Effects of adding eubiotic lignocellulose on the performance, the gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids of layer chickens.

The eubiotic lignocellulose has to be proven a useful source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is broken down into monosaccharides and then is fermented into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by gut microorganisms of chickens. However, research on impacts of it on the gut microbiota of chickens was limited. Given this, three different levels (0%, 1%, and 2%) of eubiotic lignocellulose were added to the feed of ISA brown hens for 0-8 weeks, with the aim of observing the impacts of it on the performance, gut microbiota, and SCFAs. The results showed that there were no significant effects on the performance and the development of the cecum (P > 0.05); however, added eubiotic lignocellulose increased the relative abundance of the most excellent fiber-degradation species Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and fiber digestibility (P < 0.05). The addition of 1% significantly increased Lactobacillus panis and Oscillospira (P < 0.05), resulting in increasing of the production of SCFAs. Adding 1% eubiotic lignocellulose is appropriate in this experiment, but one or more group less than 1% (e.g., 0.75%, 0.5%, or 0.25%) should be set to verify the impact and determine a more appropriate amount of it added in the feed of chickens between 0 and 8 weeks in the future.