School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia.
School of Applied Sciences and Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Jun;105(11):4719-4730. doi: 10.1007/s00253-021-11333-8. Epub 2021 May 20.
Gut health has major implications for the general health of food-producing animals such as the layer birds used in the egg industry. In order to modulate gut microbiota for the benefit of gut health, an understanding of the dynamics and details of the development of gut microbiota is critical. The present study investigated the phylogenetic composition of the gut microbiota of a commercial layer flock raised in cages from hatch to the end of the production cycle. This study also aimed to understand the establishment and development of gut microbiota in layer chickens. Results showed that the faecal microbiota was dominated by phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the rearing phase, but Bacteroidetes in mid lay and late lay phase. The gut microbiota composition changed significantly during the transfer of the flock from the rearing to the production shed. The richness and diversity of gut microbiota increased after week 6 of the flocks age and stabilized in the mid and late lay phase. The overall dynamics of gut microbiota development was similar to that reported in earlier studies, but the phylogenetic composition at the phylum and family level was different. The production stage of the birds is one of the important factors in the development of gut microbiota. This study has contributed to a better understanding of baseline gut microbiota development over the complete life cycles in layer chickens and will help to develop strategies to improve the gut health. KEY POINTS: • Faecal microbiota of caged hens was dominated by phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the rearing phase. • The gut microbiota composition changed significantly during the transfer of the flock from the rearing to the production shed. • The richness and diversity of gut microbiota increased after week 6 of the flocks age and stabilized in the mid and late lay phase.
肠道健康对食用动物的整体健康有重大影响，例如用于蛋鸡产业的鸡。为了调节肠道微生物群以促进肠道健康，了解肠道微生物群的动态和发展细节至关重要。本研究调查了从孵化到生产周期结束在笼中饲养的商业蛋鸡肠道微生物群的系统发育组成。本研究还旨在了解蛋鸡肠道微生物群的建立和发展。结果表明，在饲养阶段，粪便微生物群主要由厚壁菌门和变形菌门组成，但在中产蛋和晚产蛋阶段则由拟杆菌门组成。从饲养舍转移到生产舍时，肠道微生物群组成发生了显著变化。在鸡群 6 周龄后，肠道微生物群的丰富度和多样性增加，并在中产蛋和晚产蛋阶段稳定下来。肠道微生物群发展的总体动态与早期研究报告的相似，但在门和科水平的系统发育组成不同。鸟类的生产阶段是肠道微生物群发展的重要因素之一。本研究有助于更好地了解笼养蛋鸡整个生命周期中的肠道微生物群基础发展，并有助于制定改善肠道健康的策略。关键点：• 笼养母鸡的粪便微生物群主要由厚壁菌门和变形菌门在饲养阶段组成。• 从饲养舍转移到生产舍时，肠道微生物群组成发生了显著变化。• 在鸡群 6 周龄后，肠道微生物群的丰富度和多样性增加，并在中产蛋和晚产蛋阶段稳定下来。
