Supplementation of multi-enzymes alone or combined with inactivated benefits growth performance and gut microbiota in broilers fed wheat diets.

The effects of multi-enzymes mixture supplementation or combination with inactivated on growth performance, intestinal barrier, and cecal microbiota were investigated in broilers at the age of 15-42 days fed a wheat-based diet. A total of 576 broilers (12 broilers/cage; = 12) were used and divided into four groups and randomly allotted to four experimental diets throughout grower (15-28 days of age) and finisher (29-42 days of age) phases. Diets consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based diet (BD), a wheat-soybean meal-based diet (WD), and WD supplemented multi-enzymes (WED) or combined with inactivated (WEPD). The results showed that the average daily gain (ADG) and body weight (BW) were reduced in broilers fed WD diet compared with those fed BD diet during the grower period ( < 0.05). Broilers in the WED or WEPD group had higher ADG and BW during the grower period ( < 0.05) and had a lower feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) compared to broilers in the WD group during the grower and overall periods ( < 0.05). Improved expression of intestinal barrier genes (claudin-1, ZO-1, and mucin-2) was observed in WEPD compared to the BD or WD group ( < 0.05). Compared to the BD group, the WD group decreased the abundance of , , and , which are related to anti-inflammatory function and BW gain. The WD also increased and some short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (, , and ), and , which were presumed as "harmful microbes" [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05]. WED and WEPD groups, respectively, improved and compared with those in the WD group (FDR < 0.05). In addition, the abundance was reduced in the WEPD group compared to the WD group (FDR < 0.05). Higher acetate and total SCFA concentrations were observed ( < 0.05) among broilers who received a WD diet. Compared with the WD group, the WED or WEPD group further increased cecal propionate content ( < 0.05) and tended to improve butyrate concentration. These results suggested that supplemental multi-enzymes alone and combined with inactivated could improve the growth performance based on the wheat-based diet and offer additional protective effects on the intestinal barrier function of broilers.