiency and improve immunity(Chrystal et al 2020;Hilliar et al 2020). Nutrient composition of feed also affects metabolism of amino acids (Keerqin et alChrystal et al 2020).…”

Microbial communities of poultry house dust, excreta and litter are partially representative of microbiota of chicken caecum and ileum

“…Samples used in this study were collected as part of a previous experiment [ 45 ] that was approved by the University of New England Animal Ethics Committee (AEC18-059). Briefly, 972 day-old Ross cockerels (Aviagen breeder hatchery, Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia) were assigned into a ‘challenged’ or an ‘unchallenged room’ containing 72 equal sized floor pens for rearing chickens.…”